Common law negligence is defined as the failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another person. It forms a crucial foundation for many construction accident lawsuits in New York State, operating alongside statutory protections to provide injured workers with options for compensation.
Construction workers in New York face significant risks daily, and understanding the legal frameworks available for protection is essential for anyone injured on a worksite. When statutory protections might not fully apply, common law negligence principles may provide an alternative path to justice.
If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, seek an experienced construction attorney to help you pursue compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages.
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Common Law Negligence vs. New York's Labor Laws
New York's construction workers benefit from some of the country's strongest statutory protections, primarily through Labor Laws 200, 240, and 241. These laws exist alongside common law negligence principles, creating a comprehensive system of legal protections.
As such, Labor Law 200 represents the statutory codification of common law negligence principles but specifically focuses on workplace safety obligations. On the other hand, common law negligence refers to a legal concept developed through court decisions rather than statutory enactments. It requires proof, demonstrating all four essential elements:
- Duty,
- Breach,
- Causation, and
- Damages
The distinctions between common law negligence and statutory protections are as follows:
| Legal Theory | Primary Focus | Burden of Proof | Potential Defendants |
| Common Law Negligence | General duty of reasonable care | Must prove all negligence elements | Anyone who owed a duty of care |
| Labor Law 200 | Workplace safety conditions | Similar to negligence, but specific to work environment | Property owners, contractors |
| Labor Law 240/241 | Specific safety violations | Often strict liability for violations | Property owners, contractors |
In the construction context, common law negligence applies when a party—be it a general contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner—fails to meet the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise under similar circumstances. This standard is contextual and depends heavily on industry practices, safety regulations, and the specific circumstances of each case.
Elements Required for Common Law Negligence Claims
As mentioned before, successful common law negligence claim in a construction accident case requires establishing four distinct elements, each presenting its own evidentiary challenges:
Duty of Care
It refers to the legal obligation in maintaining a standard of reasonable care for those carrying out potentially dangerous tasks. However, in construction settings, determining exactly who owes what duty to whom can be complex due to the overlapping responsibilities of various parties on a worksite. It could involve multiple entities such as general contractors, property owners, and even equipment manufacturers.
Breach of Duty
This occurs when a party fails to meet their standard of care. In construction, this might involve failing to provide proper safety equipment, inadequate training, or not addressing known hazards. Evidence of industry standards, OSHA regulations, and expert testimony often play crucial roles in establishing breach.
Causation
This connects the breach directly to the resulting injury—proving that the defendant's actions or inactions actually caused the harm to the affected victims. Causation is often the most heavily contested element in construction negligence cases, with defendants frequently arguing that other factors contributed to the accident.
Damages
It represents the actual harm suffered, including economic and non-economic losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life. New York also follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule, meaning injured parties can still recover damages even if they bear some responsibility for their injuries. The damages award is reduced by the percentage of fault they contributed to the incident.
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Potential Damages in Common Law Negligence Construction Claims
Successful common law negligence claims can provide compensation for both economic and non-economic damages suffered by injured construction workers.
Economic damages refers to calculable financial losses, which includes the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Future care expenses
However, unlike workers' compensation benefits, these damages are not subject to statutory caps or formulaic calculations.
On the other hand, non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Whether you or a loved one have been grievously injured in a construction accident due to negligence, reaching out to a skilled construction lawyer may help you assess your legal options in attaining compensation.
Contact a Construction Accident Attorney Today
At Porter Law Group, we have extensive experience navigating the complex interplay between common law negligence and statutory protections in construction accident cases. Our attorneys understand the nuances of establishing duty, breach, causation, and damages in these challenging cases.
Call us at 833-PORTER9 or email info@porterlawteam.com today. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to discuss your case and potential legal options. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win compensation for your injuries.
