If you were hurt on a construction site in Le Roy, you are facing a stressful recovery and important legal decisions. Ahearne Law Firm PLLC represents people injured at work and on building sites throughout Genesee County and the Hudson Valley, helping clients understand legal options and pursue fair compensation. Allan J. Ahearne, Jr. and the team can explain how liability may be established, how insurance companies typically respond, and what immediate steps can protect your claim. Our office is available by phone at (845) 986-2777 to discuss the facts of your case and the next steps to consider.
Securing legal guidance after a construction site injury helps ensure that the incident is thoroughly investigated, that responsible parties are identified, and that medical and financial losses are documented. An attorney can coordinate with treating providers to obtain clear medical records, preserve physical and photographic evidence, and collect witness statements that support a claim. Insurance adjusters often focus on minimizing payouts; having someone familiar with claim patterns helps level the playing field during negotiations. Legal representation can also help you evaluate settlement offers, weigh litigation risks, and pursue the best available path for recovering damages and long-term care costs.
Negligence means a failure to exercise reasonable care that results in harm to another person. In the construction context this can include ignoring safety procedures, failing to secure scaffolding, allowing hazardous conditions to persist, or not providing required safety equipment. Proving negligence typically requires showing that a duty existed, that the duty was breached, and that the breach caused the injury and resulting losses. Evidence such as maintenance logs, safety inspection reports, photographs of the scene, and eyewitness statements are commonly used to establish whether negligence occurred on a jobsite.
A third-party claim arises when a worker or visitor on a construction site pursues compensation from someone other than their employer. This can include claims against independent contractors, equipment vendors, property owners, or designers whose actions or omissions led to an unsafe condition. Third-party claims can be pursued in addition to or instead of workers’ compensation benefits, depending on the circumstances, and may seek damages beyond wage replacement to address pain, disability, and future care. Successful third-party claims require identifying a liable party and proving how their conduct caused the injury.
Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance system that provides benefits for medical treatment and partial wage replacement to employees injured on the job, generally without proving fault. While workers’ compensation offers essential coverage for work-related injuries, it often does not compensate fully for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering. In some situations, an injured worker may also have a separate claim against a third party whose negligence contributed to the injury, which can provide additional recovery beyond workers’ compensation benefits. Understanding how these two systems interact is important when evaluating legal options.
The statute of limitations sets the time limit for filing a lawsuit after an injury occurs, and in New York personal injury claims generally must be filed within three years from the date of the accident. There are exceptions and tolling rules that can extend or shorten this period depending on factors such as discovery of injury, claims against municipalities, or injuries to minors. Missing the applicable deadline can bar legal recovery, so timely consultation and action are important. Reviewing the specific facts of a case quickly helps identify applicable deadlines and preserve potential claims.
After a construction site injury take immediate steps to preserve evidence by taking photographs of the scene, saving damaged clothing or equipment, and obtaining contact information for witnesses. Prompt documentation helps ensure that conditions are recorded before repairs or cleanup change the scene, and it strengthens the factual record used to support a claim. Keeping a detailed log of symptoms, medical treatment dates, and communications about the incident also supports later claims and interviews with investigators.
Obtaining medical attention as soon as possible following an injury not only protects your health but also creates an official record linking treatment to the incident at the construction site. Even if injuries seem minor, some conditions worsen over time, and early evaluation documents the onset of symptoms and recommended care. Maintain copies of all medical records, bills, and provider notes as these are essential pieces of evidence when establishing the extent of your injuries and related costs.
Report the accident to your employer and request an incident report so that the event is formally recorded, and follow employer reporting procedures while also keeping your own written account of what occurred. If possible, collect names and statements from witnesses and preserve any physical or photographic evidence of the hazard that caused the injury. Maintaining clear records of communications, reports, and medical care creates a reliable foundation for discussing potential claims with an attorney and for dealing with insurers and contractors.
Comprehensive legal assistance is often necessary when multiple parties may share responsibility for an accident, such as when subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers are involved. Establishing how each party contributed to the hazard requires detailed investigation, coordination of evidence, and review of contracts or safety records. Such situations benefit from an organized approach that prioritizes evidence preservation, witness interviews, and collaboration with technical consultants to clarify fault and quantify damages for negotiations or litigation.
