NYC Construction Accident Lawyers

The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy are leaders in the construction accident law community and have proven their abilities to produce significant results for their clients time and time again. Some of our top results include:

• A landmark $110,174,972 verdict for a cyclist who was paralyzed by a falling railroad tie;
• A $53,500,000 verdict for a worker who landed on his back after a fall;
• A $25,000,000 settlement for a worker who fell after being struck by a load of concrete;
• And a $12,000,000 settlement for a union worker who was injured during the Number 7 train subway extension project.

According to ALM’s Verdict Search, since 2012, no other law firm has received more results exceeding $1 million than Block O’Toole & Murphy. Read on to find out how we handle construction accident cases and how our attorneys can help you.

Need to Know:

• Though construction workers generally cannot sue their employers if they are injured on a work site, they are usually eligible for workers’ compensation and will often be able to file a third-party lawsuit against another legally responsible party.
• It’s crucial to hire attorneys who are deeply familiar with the nuances of the New York State Labor Laws and remain up to date on recent court decisions.
• Don’t delay in reaching out to a law firm: it’s important that your attorney act quickly to collect and preserve evidence as well as locate and interview witnesses to support your case.

In This Article:

• Choosing the Best Firm for Your NY Construction Accident Case
• Case Study: $11,500,000 Settlement in Bronx Construction Accident
• Can I File a Lawsuit in My New York Construction Accident Case?
• Which New York Labor Laws Are Relevant to Construction Site Accidents?
• Case Study: $53.5 Million Verdict for a Man Left Paraplegic After Brooklyn Construction Accident

Choosing Block O’Toole & Murphy for Your NY Construction Accident Case

There are countless ways for construction cases to become complicated. A proven team of lawyers will provide you with the best chance of fair compensation for your accident.

Types of Construction Accident Cases We Litigate

What a personal injury firm has done for previous clients is the best indication of what they can do for future clients. Block O’Toole & Murphy has achieved notable results in all types of construction accidents, such as:

• A $9,750,000 settlement and a $6,500,000 verdict for scaffolding accidents,
• A $25,000,000 settlement and a $12,000,000 settlement for construction site falls,
• A $5,500,000 settlement and a $4,250,000 settlement for trench accidents,
• A $7,300,000 settlement and a $3,700,000 settlement for demolition accidents, and more.

Authorities in Labor Law

The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy are known to be well-versed in the New York Labor Law:

• Two of our partners, Daniel P.O’Toole and David L. Scher, have both served as co-chair of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) Labor Law Committee.
• Scher frequently gives lectures across the state regarding Labor Law, construction accident law, best practices, and more. For example, he has spoken at NYSTLA’s Construction Accidents From the Trenches annual seminar since 2020.
• Our firm is regularly sought after by other lawyers who are handling a construction accident case — not only do they ask us for advice, they often refer their significant cases to us.
• Block O’Toole & Murphy is responsible for multiple groundbreaking verdicts — for example, we settled a Brooklyn construction accident case for $65,000,000, which is one of the largest known personal injury settlements in New York State ever. In another case we settled for $15 million, Partner David L. Scher successfully appealed a decision which stated the accident did not fall under the protection of Labor Law 240. In other words, Scher persuaded a group of appellate judges that his argument was correct despite a lower judge already ruling against the Plaintiff.

Hiring the Right Experts at the Right Time

The experienced attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy know when it’s necessary to hire construction experts to strengthen your case. For example, if a scaffold collapses while a worker is standing on it, there’s likely no need to involve an expert to prove liability — that is a clear violation of Labor Law 240, and any responsible third parties would be completely at fault for the accident.

However, some cases are much less clear. For example, let’s say a worker is provided an A-frame ladder that tipped over and fell while the worker was using it. Perhaps the worker was not using the ladder correctly — or perhaps the ladder was not the proper type of equipment for this job. By hiring an expert, we can determine whether the defense was legally responsible for a violation of the New York State Labor Law.

