What Rights and Protections Do Construction Workers Have in New York?
As any construction worker can tell you, the construction industry can produce dangerous work environments. Because the work inherently involves physical labor, it is not uncommon for construction workers to be exploited for their labor. And it certainly does not help that many construction workers are simply unaware of any legal rights and protections they may be afforded.
Knowing your rights is one of the most important ways you can empower yourself. Being aware of your legal protections lets you know when and how you can speak out when your rights are being violated. It is an unfortunate truth that accidents are a frequent occurrence in the construction industry. If you are a construction worker in New York, you’ll want to know what to do if you are ever involved in a workplace accident.
Financial Recovery
The good news: If you are injured on the job, you may have a right to file a worker’s compensation claim in order to collect medical benefits and any lost earnings. This is true whether or not you are involved in the construction industry. Worker’s compensation can be defined as “a public benefit scheme in which qualified workers who are injured in the workplace receive compensation, commensurate with their degree of injury, regardless of fault.” However, for many people, it is not the only available option.
In fact, depending on the details of your specific case, it is fully possible that you may also be eligible to file a personal injury claim as well. If your workplace accident happened as a direct result of somebody else’s negligence or is considered a “grave injury” (e.g., wrongful death or the loss of an extremity), it may benefit you to open up a personal injury case.
Making Ends Meet
Directly following a workplace accident, you will have to deal with a slew of various issues. Obviously, you will want to prioritize your health first and foremost. This means going to the 
doctor and figuring out the best treatment and recovery path for your specific situation. Of course, going to the doctor takes money. And suffering a workplace accident likely means you will be missing a few days’ worth of work–and a few days’ worth of pay.
Fortunately, you do not have to deal with all of this on your own. In fact, there are a number of different possible sources of benefits and compensation you may be able to turn to while waiting on your claim to be processed. These sources may include your own private health insurance, worker’s compensation benefits, and personal injury settlements.
Seeking Legal Help
If you or a loved one have recently been involved in a construction accident, you have the right to seek legal help and compensation from a New York personal injury lawyer. Contact the law firm of Gattuso & Ciottoli, PLLC any time day or night at (315) 314-8000 for a free consultation drawing on over 50 years of combined legal experience. Our offices are based in Syracuse and we proudly serve the Central New York area, including Syracuse, Watertown, Binghamton, North Syracuse, Camillus, Liverpool, Cortland, and Auburn.