Construction Accident Lawyer, NYC & Long Island

In New York, a fall at work usually isn't on you

New York has a special law that protects workers who work up high, on ladders, scaffolds and roofs. If you fell because nobody gave you a safe ladder, scaffold or harness, the people in charge of the job are usually responsible.

The owner and contractor answer for it

The building owner and the company running the job, even if they weren't there that day, with some exceptions for owners of one- or two-family homes who don't direct the work. You go after them, not your own boss.

They can't just blame you

Most of the time, they can't pay you less by saying you were careless. What matters is whether you were given safe equipment that worked.

It comes on top of workers' comp

Workers' comp pays some bills and part of your pay. This is a separate case for everything you lost: your pain, the work you can't do anymore, and your medical care.

Workers' comp pays part of it. You may be owed much more.

Workers' comp pays part of your wages and your doctor. It pays nothing for the pain you're living with, and little for the years you may not be able to work your trade. Many injured workers don't know they can ask for more. A case against the job site's owner and contractor can.

What this fall took from you	Workers' comp	Case against the job site
Medical bills	Covered	Covered
Lost wages	About two-thirds of your pay, up to a weekly cap	Your full lost wages
Earnings if you can't go back to your trade	Limited	Yes
Future surgeries and care	Some	Yes
The pain you're living with	Not paid	Yes
What your spouse lost too	Not paid	In some cases

General information about New York law, not a promise about any case. Every case is different.

How your case works

Five steps, from the first call to the end of your case. We explain each one before it happens.

You call or send a voice note
Free, private, in English or Spanish. You tell us what happened in your own words.
We move to protect the evidence
The office can send letters asking that the ladder, scaffold and site records be kept, before they disappear.
We find who is responsible
Who owns the building, which company ran the job, and who insures them.
We build your case
Medical records, what you earned, photos and coworkers who saw it. You focus on getting better.
Your case ends
If the case ends with money for you, the office's percentage comes out of it, as written in your agreement. If there's no money, you owe no fee.*

Two free tools for injured workers

Use them tonight, from your phone. You don't have to call first, and nothing you type is sent to the office.

Who's responsible for that job site?

Type the address where you got hurt. We search New York City's public building permits and show you who owns the building and which company was running the job. Those are usually the ones who have to answer for your fall.

Look up a job site

The 7 photos that protect your case

Job sites get cleaned up fast. This checklist walks you, or a coworker, through the pictures that matter most, then lets you send them to the office from your phone.

Open the checklist

The accidents we focus on

Every page on this site is about one thing: workers hurt at height on New York job sites, and the families of workers who didn't come home.

Ladder falls

Ladders that slipped, collapsed, weren't secured or were the wrong ladder for the job.

Read the full guide

Scaffold collapses and falls

Missing guardrails, bad planking, no tie-ins, or a scaffold that gave way.

Read the full guide

Roof and edge falls

Falls through skylights and openings, or off unprotected roof edges and floors.

Falling objects

Materials, tools or loads that weren't secured, hoisted or braced properly.

Hoist and shaft accidents

Hoist failures, elevator shafts and openings left unguarded.

Fatal construction accidents

Helping families after a worker dies in a fall on the job.

Gregory V. Bitterman

Attorney at law, New York

Licensed in New York since: 1986
NY attorney registration: 2026599
Law school: Case Western Reserve
Office: 330 Great Neck Road, Great Neck

You'll work with Greg directly

Gregory V. Bitterman has practiced law in New York since 1986, and when you call this office, you're talking to the lawyer who will handle your case.

Admitted: New York State, 1986
Law school: Case Western Reserve
Fee: Nothing unless we get you money*

What you can expect from this office

Here you know the people handling your case, by name.

Your fee, in writing, on day one

You'll know the exact percentage and how case costs work before you sign anything. No surprises at the end.

A call back the same day

And every two weeks, a written update on your case. Evidence on a job site disappears fast, so this office moves fast.

Nothing to pay unless we get you money

Nothing up front and no hourly bills. If we don't get you money, you don't pay us.*

Questions injured workers ask

Straight answers. If yours isn't here, call and ask Greg.

I'm getting workers' comp. Can I still bring a case?

Usually yes. Workers' comp means you usually can't go after your own boss, but you can still go after the building owner and the company running the job.

The contractor says the fall was my fault. Does that end it?

Often not. In New York, if you weren't given safe equipment, or it failed, it usually doesn't matter if you made a mistake. There are exceptions, so let Greg look at what happened.

I don't have papers. Can I still get help?

In most cases, yes. New York's highest court decided that a worker without papers can still ask for the pay he lost (read the decision). In 2026, the head of the city's Buildings Department also said immigration status isn't relevant to its accident investigations, and that city agencies can't share immigration information with federal agencies (source). What you tell the office stays private, and Greg will explain any risks in your situation one-on-one.

I was paid in cash. Can I still bring a case?

Yes. Texts from the foreman, photos, coworkers who worked beside you and bank deposits can all help show what you earned.

Will I get fired for this?

New York law says your boss can't punish you for asking for workers' comp. If that happens, tell the office.

How long do I have?

Often three years from the accident. But if the city or a government agency owns the building, you may have only 90 days to send them a written notice. Don't wait to find out which one applies to you. For workers' comp, tell your employer in writing within 30 days, and file with the state Workers' Compensation Board within 2 years (source).

What does it cost to hire you?

Nothing up front. The office gets a percentage of the money it gets for you, and only if it gets you money. If there's no money, you owe nothing: no fee and no case costs.

Check that we are real before you call

Some people pretend to be lawyers, often through Facebook and WhatsApp. Here is how to check that Gregory V. Bitterman is a real lawyer, licensed by the State of New York.

New York attorney registration number: 2026599
Licensed since: 1986
Office: 330 Great Neck Road, Great Neck, NY 11021

What this office will never do

Ask you for money over WhatsApp
Charge you anything up front
Promise you papers or an immigration fix
Pressure you to sign the same day

A "notario" is not a lawyer and cannot represent you. If someone offering legal help seems wrong, you can report it by calling 311.

Tell us what happened

The call is free and there's no obligation. You'll speak with the office that handles your case, not a call center.

(516) 888-9770 Or send the form and the office will contact you the way you choose.

Calls and WhatsApp answered 8am to 10pm, seven days. After 10pm, leave a voice note and the office answers by 9am.

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Free case review Four quick questions

Tap what happened and answer three more quick questions. The office sees your answers before it calls you back.

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