Case Study: $11,500,000 Settlement in Bronx Construction Accident

In one case handled by Partners Daniel P. O’Toole and Scott Occhiogrosso, our client was working on the construction of a high rise building in the Bronx. He was assigned the task of cutting plywood for concrete forms. However, he immediately noticed his circular saw was defective: its safety guard had snapped off. Our client pointed this out to his foreman, but was instructed to use the defective saw until another one became available. This tension between a worker and a supervisor is frequently the source of senseless construction accidents, leading to serious injuries.

Unfortunately, our client’s concern was warranted. When he attempted to cut through a knot in one of the pieces of plywood, the saw jumped and hit our client’s left wrist, causing him to fall down on to a recently-poured concrete deck. Had the safety guard been in place, it would have blocked the blade as soon as it disengaged from the wood.

At the hospital, our client was diagnosed with a lacerated forearm tendon. His wrist and hand later developed complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and severe reflect sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). He also suffered from herniated spinal discs due to his fall.

Just 35 years old at the time of his accident, our client would never be able to return to construction work. Even more painful, he and his wife had been trying for years to have their first child. Though she did give birth to their son over a year after the accident, our client told us how painful and frustrating it was to not be able to help his wife or hold his newborn baby.

Careful Preparation Leads to a Strong Injury Settlement

Giving our client a defective saw to use was a clear violation of Labor Law 241(6). However, the case was far from over. Our attorneys used multiple tactics to make sure our client received fair compensation, including:

• Prepare as if we’re going to trial. While most injury cases settle, our attorneys still build every case as if it’s going to be tried in court. This both prepares us if the case does go to trial and sets us up for the strongest possible settlement.
• File for summary judgment. In this case, our attorneys filed a motion for summary judgment based on Labor Law 241(6). The motion was granted, meaning fault was determined by a judge. This is a strong tool to have for negotiation: had the case been decided in court, the defense would have had to pay 9% interest per annum pursuant to CPLR § 5004 on top of the damages awarded by the jury.
• Review every piece of evidence. Partner Scott Occhiogrosso carefully examined all documents related to the case. When he saw one of our own medical expert reports had overlooked findings from our client’s CT scans and was missing further updates from his medical records, he made sure the report was amended with all the relevant information. This information was critical in making sure our economic demands were as accurate as possible.
• Find all sources of insurance and negotiate accordingly. Many construction accident cases involve multiple insurance carriers, and this was no exception. After uncovering two more layers of coverage beyond what was initially disclosed, our attorneys eventually negotiated a settlement worth far more than the primary policy.

After years of diligent work, Block O’Toole & Murphy settled this case for $11,500,000. While no amount of money can fully compensate our client for everything the accident took from him, we hope the settlement helps make his and his family’s life as comfortable as possible.

Can I File a Lawsuit in My New York Construction Accident Case?

In New York State, virtually all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This means you won’t be able to sue your employer if you are injured while working on a construction site. However, you may be able to sue another legally responsible party.

If there is a construction site owner or developer, a general contractor, or any entity other than your employer that is responsibility for your working conditions and worksite safety, then you may have grounds for a third-party lawsuit.

Case Study: Using Discovery to Prove Liability in Construction Accident Cases

In one case handled by Partners Stephen J. Murphy and David L. Scher, a union carpenter was gravely injured while opening a large wooden crate full of glass marker boards. Together with his partner, our client had propped the crate up with 2x4s, as they had been instructed to do, so the boards would lean back and not topple over when the crate’s cover was removed. However, as they removed one of the crate covers, all 10 boards fell onto our client, pinning him to another crate located behind him. The boards weighed 135 pounds each and caused severe injuries to our client’s lower back, legs and ankles. By the time his case went to mediation, he had already undergone 11 surgeries for treatment.

While there were multiple defendants in this case, none of them were willing to claim the responsibility of general contractor for the site, which would have made them legally liable for our client’s injuries.

To prove they were in fact liable parties, we deposed multiple witnesses and tirelessly combed through contracts, invoices and daily reports. Thanks to this extra work, our attorneys established these defendants had a sufficient presence and role to constitute being general contractors as defined by case law, and the case settled for $3 million.

