Construction machinery is essential to modern building projects, but when heavy equipment is improperly maintained, inadequately supervised, or used without proper safeguards, the consequences can be life-altering. Machinery-related accidents on New York construction sites frequently result in catastrophic injuries, permanent disability, or loss of life.
At Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, we represent construction workers and families in serious injury and wrongful death cases involving cranes, forklifts, excavators, power tools, and other heavy machinery. These cases often involve complex questions of safety standards, equipment operation, and multi-party liability under New York Labor Law.
Thomas P. Giuffra is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who represents victims of serious machinery and equipment accidents across New York. For more than 24 years, he has held manufacturers, contractors, and property owners accountable when defective, improperly guarded, or unsafe machinery causes devastating injuries.
Thomas handles cases involving industrial machines, construction equipment, power tools, defective safety guards, and dangerous mechanical failures. His experience includes catastrophic injury litigation involving traumatic amputations, crush injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
Among his results are significant verdicts and settlements for victims of defective equipment and unsafe worksites, including a $1.74 million verdict for a traumatic amputation caused by defective machinery and multiple multi-million-dollar labor law recoveries.
With more than 20 jury verdicts and numerous settlements exceeding $1 million, including a landmark $58 million verdict, Thomas brings proven trial strength to every case. He is an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, distinctions reserved for elite trial lawyers.
When machinery fails and lives are permanently changed, Thomas builds cases designed to win, in negotiation or in the courtroom.
Contact a New York construction accident attorney online to request a free consultation. Nosotros hablamos español.
Machinery accidents rarely occur in isolation. In our experience litigating these cases, serious injuries often result from a combination of mechanical failures and unsafe worksite practices.
Common conditions that give rise to machinery-related injuries include inadequate training, lack of supervision, improper operation, disabled safety features, and equipment that was not properly inspected or maintained. In other cases, machinery is used in close proximity to workers without adequate exclusion zones, signaling, or coordination between trades.
When these conditions exist, a machinery incident may not be an unavoidable accident, but the result of preventable safety failures that expose owners, contractors, and other responsible parties to civil liability.
Construction machinery accidents frequently involve heavy equipment that poses inherent risks when not properly controlled or maintained.
Based on the cases we see, litigation commonly arises from incidents involving:
Each type of machinery is subject to specific safety requirements under New York’s Industrial Code, as well as manufacturer guidelines and industry standards. Violations of these requirements often form the foundation of a successful claim.
Construction machinery injuries are considered the result of negligence when they occur because a responsible party failed to meet a legal or safety obligation, such as maintaining equipment, enforcing safety protocols, or complying with safety rules.
In practice, negligence shows up in situations where:
When injuries occur under these conditions, they are treated as negligence claims where civil remedies may be available under New York Law.
Construction machinery accidents often involve more than one responsible party. New York law recognizes that safety on a construction site is shared among multiple entities, particularly when heavy equipment is involved.
Depending on the circumstances, liability may rest with:
After a construction machinery accident, most workers are told that workers’ compensation is their only option. While workers’ compensation benefits are an important starting point, they are often limited and do not always reflect the full impact of a serious machinery-related injury.
In many cases, a construction machinery accident involves parties other than the injured worker’s direct employer. This may include property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, or companies responsible for inspecting or maintaining the machinery. When the negligence of one of these third parties contributed to the accident, New York law may allow an injured worker to pursue a separate civil claim.
These third-party lawsuits can provide access to compensation that workers’ compensation does not cover, such as pain and suffering and full lost wages. For workers facing long-term injuries or permanent limitations, this distinction can make a meaningful difference.
An experienced NYC Construction accident lawyer can help evaluate whether a machinery accident involves viable third-party claims under New York law and explain how those claims may fit alongside workers’ compensation benefits. Contact us for a complimentary consultation today.
If you were injured while working around construction machinery, the legal rules that apply to your situation are set by New York labor laws that govern construction site safety.
The statutes most commonly involved in machinery-related injury cases include:
Construction sites rely on heavy machinery to move materials, lift loads, and perform specialized tasks. When this equipment is improperly maintained, poorly operated, or used without adequate safety measures, the risk of serious injury increases significantly.
In our experience handling construction accident cases, machinery-related injuries frequently involve:
Each type of machinery is subject to specific safety rules under the New York Industrial Code, as well as manufacturer requirements and industry standards. Accidents often occur when those requirements are ignored or improperly enforced.
Because of the size, weight, and force involved, construction machinery accidents often result in severe and life-altering injuries. These injuries can affect a worker’s ability to return to work, live independently, or maintain long-term financial stability.
Common injuries seen in machinery accident cases include:
These types of injuries often lead to extensive medical treatment, prolonged recovery, and permanent limitations. As a result, construction machinery accident cases frequently involve significant damages and complex legal claims.
The steps taken after a machinery accident can have a significant impact on a future claim. When possible, injured workers should seek immediate medical attention and ensure that the incident is properly reported.
From a legal standpoint, it is important to preserve information about the machinery involved, including its condition, ownership, maintenance history, and how it was being used at the time of the incident. Photographs, witness information, and incident reports may later become critical evidence.
Because construction sites change quickly, evidence related to machinery accidents can be lost or altered if not addressed promptly.
A serious machinery accident can affect far more than a person’s ability to return to work. Medical care, time away from employment, and lasting physical limitations can place enormous strain on injured workers and their families. Civil construction machinery accident lawsuits are intended to address those losses by allowing injured workers to seek compensation that reflects the full impact of their injuries, including:
In fatal machinery accidents, surviving family members may also pursue wrongful death damages to account for the financial and personal losses caused by the death of a loved one.
Machinery accident litigation is often technically complex. These cases may require engineering analysis, expert testimony, review of safety standards, and coordination among multiple defendants with competing interests.
Establishing liability often depends on understanding how machinery should have been operated, what safety rules applied, and who had responsibility for enforcing those rules at the worksite.
At Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, we bring decades of experience handling serious construction accident cases in New York. Our attorneys work closely with engineers, safety professionals, and medical experts to investigate machinery failures and identify responsible parties.
We approach each case with the resources and attention required to litigate complex Labor Law claims and pursue meaningful compensation for injured workers and their families.
If you or a loved one was injured in a construction machinery accident, we are prepared to review your situation and explain your legal options under New York law.
We’re ready to stand for the rights and interests of workers. Call us at (212) 684-1880 today or complete this form to send us a message.
