Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP
184 E 161 St.
2nd floor
The Bronx, NY 10451
Telephone: 718-215-9774
If you’re here, something serious has already happened.
A fall. A collapse. A machine that didn’t stop when it should have. Maybe you’re reading this from a hospital room, or trying to make sense of what comes next for someone you love.
We understand that moment — the confusion, the anger, the pressure to “figure it out” while everything still feels unsettled.
This page is not here to overwhelm you. It’s here to give you clarity.
A construction accident claim is a legal path to recover the financial and personal losses caused by a job site injury or death.
In New York, these cases are different from standard injury claims. Workers are often protected by specific labor laws that place responsibility on owners, contractors, and companies that control the worksite — even if the injured person didn’t do anything wrong.
In plain terms:
If a safety failure caused the incident, the law may hold the right parties accountable.
Construction is constant here — new buildings, renovations, infrastructure work. Crews are working at height, around heavy equipment, often under tight deadlines.
We regularly see serious incidents involving:
* Falls from scaffolding or ladders
* Collapsing structures or improperly secured materials
* Equipment failures and machinery malfunctions
* Falling debris from upper levels
* Electrical exposure and unsafe wiring
* Trenches or work zones that aren’t properly protected
We’ve handled cases where someone was injured on a site just off the Major Deegan, where work was moving fast and safety corners were cut. That’s not unusual — and it’s exactly where legal accountability becomes critical.
If you or a family member has been injured:
Even if injuries seem manageable, complications can develop quickly.
Make sure the accident is documented with a supervisor or employer.
They may contact you quickly. You are not required to explain everything right away.
Photos of the site, equipment, injuries, and names of witnesses can matter later.
Early decisions can affect your case — especially in construction claims.
Most serious construction injuries are not “accidents” in the true sense. They are preventable.
Common underlying causes include:
Falls from heights are one of the leading causes of injury. When scaffolding, ladders, or harness systems are missing or defective, responsibility often falls on those overseeing the site.
Missing guardrails, unsecured openings, or lack of proper barriers can expose workers to serious risk.
When contractors or site managers fail to enforce safety rules, hazards multiply quickly.
Faulty machinery, tools, or materials can fail without warning — and manufacturers or suppliers may be involved.
Deadlines and pressure can lead to shortcuts, skipped inspections, and unsafe practices.
In many cases, more than one party shares responsibility — owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and equipment providers.
Construction injuries are often severe.
We represent people dealing with:
* Traumatic brain injuries
* Spinal cord damage and paralysis
* Multiple fractures and orthopedic trauma
* Severe burns and electrical injuries
* Permanent disability
* Fatal incidents affecting entire families
The impact goes beyond medical treatment.
It affects your ability to work, support your family, and return to normal life. It changes daily routines, financial stability, and long-term plans.
A legal claim is about addressing all of those consequences — not just immediate medical bills.
Construction accident claims often involve multiple layers of coverage:
* Workers’ compensation (through your employer)
* Liability insurance carried by property owners and contractors
* Additional policies tied to the project
Workers’ compensation can cover medical care and a portion of lost wages, but it does not fully compensate for pain, suffering, or long-term impact.
That’s where third-party claims come in.
If someone other than your employer contributed to the incident — which is common in construction — you may have the right to pursue a separate claim for full compensation.
It happens often.
You may hear:
* “You should have been more careful”
* “You knew the risks”
* “You didn’t follow instructions”
New York law does not allow companies to avoid responsibility simply by shifting blame.
Even if you were partially at fault, you may still recover compensation. And in certain construction-related cases, liability is based on whether proper safety protections were in place — not on what the worker did or didn’t do.
We take that pressure off you. We deal directly with those arguments so you don’t have to.
When you come to us, you’re not handed off to a system.
We work directly with you to:
Get you the care you need
We help coordinate medical treatment so nothing is delayed or overlooked.
Preserve critical evidence
Construction sites change quickly. We act fast to secure photos, records, and site conditions before they disappear.
Handle the insurance companies
You won’t have to field calls or navigate complex claims alone.
Identify all responsible parties
We look beyond the obvious to find every source of accountability and coverage.
Address blame and protect your position
We anticipate defenses and build your case from the beginning.
Our role is simple:
To bring clarity, stability, and strength to a situation that often feels out of control.
Our office is located at:
184 E 161 St., 2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10451
We’re a short distance from the courthouses and easily accessible by public transportation, including the nearby subway lines serving East 161st Street. If you’re driving, access from major routes like the Grand Concourse makes the trip straightforward.
If travel is difficult, we can make arrangements to meet in a way that works for you.
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, shorter deadlines may apply depending on the parties involved, so it’s important to act early.
You can still recover compensation. New York follows a comparative fault system, which means your recovery may be reduced — not eliminated.
Construction claims often involve specific labor laws that provide stronger protections for workers, especially in height-related accidents.
You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, future care needs, pain and suffering, and long-term disability.
You do not pay upfront. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, meaning we are only paid if we recover compensation for you.
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a construction accident, you don’t need to have all the answers right now.
You just need the right guidance — and a team that understands exactly what you’re facing.