Which New York Labor Laws Are Relevant to Construction Accidents?

The following Labor Laws are commonly cited in construction accident claims. Since no two construction cases are alike, only an experienced attorney can tell you which Labor Laws are relevant to your case.

Labor Law 200

Labor Law 200 ensures employees have “reasonable and adequate protection” on construction sites. Violations of Labor Law 200 generally fall under one of two categories:

• Dangerous or defective conditions. If a site owner, general contractor, or other responsible party is aware (has “notice”) of a hazardous condition on the site and doesn’t take steps to fix it within a reasonable amount of time, this could violate Labor Law 200.
• Dangerous means and methods. This is when the methods used to carry out the work on a site are themselves unsafe. For example, if employees use a passenger elevator to move freight, rather than a freight elevator, they are using dangerous means and methods.

Once a violation of Labor Law 200 is established, a defendant may still claim the worker was also negligent, or at fault, and contributed to his/her accident. If the worker is found to have a percentage of fault for their accident, any amount a jury awards them may be reduced by that percentage.

Labor Law 240 (1)

While Labor Law 240 is often referred to as the “Scaffold Law,” it doesn’t just apply to scaffold accidents. It applies to all accidents that involve gravity-related risks, including workers falling from a height (such as ladder accidents, roofing accidents, and more) and falling-object accidents. For instance, in a case we resolved for $7,000,000, our client suffered painful dental injuries when he was struck by a clamp that fell from a pipe being lowered by his coworkers.

Unlike Labor Law 200, if your accident was caused by a Labor Law 240 violation, the defendant(s) will be found 100% legally at fault and will be responsible for paying the full amount of a jury award.

What’s more, Labor Law 240 also applies to other types of non-construction work.  If your injury-producing work involved “alteration” – defined as making a significant physical change to a building or structure – you too may be covered by Labor Law 240, even if your work had nothing to do with construction.  For example,

• Adding extension posts to a structure that holds billboards has been held by the Courts to be a covered Labor Law activity.
• Labor Law 240 also applies to certain types of repair work, including replacing parts of a unit or system such as an HVAC unit or light fixture that do not routinely wear or burn out.
• The law also covers gravity-related accidents suffered while performing commercial cleaning or commercial painting work.

Every fact pattern is specific and every rule has an exception.  The law around Labor Law 240 is often very complex and can change when a new appellate court decision comes down. This is why hiring an experienced law firm like Block O’Toole & Murphy is crucial.

Labor Law 241(6)

Part 23 of New York City’s Industrial Code gives directions for safe practices in “construction, excavation, and demolition” cases. To prove a violation of Labor Law 241(6), your attorney must demonstrate that a responsible third party violated a specific rule within the industrial code. Like Labor Law 200, a client can be held partially negligent in a violation of 241(6).

Less experienced attorneys may miss the opportunity to file claims under 241(6) because they simply haven’t searched the code carefully enough and overlooked a section which applied to their case.

Can a Plaintiff File More Than One Labor Law Claim in New York?

Injured workers may pursue multiple Labor Law claims.

For example, our attorneys resolved a case on behalf of a client who suffered serious injuries after being hit by a falling steel beam. After confirming no safety meetings had been held on the site, Partners Jeffrey A. Block and S. Joseph Donahue filed for summary judgment under Labor Law 200 and 240(1). Both motions were granted, and the case was settled for $3,750,000.

Case Study: $53.5 Million Verdict for a Man Left Paraplegic After Brooklyn Construction Accident

In a devastating case handled by Partners Jeffrey A. Block and S. Joseph Donahue, Block O’Toole & Murphy represented a 43-year-old construction worker who was injured while installing AC units on top of a building in the Brookyln neighborhood of East New York.

On the day of the accident, a crane was supposed to be used to lift the AC unit, which weighed approximately 2,000 pounds, to a bulkhead on the roof. However, cars parked along the street prevented the crane from being used. Unwilling to wait for the cars to be moved, our client’s boss insisted that he and the other workers move the AC unit to the roof by hand.