When injuries are severe or result in long-term disability, a comprehensive legal approach helps identify full future needs including ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and potential loss of earning capacity. Accurate projections of future costs and life-care needs require collaboration with medical and vocational professionals to develop a complete picture of damages. Pursuing fair compensation in these cases often involves preparing detailed documentation and presenting clear evidence of long-term impacts to insurers or a court.
A more limited approach can be appropriate for minor injuries where liability is obvious and medical expenses are modest and well documented. In those matters focusing on efficient documentation, submitting medical bills, and negotiating directly with the insurer may resolve the claim without extensive investigation. That approach still benefits from careful record keeping and a clear understanding of the offer’s adequacy relative to your recovery and out-of-pocket losses.
If an insurance policy clearly covers the incident and the insurer accepts responsibility, handling the claim through focused negotiations may be sufficient to obtain fair compensation without full-scale litigation. Even in straightforward cases, it is important to review settlement terms carefully and confirm that all medical expenses and wage losses are included. A limited approach can conserve time and resources while still protecting the injured person’s recovery when the facts are simple and liability is clear.
Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, or elevated platforms are among the most serious and frequent causes of construction injuries, and they often result in fractures, head injuries, and long recovery periods that require surgery and rehabilitation. Proper documentation of fall protection measures, maintenance records, and eyewitness accounts are important when determining why a fall occurred and who may be responsible for unsafe conditions on a jobsite.
Workers and bystanders can be injured when equipment, tools, or materials fall or when machinery entangles clothing or limbs, producing severe trauma and crushing injuries that affect long-term function and employment. Identifying equipment maintenance history, operator training records, and site safety controls helps explain how these incidents happened and whether preventable failures contributed to the harm.
Contact with live electrical wiring or faulty equipment can cause shocks, burns, and cardiac complications that require specialized medical treatment and long-term follow up for recovery and risk of chronic conditions. Determining whether wiring met code, whether protective measures were in place, and how the hazard was created is essential to establishing liability and pursuing claims for medical costs and related damages.
Ahearne Law Firm PLLC combines local knowledge of Le Roy and Genesee County procedures with a practical approach to resolving construction injury claims. Allan J. Ahearne, Jr. and the team prioritize clear communication, careful case preparation, and a focus on the outcomes that matter most to injured individuals, including medical coverage and income protection during recovery. We commit to reviewing your situation promptly, explaining possible legal avenues, and helping you weigh settlement options versus formal litigation based on the strength of the evidence and your long-term needs.
Seek immediate medical evaluation even if injuries do not seem severe, because symptoms can develop or worsen over time and medical documentation connects treatment directly to the incident. Report the accident to your employer and request an incident report; obtain contact details for witnesses and take photographs of the scene, equipment, and any unsafe conditions while they remain unchanged. Preserving physical evidence and detailed records early supports later claims and clarifies the timeline of events. After addressing health and safety needs, contact our office to discuss the facts of the accident and any deadlines that may apply under New York law. We can advise on next steps for preserving evidence, communicating with insurers, and documenting ongoing medical care, and we can help coordinate investigative efforts to determine liability and build a clear case for recovery.
Yes, you may have the right to pursue a claim even if you were injured while working on a construction site, but the available paths depend on whether you are an employee, a subcontractor, or a visitor. Employees generally qualify for workers’ compensation benefits for medical care and wage replacement, while third-party claims against negligent contractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers may also be possible to recover additional damages for pain and suffering and other losses. Evaluating your options requires reviewing employer status, insurance coverage, and how the injury occurred. We assess whether a third-party claim is viable, gather supporting evidence, and explain how any recovery might interact with workers’ compensation benefits to ensure you pursue the most appropriate and complete recovery available.
