# Construction
> Workers' compensation covers part of the loss — but New York's worker-protection laws can hold owners and general contractors responsible for far more.

- Type: informational
- URL: https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/construction/
- Updated: 2026-08-20T00:46:22+00:00

## About this page
Workers' compensation covers part of the loss — but New York's worker-protection laws can hold owners and general contractors responsible for far more.

## Key facts
- Phone: (212) 555-0100
- Location: New York, New York
- Logo: /storage/projects/27/files/lawlogo.webp

## Page content
New York gives injured construction workers some of the strongest protections in the country. Workers' compensation provides medical care and partial wages no matter who was at fault, but it rarely makes a seriously hurt worker whole. The bigger leverage is usually a separate third-party case under the Labor Law…
The free Accident Answer Engine walks through your situation and shows the legal issues, deadlines, and next steps that fit it. Open the Answer Engine →

## How New York law applies
- Two tracks: comp + a third-party case. Workers' comp is your no-fault safety net against your employer; a Labor Law case targets non-employers (owners, general…
- Labor Law § 240, § 241(6], and § 200. These statutes impose specific safety duties on owners and contractors — from elevation protection to Industrial Code…
- Immigration status doesn't bar a claim. New York courts have allowed injured workers to pursue these claims regardless of documentation status.

## Who may be responsible
Liability often reaches beyond the obvious. Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include:
- The property owner
- The general contractor
- Other contractors and subcontractors who controlled the work
- An equipment or scaffold manufacturer
- Your employer (through workers' compensation)

## Deadlines that matter
A third-party construction case generally must be filed within three years, and a related wrongful-death claim within two years. Public projects can shorten these windows. Just as important, job sites change quickly — equipment and witnesses disappear — so prompt documentation matters.

## What to do now
- Report the injury to your employer or supervisor in writing the same day, and start a workers' compensation claim to protect your benefits.
- Get medical care immediately and tell the provider exactly how the injury happened on the job.
- Write down which contractors were on site, what equipment was involved, and any safety device that was missing, broken, or not provided.
- Identify co-workers who saw what happened — job sites change fast and witnesses move on.
- Photograph the location, the equipment, and the conditions if you safely can.

## Mistakes to avoid
A good case can be undercut in the first days. Watch for these:
- Assuming workers' compensation is your only option — a separate third-party case against a contractor, owner, or equipment maker is often available and can…
- Letting the job site get cleaned up or repaired before the conditions are documented.
- Giving a recorded statement to the site's insurer or signing forms you don't understand.
- Waiting to act — memories fade, workers leave, and key deadlines can be short.

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