Our client and the other workers laid down plywood on the building’s internal stairs and manually pushed the AC unit up the steps. Once the AC unit was on the roof, they erected a ramp to the top of the bulkhead. Our client and a few other workers stood on the bulkhead and pulled on a rope wrapped around the AC unit, while more workers pushed from below.

Unfortunately, the bulkhead did not have a guardrail, and none of the workers were provided with fall protection. As the AC unit was being shoved onto the platform, it knocked our client off balance, and he fell approximately 15 feet to the roof below, where he landed on his back.

Our client’s injuries were catastrophic. He suffered multiple fractures in his thoracic spine, resulting in permanent damage to his spinal cord that left him paraplegic.

In this case, the lack of fall protection or guardrails made for a textbook violation of Labor Law 240(1), and our attorneys filed for summary judgment. The judge assigned to the case granted the motion, leaving damages as the only issue to be decided.

Supporting Our Client’s Workers’ Compensation Case

Block O’Toole & Murphy went above and beyond for our client while he waited for his third-party case to be resolved, and did everything we could to make sure his workers’ compensation insurance supported him in the meantime.

For example, our client’s living situation had become tenuous after he was released from the hospital. Now confined to a wheelchair, he needed housing that was 100% handicapped accessible. His aunt generously offered to modify her basement into an apartment for him, but he still needed to stay in a hotel while this work was being done. However, his workers’ compensation insurance refused to pay for the entire stay.

When the insurance carrier did not respond to our client’s workers’ compensation lawyer in regards to this matter, our attorneys intervened to make sure our client continued receiving the funds he was entitled to. Additionally, when the insurance carrier resisted paying for the installation of a chairlift, our attorneys once again worked with his workers’ compensation lawyer to resolve the issue.

Determining Fair Compensation and Reaching a Verdict

Even though liability had already been decided, our attorneys meticulously prepared for the damages portion of the trial. Knowing that our client would require extensive care for the rest of his life, we hired economic experts to testify on his behalf. The jury decided to award our client a total of $53,500,000, including  $1,000,000 for past medical expenses, $7,500,000 for future medical expenses, and $45,000,000 for past and future pain and suffering.

Top Case Results for New York Construction Accidents

All workers have a right to safe working conditions; if workers are not provided with this basic right and an accident occurs, the negligent party must compensate them.

Put an experienced lawyer on your side to protect your rights and get help for your work injuries. Block O’Toole & Murphy’s notable construction accident verdicts and settlements include:

