Manhattan, NY (October 21, 2026) – A construction worker was hospitalized Wednesday morning after a piece of metal fell and struck him while he worked on scaffolding beneath the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.
According to reports, the incident happened just after 9:30 a.m. on October 21 on the RFK Bridge, the span once known as the Triborough that links Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens. Authorities said the worker, described as an independent contractor, was on a scaffold under the roadway when the metal came loose from above and hit his leg. He did not fall, because he was wearing a safety harness at the time.
The FDNY said rescuers climbed to the worker, secured him, and brought him down before EMS took him to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem. He was reported to be in stable condition with what officials called moderate injuries. The MTA closed the Manhattan-bound and Bronx-bound sides of the bridge while crews worked, backing up traffic for part of the morning before the lanes reopened. No other injuries were reported.
We hope the injured worker is able to make a full recovery.
What protections does New York Labor Law give injured construction workers?
New York gives construction workers some of the strongest safety protections in the country. When a worker is hurt by a falling object or another height-related hazard, Labor Law §240(1), the statute often called the Scaffold Law, can hold property owners and general contractors strictly liable for failing to provide proper protection, such as secured materials, nets, braces, or hoists. The duty is non-delegable, which means an owner cannot escape it by pointing to a subcontractor. Labor Law §241(6) adds specific obligations tied to the Industrial Code, including rules on overhead protection and securing loose material at height. A worker hurt on a job like this one may have a claim under both the Scaffold Law and the rules governing falling object accidents.
An injured worker who brings a claim can generally pursue two categories of compensation:
- Economic Compensation: Covers measurable financial losses such as hospital bills, ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, lost wages, and reduced future earning capacity.
- Non-Economic Compensation: Accounts for less tangible impacts like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Workers’ compensation may cover medical care and part of a worker’s lost wages regardless of fault, while a separate Labor Law claim against a negligent third party can seek the full range of damages above. These claims run on firm deadlines, including the three-year statute of limitations for personal injury under CPLR §214, so a worker hurt in a scaffolding accident should learn their rights early.
Injured in a New York construction accident? The NYC construction accident lawyers at Keith D. Silverstein & Associates have recovered millions for injured New Yorkers. Call 212-385-1444 for a free consultation to explore your compensation options.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is gathered from secondary sources, including media coverage and publicly available reports about the incident. Details may be updated as more information becomes available; if you identify any inaccurate information, please contact us so we can correct it promptly. This content is not legal or medical advice and is not intended as a solicitation for business. Any photos used are not from the actual scene. Attorney Advertising.
