The Scaffold Law is one of the most powerful legal protections for construction workers in the Bronx and across New York. This law is long-standing, but its core remains unchanged: it holds property owners and general contractors liable for gravity-related accidents and injuries.
What the Scaffold Law covers
Despite its name, the law does not just apply to scaffolds. It covers nearly any injury where gravity is a factor, such as the following:
- Falls from heights: This includes falls from scaffolds, ladders, roofs or joists.
- Falling objects: If a tool or construction material falls from a height and strikes you because it was not secured.
- Covered activities: Includes erection, demolition, repairing, altering, painting, cleaning or pointing of a building or structure. Routine maintenance activities are often excluded.
If you are unsure what evidence matters, a personal injury lawyer can help you collect and organize records and testimony that can support your claim and determine liability.
Scaffold Law’s strict liability
Under New York’s Scaffold Law, owners and contractors bear strict liability for elevation‑related falls. Unlike ordinary negligence claims, your share of fault rarely reduces what you can recover based on the following:
- Strict liability rule: Property owners and contractors face full financial responsibility when missing or defective safety equipment causes a fall. Even worker negligence usually does not reduce the owner’s liability
- Sole proximate‑cause exception: The only time an owner or contractor can avoid liability is if they can prove the victim caused the accident alone (for example, you jumped from a safe scaffold for no reason).
Contractors and insurers fight aggressively in the Bronx, so having a skilled attorney by your side is important when pursuing compensation for your injuries.
How to counter common defenses you may face
Owners and contractors often blame workers claiming they refuse to wear available safety gear. But an experienced lawyer can check site logs, contracts and witness accounts to expose the truth and fight for your livelihood and future.