• $110,174,972 jury verdict for a cyclist who sustained serious injuries, including paralysis, after he was hit by a falling object at a Brooklyn renovation site
• $53,500,000 verdict for a worker who suffered paralysis from the waist down after falling on the job at a Brooklyn construction site
• $25,000,000 settlement for a worker who fell 12 feet after he was struck by a load of concrete forms at a construction site
• $15,000,000 settlement for the family of an HVAC technician who was killed in an on-the-job accident at a hospital
• $12,000,000 settlement for a tunnel worker hurt during the number 7 train subway extension project in Manhattan
• $11,500,000 settlement for a construction worker who suffered a severe wrist injury after a defective saw accident in the Bronx
• $11,000,000 settlement for a worker who suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis and spine after falling three stories during a new construction project in Brooklyn
• $10,875,000 settlement for a worker who fell from the rooftop of the building in Brooklyn
• $10,500,000 settlement for the surviving family of a union laborer who was tragically killed when a defective saw kicked back, striking his neck
• $10,000,000 settlement for a union asbestos worker who became disabled from his injuries after a part of a building collapsed on him
• $9,750,000 settlement for a construction worker who suffered serious injuries requiring multiple surgeries, including a three-level cervical fusion and four-level lumbar fusion
• $9,500,000 settlement for a painter who suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling from an extension ladder on a Dutchess County worksite
• $9,000,000 settlement for a construction worker who lost two fingers while working on a Manhattan apartment building
• $8,750,000 settlement for an electrician’s helper injured in a ladder fall
• $7,400,000 recovery for a sheet worker injured while working on a HVAC unit at a Brooklyn store undergoing renovation
• $7,300,000 settlement for a laborer who sustained an arm amputation while performing steel demolition
• $7,200,000 settlement for the surviving wife and young children of a 25-year-old man who lost his life after falling 50 feet from a misleveled elevator shaft
• $7,000,000 award for a carpenter who was struck in the face by a metal clamp in Astoria, Queens
• $7,000,000 settlement for a construction worker crushed by 25,000 pounds of falling concrete segments while building an underground tunnel in Orange County, NY
• $7,000,000 settlement for a client who fell through a temporary floor
• $6,793,881 jury verdict for union worker who was injured during an accident at a water treatment plant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
• $6,500,000 settlement for a union mechanic who fell 18-20 feet after the catwalk he was walking on collapsed
• $6,500,000 verdict for a Local 731 worker who suffered a traumatic lower back injury after he was struck by a beam that fell 16 feet
• $6,400,000 settlement for ironworker who fell approximately 30 feet during a construction project in the Bronx
• $6,250,000 settlement in Putnam County case for a worker who became quadriplegic after a fall during a new home construction project
• $6,080,408 jury verdict in a Manhattan case for a client who was permanently disabled from work as a carpenter after a scaffold collapsed during a building renovation project
• $6,000,000 settlement for worker who fell off an exterior scaffold
• $6,000,000 settlement for a worker who fell 13 feet from inside a crane he was operating, resulting in the need for two spinal surgeries and one hip surgery
• $5,900,000 settlement for Bronx worker with fractures, nerve, and spinal injuries after a ladder fall
• $5,885,000 jury verdict for an undocumented worker who fell while painting a ceiling beam during a Queens construction project
• $5,750,000 settlement for laborer who fell two-stories during a demolition project
• $5,500,000 settlement in Nassau County case for worker struck by machinery
• $5,500,000 settlement for worker with head injuries and fractures after a construction accident in East Williamsburg
• $5,030,572 recovery for construction laborer who fell approximately 25 feet when the scaffold tipped over
• $5,000,000 settlement for construction worker who suffered electric shock
• $5,000,000 settlement for a carpenter injured while working on a multistory building in Brooklyn
• $5,000,000 settlement for union member who suffered hip and spinal injuries after he was struck by a falling object at a Manhattan construction site
• $5,000,000 settlement for a rigger who fell from scaffolding while setting up the stage for a concert
• $5,000,000 settlement awarded to electrician helper injured in a ladder fall during a renovation project
• $4,995,000 settlement for a laborer who fell as a result of unsteady flooring on a Manhattan construction site
• $4,900,000 settlement for a union electrician injured in a ladder fall during an electrical upgrade project