In New York the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident, so timely action is important to preserve legal rights. There are exceptions that can alter this period, such as claims against municipalities that may have shorter notice requirements, or situations where the injury was not discovered until later, which can toll the deadline under certain circumstances. Because procedural deadlines vary based on the facts and the parties involved, it is advisable to consult about your case as soon as possible. Early review allows for evidence preservation, witness interviews, and proper filing of notices so your ability to pursue compensation is not jeopardized by missed deadlines.
Workers’ compensation provides essential benefits for most employees injured on the job, covering medical treatment and partial wage replacement without the need to prove fault. However, workers’ compensation does not always bar separate claims against third parties whose negligence contributed to the injury, which can provide additional recovery for non-economic losses and other damages not available through workers’ compensation alone. Determining whether a third-party claim exists requires identifying responsible parties beyond the employer and assessing how their conduct caused the injury. We review contracts, site conditions, and liability exposures to determine if pursuing a third-party action is appropriate while coordinating with any workers’ compensation claims to avoid duplication of recovery.
Liability in a construction accident is determined by examining who owed a duty of care, whether that duty was breached, and whether the breach caused the injury and resulting damages. Evidence such as safety logs, training records, maintenance histories, photographs, video, and witness statements help establish what happened and identify parties that may have failed to meet safety obligations or otherwise contributed to unsafe conditions. Complex jobsite arrangements involving general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and property owners often require careful analysis to assign responsibility. Investigative steps include reviewing contracts and project oversight, consulting with technical witnesses when needed, and organizing evidence to support claims against the appropriate parties.
Compensation in construction injury cases can include payment for past and future medical expenses, reimbursement for lost wages and reduced earning capacity, compensation for pain and suffering, and coverage for rehabilitation or home modifications if ongoing care is required. The types and amounts of recoverable damages depend on the severity of the injury, its long-term impact, and the strength of the evidence linking the injury to the defendant’s conduct. Accurately valuing a claim requires detailed documentation of medical treatment, income history, and future care needs, and may involve consultation with medical and vocational professionals. We assist in compiling this information and presenting a reasoned valuation when negotiating with insurers or litigating in court.
Our office offers an initial review to discuss the facts of your case, explain potential avenues for recovery, and identify any immediate steps to preserve your claim. The goal of the initial consultation is to provide clear guidance about deadlines, likely avenues for relief, and what documentation will be helpful to collect as your case proceeds. Many firms, including ours, evaluate personal injury matters early so you can make informed decisions quickly. If a formal engagement is appropriate we discuss the fee arrangement and billing structure before proceeding. Understanding costs, anticipated steps, and how we will communicate about your case is part of our initial planning so you can move forward with clarity and confidence about the process ahead.
When a construction company disputes your account of the events, gathering independent evidence becomes especially important to establish the facts. This includes witness statements, site photographs taken promptly after the event, equipment logs, maintenance records, and medical records that correlate treatment to the reported injury, as these elements together create a more objective record of what occurred. Our approach focuses on assembling corroborating documentation and testimony to address discrepancies and counter inaccurate assertions by insurers or opposing parties. Thorough preparation and careful presentation of the factual record help clarify responsibility and strengthen the case during settlement discussions or in court if litigation is necessary.
Insurance companies often make early settlement offers that may not fully account for future medical care, lost income, or long-term impacts. Before accepting any offer consider whether all current and anticipated expenses are covered, whether the offer compensates for pain and suffering, and whether accepting a settlement would release potential claims against additional responsible parties. Reviewing offers with a legal advisor helps ensure you understand the full implications of a settlement and whether it is fair relative to the full scope of your losses. If an offer is inadequate we can negotiate on your behalf and pursue additional documentation or valuation to support a higher, more complete recovery.
To preserve evidence after a construction site accident take photographs and video of the scene from multiple angles as soon as it is safe to do so, keep any damaged clothing or equipment, and document the conditions in writing while details are fresh. Obtain and preserve contact information for witnesses and secure copies of any incident reports, safety logs, or maintenance records that relate to the accident, since these items often become central evidence in proving liability. Avoid altering the scene if possible until documentation is complete, and share the preserved materials with an attorney who can guide how to maintain chain of custody and request further investigative steps. Early and careful preservation helps ensure available evidence supports a claim and withstands scrutiny during settlement talks or litigation.
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