As New Yorkers, we are used to living alongside many construction sites. The hum of machinery is so commonplace, you barely bat an eyelash as jackhammers chew up asphalt or a crane swings a 7,000 pound steel I-beam across a development lot. There are approximately 40,000 active construction projects going on in the New York metropolitan area. That means many dangers are present, and accidents can happen at any time.

On June 16, 2025, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) was called upon to rescue an injured construction worker from an excavation site at the Hudson Yards after he was struck in the head by a heavy piece of machinery. The accident happened at West 30th Street and 11th Avenue around 10:30 a.m. Initially it was reported the worker was knocked into a 30-foot hole, but sources later corrected that report, stating that the incident occurred while the worker was already down in the hole. According to FDNY Rescue 1 Lieutenant John McCann, the object that struck the worker “blew off the wall and clipped him.” The FDNY performed what is called a “high angle rescue” using ropes to retrieve the injured worker, who was transported to a hospital in critical condition. 

Another tragic accident occurred near Syracuse, New York on July 11, 2025, when a construction laborer was killed after being run over by a double-drum asphalt pavement-roller. The incident happened during road work operations on a Friday just before 5pm EST, near Glenn Crossing Plaza on Oswego Road. Deputies from the Onondaga Sheriffs’ Department have reported that an investigation is still ongoing. The operator of the pavement-roller remained on site and cooperated with law enforcement on how the accident occurred. 

These incidents serve as a constant reminder that the health and well-being of construction workers along with proper training and supervision is extremely necessary.  In a recent report from the New York City Department of Buildings dated July 31, 2025, there were almost 200 injuries documented and fatalities have almost reached the same annual total as last year in 2024. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction related work continues to be one of the most dangerous occupations resulting in deaths on-the-job. 

While efforts in regulating construction and real estate activities have been made by the New York City Department of Buildings, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and many other organizations, the risks of being injured are still cause for concern and must be taken seriously to avoid catastrophe.

If you have been injured in a construction accident, you may be entitled to monetary benefits. At The Klein & Cardali Law Group, PLLC, we offer free consultation for your case, and we will fight to get the best possible compensation or settlement for you.