• $4,750,000 settlement for union labor foreman hit in the back with a flying rock from construction site blast
• $4,650,000 settlement for a day laborer who was not provided proper safety equipment during a warehouse renovation project
• $4,500,000 settlement for a non-union contractor injured after falling from scaffold on Brooklyn renovation job site
• $4,500,000 settlement for a UA Plumbers Local 1 member who suffered serious knee injuries after falling as a result of a tripping hazard
• $4,500,000 settlement for a 44-year-old construction worker after he was struck and knocked to the ground by a heavy hoist gate
• $4,475,000 settlement for the Estate of a union ironworker foreman killed in a construction site fall
• $4,450,000 settlement for a laborer who suffered brain and spine injuries after a 15-20 foot fall from a forklift
• $4,250,000 settlement in Kings County case for a union excavator who fell into a ditch while working
• $4,200,000 settlement for a union plasterer injured upon falling from an A-frame ladder
• $4,011,000 verdict for a lead inspector hurt while working at the 170th Street subway station in the Bronx
• $4,000,000 settlement in a Bronx construction case for a union worker injured in a fall from scaffolding
• $4,000,000 settlement in Nassau County case for a worker who sustained spinal injuries after falling from the roof
• $4,000,000 settlement for a steamfitter injured in a water pump accident at Montefiore Medical Center
• $4,000,000 settlement for an elevator erector injured during a hotel renovation project
• $4,000,000 settlement for a worker who required ankle fusion surgery after falling from a ladder while performing renovation work.
• $4,000,000 settlement for a carpenter who required a total knee replacement and 2-level lumbar fusion surgery after a ladder fall
• $3,800,000 settlement in products liability case for Long Island delivery driver hurt by a trailer step that broke
• $3,750,000 settlement for a non-union construction laborer who fell from an unsecure ladder
• $3,750,000 settlement in Bronx County case for a laborer who sustained leg injuries after being struck by a falling beam
• $3,750,000 settlement for a union laborer who tripped and fell over a broken piece of wood on a dark construction site
• $3,720,000 settlement for a commercial glass worker who fell two stories through a hole at a construction project in Bayside, Queens
• $3,700,000 settlement for an asbestos worker who fell as a result of unsecured scaffold planks
• $3,600,000 settlement for a construction worker who suffered back and shoulder injuries after he fell through a gap in an improperly planked scaffold
• $3,500,000 settlement for a union carpenter who suffered head injuries from a scaffold accident
• $3,500,000 settlement for a porter struck in the head and neck by limestone that fell ten stories from a roof
• $3,500,000 settlement for a plumber’s helper who sustained a traumatic brain injury from ladder fall
• $3,411,000 settlement for a superintendent injured by a falling brick
• $3,400,000 settlement for union carpenter who fell from a scaffold with no safety rails
• $3,300,000 settlement for a union laborer injured by falling angle irons at a renovation project in Westchester County
• $3,250,000 settlement for a union laborer hurt while working in a subway tunnel
• $3,250,000 settlement for a plumber in Manhattan who fell after being instructed to work from an unsecured ladder and sustained permanent spine injuries
• $3,200,000 settlement for a window installer who fell to the ground and sustained multiple injuries after stepping on an unsecured scaffold plank that flipped up
• $3,200,000 settlement for demolition laborer injured at a Manhattan apartment building when the stairway collapsed.
• $3,175,000 settlement for a man who was struck by a forklift while he was making a delivery in Jamaica, Queens
• $3,100,000 settlement for a laborer who fell from a wobbly A-frame ladder at a newly-constructed Manhattan high-rise
• $3,075,000 settlement for a union plumber struck by falling gravel while working on a new building construction project
• $3,075,000 settlement for boiler mechanic who sustained lumbar and cervical herniations after falling from a ladder
• $3,000,000 settlement for a worker who fell at an unsafe worksite in Brooklyn
• $3,000,000 settlement for a landscaper involved in a Westchester County highway tractor trailer accident
• $3,000,000 settlement for an electrician’s helper hurt in a ladder and scaffold collapse during a Manhattan renovation project
• $3,000,000 settlement for an electrician who sustained neck and lower back injuries after he fell from an unsecured A-frame ladder
• $3,000,000 settlement in a Bronx County case for a union carpenter who tripped and fell
• $3,000,000 settlement for a carpenter injured in a fall during a luxury apartment renovation project
• $3,000,000 settlement for an elevator mechanic who suffered serious elbow, shoulder and back injuries in a work fall
