Construction Accident Lawyer in Nassau County
Injured on a construction site in Nassau County? NY Labor Law §240 may hold the property owner strictly liable. Free case review — (888) 702-1581.
Nassau County is Long Island's densest construction market, with major projects concentrated around the UBS Arena at Belmont Park, the proposed Belmont Park Village mixed-use redevelopment, and ongoing Nassau University Medical Center expansion. The Hempstead Hub transit-oriented development and Long Island Rail Road third-track project through Nassau have generated years of right-of-way and adjacent construction. Aging mid-century commercial strips along Hempstead Turnpike and Northern Boulevard are being torn down and rebuilt as mixed-use residential developments, creating multi-story construction sites in tight suburban environments.
NY Labor Law §240 and §241 — What Every Worker in Nassau County Should Know
Long Island has seen a surge in high-density residential and commercial development. These projects bring more workers onto elevations, and more §240 exposure for property owners.
New York Labor Law §240(1), known as the Scaffold Law, imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors when a worker is injured due to a gravity-related hazard — a fall from scaffolding, a ladder collapse, a falling object. Strict liability means the owner's negligence does not need to be proved. If the safety device failed to provide proper protection, liability attaches.
§241(6) adds a parallel claim: any violation of the NY Industrial Code (12 NYCRR Part 23) that causes injury is also actionable. These two statutes together give injured construction workers in Nassau County unusually strong legal footing compared to workers in any other state.
Workers' compensation is not your only option. §240 and §241(6) claims are separate civil lawsuits — you can pursue both simultaneously, and a third-party lawsuit typically produces substantially higher recoveries than comp alone.
Active Construction in Nassau County — Where Accidents Happen
Nassau County has seen significant construction activity in recent years, including Belmont Park Village mixed-use redevelopment, Nassau University Medical Center expansion, LIRR third track infrastructure through Nassau County, UBS Arena and surrounding development. These projects employ workers represented by Laborers Local 66, Carpenters Local 290, Iron Workers Local 361, Operating Engineers Local 138 and other locals operating in the region.
Active construction zones are where §240 injuries occur. When an employer or GC fails to erect proper scaffolding, provide fall harnesses, or secure materials against falling, and a worker is hurt, the legal machinery of Labor Law §240 and §241(6) is available to that worker regardless of what their employer tells them.
Many workers in Nassau County are told after an injury that workers' comp is their only option, or that they were partly at fault. Under §240 strict liability, comparative negligence is not a defense. The employer's or property owner's claim that "you should have been more careful" is legally irrelevant if a safety device failed.
Filing Your Claim: Supreme Court, Nassau County
Construction accident lawsuits in Nassau County are generally filed in the Supreme Court, Nassau County, located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola NY 11501. The court is part of New York's Appellate Division, 2nd Department — the appellate body that reviews trial court decisions in Nassau County cases. Understanding the appellate division matters because different departments have developed slightly different interpretations of §240's scope over decades of case law.
Deadlines matter. Under CPLR §214, you have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim. However, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years, and claims against government entities may require a Notice of Claim filed within 90 days. Do not wait.
If you were treated after your accident at Nassau University Medical Center or another trauma center, your medical records will form a core part of your damages evidence. Preserving those records early, along with incident reports, OSHA logs, and witness contact information, protects your case.
Supreme Court, Nassau County
100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola NY 11501
Union Locals Active in Nassau County
Union members may have additional resources through their trust funds, but union membership does not affect your right to pursue an independent Labor Law §240 or §241(6) claim.
Common Questions About Construction Accidents in Nassau County
Injured on a Nassau County Construction Site?
Call (888) 702-1581 for a free case review. We handle §240 and §241 claims throughout Nassau County and all of New York state. No fee unless we win.