Struck by Vehicle on Construction Sites in Manhattan, NY
Labor Law 240 Claims
Injured in a struck by vehicle on construction sites on a Manhattan construction site? Under Labor Law 240, owners and contractors bear absolute liability. Free consultation — no fee unless we win.
Struck by Vehicle on Construction Sites in Manhattan: What Workers Need to Know
Manhattan is one of New York City's most active construction markets, with 45,000 active permits and roughly 850 major construction sites at any time. NYC Department of Buildings data shows 2,800 construction injury reports filed annually in Manhattan alone. Falls account for the majority — including struck by vehicle on construction sites, which involve the type of elevation-related hazard that Labor Law 240 (the "Scaffold Law") was enacted to address. When a Manhattan construction worker is hurt in a struck by vehicle on construction sites, New York law places full liability on the property owner and general contractor — not the injured worker.
Labor Law 240 in Manhattan
New York Labor Law § 240 — the Scaffold Law — creates absolute liability for owners and general contractors when a worker is injured by an elevation-related hazard. The liability standard is: absolute.
In Manhattan, every construction project — from a mixed-use development like Hudson Yards to a single-family renovation — is covered. The contractor's failure to supply adequate scaffolding, ladders, or fall-protection equipment triggers liability regardless of the worker's own actions.
How Struck by Vehicle on Construction Sites Happen
Understanding the mechanics of a struck by vehicle on construction sites matters in a Labor Law 240 case — it determines which specific duty the owner or contractor breached.
Backing vehicle in blind zone
Dump trucks, concrete mixers, and excavators have large blind zones directly behind the cab. A worker who steps into the path of a reversing vehicle while the operator is looking at a spotter or guide is invisible to the operator. The vehicle's mass — 30,000 to 80,000 pounds for a loaded dump truck — means that even at low speeds (2-3 mph), contact with a pedestrian produces crush injuries to the lower extremities, pelvis, and abdomen that are frequently fatal.
Swing-radius contact from rotating equipment
The counterweight and cab of a hydraulic excavator swing through a full 360-degree arc during normal operation. Workers who enter the swing radius — often to communicate with the operator or retrieve materials — are struck by the counterweight without warning. The counterweight moves at a fixed angular velocity that translates to 8-12 mph at the tip. Contact at that speed delivers forces equivalent to a motor vehicle accident.
Public vehicle intrusion into work zone
NYC construction on or adjacent to public roadways creates interface zones where public vehicles can enter the site. When jersey barriers, cones, or flaggers are insufficient or absent, a distracted or impaired driver can strike workers who have no opportunity to react. Construction workers on roadway sites are killed by vehicle intrusion at a rate 3 times higher than workers in fully enclosed sites.
Where Manhattan Cases Are Filed
Manhattan County Supreme Court
60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007
1st Judicial District · First Department
- High volume
- Sophisticated plaintiffs' bar
- Large verdicts
Major Construction Sites in Manhattan
Struck by Vehicle on Construction Sites risks are concentrated wherever large projects operate. These are the highest-activity sites in Manhattan right now:
Hudson Yards
Mixed-use development
$25 billion
Phase 1 complete, Phase 2 ongoing
One Vanderbilt
Supertall office tower
$3.3 billion
Complete
270 Park Avenue (JPMorgan HQ)
Supertall office tower
$3 billion
Under construction
Trauma Centers in Manhattan
These are the accredited trauma centers that receive the most serious Manhattan construction injuries. Medical records from these facilities become key evidence in your claim.
Bellevue Hospital Center
462 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Oldest public hospital in the United States; designated NYC Health + Hospitals adult Level I trauma center serving Lower and Midtown Manhattan.
NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065
Level I trauma and burn center for the East Side; primary receiving hospital for Midtown East and Upper East Side construction sites.
Mount Sinai Hospital
1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029
Level I trauma center serving East Harlem and the Upper East Side; major receiving hospital for crane and high-rise incidents.
Union Locals in Manhattan
The primary unions covering Manhattan construction workers are: LIUNA Local 6A, LIUNA Local 79, IBEW Local 3, Carpenters Local 157, Ironworkers Local 40, Operating Engineers Local 14-14B. Full list includes 18 active locals on Manhattan job sites.
Union membership does not limit your Labor Law 240 rights. Your union cannot negotiate away your right to sue the property owner for an elevation-related injury. Workers' compensation from your union fund and a personal injury lawsuit are separate claims — you are entitled to both.
OSHA Standards That Apply to Struck by Vehicle on Construction Sites
29 CFR 1926.501 — Fall Protection - General Requirements
6,763 citations in FY2024 nationwide. OSHA citations for this standard on a Manhattan job site are admissible in a Labor Law 241(6) claim.
29 CFR 1910.1200 — Hazard Communication
3,111 citations in FY2024 nationwide. OSHA citations for this standard on a Manhattan job site are admissible in a Labor Law 241(6) claim.
New York's Industrial Code Rule 23 (12 NYCRR Part 23) adds state-specific requirements on top of OSHA. A violation of Rule 23 that proximately caused your injury can establish liability under Labor Law 241(6), independent of Labor Law 240.
Manhattan Construction History
Empire State Building (1930-1931) — Erected in 410 days at 102 stories. Five workers were killed during construction; survivors and their families had no Labor Law 240 protection at the time. The project's safety record drove later reforms to scaffolding and fall-protection standards that became part of New York's Industrial Code.
Frequently Asked Questions: Struck by Vehicle on Construction Sites in Manhattan
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This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Case outcomes depend on the specific facts of your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Haddock Law is a referral network connecting injured workers with licensed New York attorneys who handle Labor Law 240 cases on a contingency basis.