Construction Accident Lawyer in Orange County
Injured on a construction site in Orange County? NY Labor Law §240 may hold the property owner strictly liable. Free case review — (888) 702-1581.
Orange County is experiencing significant construction growth driven by the expansion of Legoland New York Resort in Goshen, Amazon distribution center development near Newburgh, and ongoing Route 17/I-86 corridor improvements. The county's position as a freight and logistics hub has spurred industrial warehouse construction along I-84. Construction workers here face hazards from large-scale commercial and infrastructure projects with multiple general contractors on site, and the Stewart International Airport expansion in Newburgh adds aviation-facility construction to an already active pipeline.
NY Labor Law §240 and §241 — What Every Worker in Orange County Should Know
The Hudson Valley is in the middle of a development boom — waterfront projects, data centers, warehouse construction. Each new site is another place where a fall can happen and strict liability applies.
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 Orange 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 Orange County — Where Accidents Happen
Orange County has seen significant construction activity in recent years, including Legoland New York Resort expansion, Goshen, Amazon fulfillment center, Montgomery, Route 17/I-86 corridor expansion, Stewart International Airport terminal and taxiway improvements. These projects employ workers represented by Laborers Local 17, Carpenters Local 279, Operating Engineers Local 137, Iron Workers Local 417 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 Orange 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, Orange County
Construction accident lawsuits in Orange County are generally filed in the Supreme Court, Orange County, located at 285 Main Street, Goshen NY 10924. The court is part of New York's Appellate Division, 2nd Department — the appellate body that reviews trial court decisions in Orange 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 Orange Regional 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, Orange County
285 Main Street, Goshen NY 10924
Union Locals Active in Orange 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 Orange County
Injured on a Orange County Construction Site?
Call (888) 702-1581 for a free case review. We handle §240 and §241 claims throughout Orange County and all of New York state. No fee unless we win.