• $2,900,000 settlement for an HVAC worker who was unable to return to work after a ladder fall
• $2,875,000 settlement for a welder who suffered back and shoulder injuries in a falling object accident
• $2,850,000 settlement in a Manhattan case for a construction worker who suffered serious arm and back injuries after he fell during a renovation project
• $2,825,000 settlement for a bricklayer who fell 12-15 feet from a platform that collapsed beneath him at a Brooklyn renovation project
• $2,750,000 settlement for a worker who fell from an unsafe ladder at a renovation project in Brooklyn
• $2,750,000 settlement in a Nassau County case for an HVAC worker who sustained leg injuries after ladder fall
• $2,700,000 settlement for union plumber who sustained knee and shoulder injuries in a fall
• $2,700,000 settlement for a union worker who fell off the roof while working on asbestos removal and re-roofing.
• $2,700,000 settlement for a union laborer injured in a construction project at a hotel in Manhattan
• $2,650,000 settlement for a Bronx worker who suffered a herniated disc in his cervical spine due to a scaffolding accident
• $2,650,000 settlement for in a slip and fall case for an electrician foreman
• $2,640,000 settlement for a non-union laborer injured while working on pipe scaffolding
• $2,600,000 settlement in a Labor Law 240(1) case for a worker who fell six feet from an unsecured A-frame ladder
• $2,600,000 settlement for union worker who fell when the floor collapsed beneath him during a demolition project
• $2,600,000 settlement for a 37-year-old union electrician who was shocked twice while attempting to connect power lines
• $2,500,000 settlement after a demolition worker suffered wrist, leg, and foot fractures in a work fall
• $2,500,000 settlement for a construction worker who suffered severe hand injuries while working from an A-frame ladder
• $2,500,000 settlement in a Labor Law 240 case for a demolition worker who was hit by a falling duct, which caused him to fall five feet from a scaffold.
• $2,400,000 settlement for a painter who sustained multiple injuries in a trip and fall accident
• $2,400,000 settlement for a construction worker injured in a ladder fall at a building in Flushing, Queens
• $2,400,000 settlement for a Local 1010 union laborer who was injured in a saw accident
• $2,300,000 settlement for a non-union laborer injured while working as a flagman for a Midtown West construction project
• $2,250,000 settlement for a building engineer who required knee and spinal surgery after falling 15 feet to the floor from unsafe shelving
• $2,250,000 settlement for a window washer who fell to the ground from the second story of a Manhattan building
• $2,250,000 settlement in a wrongful death case for the spouse of an elevator erector tragically killed in a construction accident
• $2,250,000 settlement for an undocumented construction worker injured in a fall while performing work at a Manhattan high-rise
• $2,225,000 settlement for a Local 608 carpenter foreman struck by a falling door
• $2,200,000 settlement for a non-union laborer injured in a scaffold accident at a construction project in Brooklyn
• $2,200,000 settlement in a Kings County case for a 38-year-old plumber’s assistant injured in a ladder fall
• $2,200,000 settlement for a plumber who required numerous back surgeries after a fall from an extension ladder
• $2,195,000 settlement for a worker who fell 10-12 feet through an unguarded hole on an Orange County work site
• $2,150,000 settlement for a union carpenter struck in the face by a falling object at a construction site
• $2,150,000 settlement for an HVAC worker who suffered a broken foot and wrist in a fall from an unsecured ladder
• $2,100,000 settlement for a 58-year-old laborer who sustained multiple foot and spinal injuries after the trench he was working in collapsed because of improper shoring
• $2,000,000 settlement for a masonry laborer who fell from a scaffold during a new residential construction project in Nassau County
• $2,000,000 settlement for a painter hurt in a ladder fall while he was painting the stairwell of a Manhattan residential building
• $2,000,000 settlement for a Local 7 carpenter injured after falling down from a negligently-installed temporary staircase
• $2,000,000 settlement for a 62-year-old electrician who was struck in the back of the neck by a falling HVAC duct in Manhattan
• $2,000,000 settlement in a Labor Law 240 case for a 42-year-old carpenter who sustained serious injuries to his upper extremities
• $1,995,000 verdict for a man who sustained knee injuries after falling into a hole at a construction site
• $1,975,000 settlement for 35-year-old worker who was not provided with fall protection equipment during a Brooklyn warehouse renovation project. As a result, he fell 10 feet to the floor.
• $1,950,000 settlement for a carpenter who required arthroscopic shoulder surgery after he fell off scaffolding while working on the Second Avenue subway project
