Two separate construction site accidents in Brooklyn on Oct. 28 and Queens on Oct. 31, left multiple workers injured. According to a news report in the Brooklyn Home Reporter, four construction workers were injured while working inside a building that partially collapsed in Sunset Park the morning of Oct. 28. The New York City Department of Buildings said the incident occurred in a 28-story building at 6208 Eighth Avenue during a concrete pouring operation on the first level. The floor area, which was around 20 feet by 24 feet, partially collapsed.
Seven Workers Injured in Two Incidents
Four workers fell about 32 feet to the subcellar level, the report said. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries and said to be in stable condition. DOB inspectors said after an investigation that they will be issuing Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH)/Environmental Control Board violations to the general contractor on the project for failure to safeguard the site, work performed that did not conform to approved documents, work performed contrary to the approved site safety plan and failure to provide worksite orientation to workers.
DOB officials also said they will issue a violation to the concrete subcontractor for failure to conduct proper inspections and for work not conforming to approved documents. They also issued a partial stop work order for all concrete operations at the site including forming, pouring, stripping and use of concrete pumps for foundation work.
In another incident, multiple workers were injured at JFK Airport the morning of Oct. 31. Police got a 911 call about a person pinned under a beam in building 269. Three workers suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who was injured and we wish them the best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Worksite Violations and Compensation for Workers
Construction site violations are a major cause of workplace injuries, often resulting from unsafe conditions, lack of training or failure to follow safety regulations. Common violations include inadequate fall protection, unsafe scaffolding, improper use of machinery and failure to provide personal protective equipment (PPE). These breaches not only put workers at risk but also violate Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards designed to ensure job site safety.
When a construction worker is injured on the job, the first line of financial protection is usually workers’ compensation. This system provides benefits regardless of fault, covering medical expenses, a portion of lost wages and rehabilitation costs. In cases of permanent disability, workers’ compensation may also provide long-term or lifetime benefits. However, workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering and benefits are often limited compared to the full extent of losses. The large verdicts and settlements occur when others are sued in third-party cases.
In some situations, injured workers may also pursue a third-party lawsuit in addition to workers’ compensation. These claims arise when someone other than the employer — such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — contributed to the accident. For example, if defective machinery caused the injury, the manufacturer may be held liable. Third-party lawsuits can provide compensation for damages not covered by workers’ compensation, including pain and suffering, emotional distress and full lost earnings.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you have suffered injuries in a construction-related accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company.
Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job — one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year. Our law firm also recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Sources: https://brooklynreporter.com/2025/10/four-construction-workers-hospitalized-after-partial-building-collapse-in-sunset-park/
https://pix11.com/news/local-news/3-hospitalized-after-jfk-airport-construction-incident-officials/