# What Is New York Labor Law 240?
> It's the “Scaffold Law” — and for many injured construction workers, it's the strongest card in the deck.

- Type: informational
- URL: https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/questions/what-is-new-york-labor-law-240/
- Updated: 2026-08-20T00:46:22+00:00

## About this page
It's the “Scaffold Law” — and for many injured construction workers, it's the strongest card in the deck.

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

## Page content
Labor Law § 240(1) protects construction workers from gravity-related hazards by imposing strict liability on owners and general contractors when proper safety devices aren't provided. If you fell from a height, or were struck by a falling object that should have been secured, this law may put responsibility on the…
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
- It covers elevation hazards. Falls from heights and falling objects that required securing or hoisting are the core of § 240.
- Liability is strict. Qualifying claims don't require proving the owner or contractor was careless.
- The worker's carelessness usually isn't a defense. Comparative fault generally doesn't reduce a qualifying claim unless the worker was the sole cause.

## Who may be responsible
Liability often reaches beyond the obvious. Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include:
- The property owner
- The general contractor
- An agent who controlled the work
- A scaffold or equipment supplier
- 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.

## What affects your case's value
No one can responsibly promise a number before reviewing your records. These are the factors that actually move it:

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