• $1,900,000 settlement for a local 32 BJ Union maintenance worker unable to resume employment after an elevator accident
• $1,900,000 settlement for union bricklayer who fell on his left elbow when the ladder he was using slid out from under him
• $1,900,000 settlement for a construction worker who required shoulder replacement surgery after a trip and fall accident
• $1,900,000 settlement for a 55-year-old worker who fell from a closed, unsecured A-frame ladder while on the job, resulting in spinal and shoulder injuries
• $1,850,000 settlement for a worker who required laminectomy surgery after the ladder he was on gave way
• $1,850,000 settlement for a worker who sustained significant injuries when the pull-down ladder he was descending completely detached from the ceiling
• $1,850,000 settlement for a union laborer who sustained finger injuries in a work accident
• $1,850,000 settlement for a 60-year-old asbestos abatement worker who fell from a pipe scaffold at his work site and sustained serious injuries that disabled him from future work
• $1,750,000 settlement for a 33-year-old worker who suffered multiple injuries when the roadway he was jackhammering collapsed under him
• $1,750,000 settlement for a construction worker who was injured in a fall while trying to install sheetrock
• $1,750,000 settlement for 49-year-old construction worker who fell from a wobbly ladder and sustained a permanent heel injury while installing kitchen cabinets, resulting in two unsatisfactory bone fusions
• $1,625,000 settlement for a glazer and mechanic who suffered back injuries and broken ribs in a fall from an A-frame ladder
• $1,600,000 settlement for a 58-year-old carpenter who needed shoulder and spinal surgeries after he fell off a rolling scaffold that got caught in a hole in the floor
• $1,600,000 settlement for a worker who fell from a ladder while attempting to put up sheet rock
• $1,500,000 settlement for a union laborer struck by a falling metal beam
• $1,500,000 settlement for a union ironworker who suffered lumbar spine and left shoulder injuries in a work site fall
• $1,475,000 settlement for a produce delivery man injured by falling construction equipment
• $1,400,000 settlement in a Queens case for a carpenter who sustained injuries to his fingers while operating a table saw
• $1,400,000 settlement for a union ironworker who suffered injuries due to a falling beam
• $1,400,000 settlement for a subcontractor who suffered serious spine and shoulder injuries after he fell from a scaffold that did not have a railing.
• $1,350,000 settlement for a Brooklyn worker who required lumbar fusion surgery after being injured in a boiler demolition accident
• $1,350,000 settlement for an undocumented laborer who suffered finger injuries and amputation after a work accident
• $1,350,000 settlement in a Rockland County case for a construction worker injured from falling off a roof
• $1,325,000 settlement for a worker who suffered muscle, nerve, and artery injuries to his arm from falling glass
• $1,325,000 settlement for a 24-year-old carpenter who fell as a result of an unsteady scaffold and ladder
• $1,325,000 settlement for a painter injured when the flooring of a balcony collapsed underneath him
• $1,300,000 settlement for a carpenter who suffered near blindness in a construction accident
• $1,275,000 settlement for non-union construction worker who fell through an opening at a building undergoing a gut renovation
• $1,250,000 settlement for an electrician injured in a ladder fall at a construction project in the Hamptons
• $1,250,000 settlement for a refrigeration apprentice who fell when his ladder tipped
• $1,243,000 settlement for a union laborer who suffered lower leg fractures that did not require surgery during a Manhattan expansion project
• $1,204,087 settlement for a construction worker who lost portions of his toes when another laborer lowered a blade on his foot
• $1,150,000 settlement for a construction worker who suffered injuries to his face and PTSD after a saw-blade accident
• $1,150,000 settlement for a worker who suffered a broken elbow in a scaffold fall due to inadequate fall protection.
• $1,105,000 settlement for a client who sustained injuries while standing on a ladder and cutting a metal beam with a grinder
• $1,000,000 settlement for a worker who fractured his left tibia in a 12-foot fall
• $1,100,000 awarded to Local 580 union ironworker injured by heavy steel grating that fell on his hand during a Bronx construction project
• $1,000,000 settlement for a plumber who sustained injuries to his brain and wrists after a ladder fall

We serve all five boroughs of New York City as well as the entirety of New York State. Contact the skilled attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy by calling 212-736-5300, or by filling out our online contact form.

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