Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Whether you were working, visiting a property, or passing nearby, a building collapse may give you grounds to seek compensation. At Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers, we investigate structural failures and help injured people understand who may be legally responsible.
Founded in 2013, our firm handles personal injury and workers’ compensation claims and has significant experience in New York construction accidents. Our building collapse lawyers in Long Island can evaluate whether unsafe conditions, inadequate support, or other failures contributed to your injuries.
For a free, confidential consultation, contact a Long Island personal injury lawyer. We can discuss what happened, review the information you have, and explain your options.
How Structural Failures Can Lead to Injury Claims
A building collapse does not have to involve an entire structure. A failed floor, roof, balcony, wall, or section of masonry can cause serious injuries. An investigation may identify:
- Deteriorated materials or unrepaired water damage.
- Excessive loads on floors or other structural components.
- Missing or inadequate temporary supports.
- Unsafe construction, renovation, or demolition methods.
- Excavation that undermined a foundation.
Establishing a claim requires more than identifying the part that failed. We examine whether someone created an unsafe condition, ignored warning signs, or failed to perform required inspections or repairs. Earlier complaints and engineering recommendations may help establish what responsible parties knew.
Severe weather may also contribute, but it does not automatically resolve responsibility. The structure’s condition and the precautions taken before the event still require investigation.
Who May Be Responsible for a Building Collapse?
Liability depends on each party’s duties and connection to the failure. Our Long Island building collapse attorneys review ownership records, contracts, and work history to identify potential defendants.
Property Owners and Managers
A party responsible for the premises may be liable for creating a hazard or failing to correct one it knew about. Constructive notice generally means the condition was visible and existed long enough to be discovered and addressed. Ownership alone does not establish every element of negligence.
Contractors and Design Professionals
Contractors, subcontractors, developers, engineers, or architects may also warrant investigation. Removing a load-bearing wall without adequate support raises different questions from failing to maintain a deteriorated façade. We examine each party’s duties and whether its work contributed to the collapse.
Several parties may share responsibility. We look beyond the company named at the site to determine which claims the evidence supports.
Additional Protections for Injured Construction Workers
If you were injured while working, workers’ compensation may cover necessary medical care and a portion of your lost wages without proving employer negligence. You may qualify for medical benefits even if you miss no work. These benefits do not include pain and suffering.
A direct lawsuit against your employer is generally barred, with limited exceptions. However, New York Labor Law may support a claim against another responsible party:
- Section 240(1): The Scaffold Law addresses certain elevation-related hazards during covered work. A failure to provide required safety devices must have caused the injury; not every collapse qualifies.
- Section 241(6): A specific, applicable Industrial Code violation may support a claim when it causes an injury during covered construction, excavation, or demolition.
- Section 200 and negligence: Claims may involve control over unsafe work methods or responsibility for a dangerous property condition.
Sections 240(1) and 241(6) include an exemption for qualifying one- and two-family homeowners who do not direct or control the work. We assess the work performed and each defendant’s role before recommending a claim.
Compensation for Your Building Collapse Injuries
A personal injury claim may seek payment for medical expenses, lost earnings, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Building collapse injuries can require surgery, rehabilitation, mobility assistance, or long-term care. Future losses need supporting evidence rather than a simple estimate based on current bills.
Treatment records, professional evaluations, and your account of daily limitations help document these effects. We review how your injuries affect movement, sleep, household responsibilities, and work. When a collapse causes a death, we can evaluate wrongful death and survival claims, which have different recovery rules.
For injured workers, a third-party recovery may also affect workers’ compensation benefits. The insurer may have repayment rights, and settlement may require written consent or court approval. We review those obligations before advising you on an offer.
How Our Long Island Building Collapse Lawyers Gather Evidence
Physical evidence can disappear when a site must be stabilized, cleared, or demolished. Our in-house investigations seek to preserve relevant materials and records while emergency crews address safety concerns.
The Building’s History
Permit records, inspection findings, violation notices, and construction plans may reveal earlier structural concerns. Maintenance logs and communications can show whether problems were reported before the collapse.
In Nassau County, building permit information is often held by the relevant city, town, or village. We identify the appropriate local department and request records for the property, rather than assuming a single county office holds everything.
The Cause of the Failure
Photographs, surveillance footage, witness statements, and emergency response reports can help establish the sequence of events. A structural engineer or another qualified professional may be needed to explain why the building failed and connect that failure to particular actions or omissions.
Your Injuries and Financial Losses
Keep medical records, bills, wage information, and receipts for injury-related expenses. These documents support your claim without requiring you to return to an unsafe property or investigate structural conditions yourself.
Deadlines That Can Affect Your New York Claim
Many personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the injury. Wrongful death actions generally have a two-year deadline from the date of death. Different rules and exceptions may apply depending on the claim and defendant.
Municipal claims may require a notice of claim within 90 days and have shorter deadlines for filing lawsuits. For wrongful death claims under the general municipal notice rule, the 90 days run from appointment of the estate’s representative. We identify the correct entity and procedure early.
Workplace injuries have separate requirements: generally, written notice to the employer within 30 days and a Board filing within 2 years. Exceptions apply. Insurance discussions do not automatically pause these deadlines or the time to file a lawsuit.
Speak With Our Long Island Building Collapse Injury Attorneys at Shulman & Hill About Your Claim
Speak with a Long Island building collapse lawyer at Shulman & Hill through a free, confidential consultation. We handle injury claims on contingency and can travel for consultations. Our team will explain what needs to be investigated and how we can help pursue your claim.
