New York Construction Eye Injury
Lawyers

In New York, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally three years from the date of the accident. However, if your claim involves a municipal entity (such as a city-owned construction project), you may need to file a notice of claim within 90 days. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed within the applicable deadline.

Yes. Under New York Labor Law §240(1), property owners and general contractors bear strict liability for gravity-related injuries regardless of the worker’s conduct. Under §241(6), if the employer failed to provide proper eye protection as required by Industrial Code Rule 23-1.8, the employer — not the worker — is at fault for the violation. New York’s comparative negligence rules allow you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, with your award reduced by your percentage of responsibility.

Seek medical attention right away, even if the injury seems minor. Do not rub your eyes or attempt to remove any embedded object. Report the injury to your supervisor and make sure it is documented in writing. Take photographs of the accident scene, any defective equipment, and the conditions that contributed to the injury. Collect the names and contact information of any witnesses. Then contact a construction eye injury lawyer to understand your legal options.

Yes. Under New York law, immigration status does not affect your right to file a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit. All workers injured on construction sites in New York are entitled to the same legal protections regardless of their documentation status. Your employer cannot use your immigration status against you, and your attorney will protect your privacy throughout the legal process.

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that provides medical coverage and partial wage replacement regardless of who caused the injury. A third-party personal injury claim is a separate lawsuit against parties other than your employer — such as property owners, general contractors, or equipment manufacturers — whose negligence contributed to your injury. Third-party claims can recover damages that workers’ comp does not cover, including pain and suffering and full lost wages. In many cases, both can be pursued simultaneously.

The value of a construction eye injury case depends on several factors, including the severity of the injury, the extent of vision loss, the cost of medical treatment, the impact on your ability to work, and the strength of the evidence against the responsible parties. Cases involving permanent vision loss, blindness, or injuries requiring multiple surgeries tend to result in higher compensation. An experienced construction eye injury lawyer can evaluate your case and provide a realistic assessment of its potential value.

Depending on the circumstances, liability may fall on the property owner, general contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or safety consultant. Under New York Labor Law §240(1) and §241(6), property owners and general contractors can be held strictly liable for certain construction injuries even if they did not directly supervise the work. Your attorney will investigate the facts of your case to identify all potentially responsible parties and maximize your recovery.

Generally, workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy against your direct employer, meaning you cannot sue your employer in a personal injury lawsuit for a workplace injury. However, you can sue third parties — including the property owner, general contractor, and other entities involved in the construction project — for their negligence. In practice, most construction workers in New York are employed by subcontractors, so the property owner and general contractor are third parties who can be sued under the Labor Law.