Common Ladder Accident Injuries Can Lead to Large Settlements

Construction workers are often called upon to use a ladder for painting, masonry, carpentry, and other construction-related endeavors. When a ladder is not secured properly, a fall can occur, resulting in injury or even death. When these common ladder accidents happen they can lead to large settlements. Below, the experts at Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. discuss common ladder accident injuries and how to file a claim. 

How Common Are Ladder Accident Injuries?

According to The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of death in construction, making up nearly a third of construction site deaths yearly. While common, these deaths are entirely preventable by following the agency’s safety guidelines.

However, this doesn’t always happen. Contractors may provide the wrong equipment for a job. Where one type of ladder may be safe for a particular job, another type of ladder may be ill-suited and therefore unsafe. Other examples include substituting a ladder for scaffolding, putting workers in an unsafe situation. 

Whether the proper ladder is provided or workers should be provided a scaffold, there are specific laws designed to protect a worker engaged in a height-related task. In many ladder accident cases, the New York Scaffold Law is advantageous to injured workers. This law holds employers and property owners fully liable for failing to provide proper safety equipment to workers performing gravity-related construction work.

What Are Some Common Ladder Accident Injuries?

There are countless rules regarding ladder safety, including making sure ladders are regularly inspected, and loaded correctly, and that the correct ladder is used for the job. When these safety guidelines are not followed and ladder accidents occur there may be substantial compensation.

Some of the most common injuries from ladder accidents include: 

• Broken bones 
• Spinal cord injuries 
• Neck injuries 
• Paralysis 
• Death

I’ve Been Injured By A Ladder Accident. What Can I Do?

While ladder accidents are common, they are also some of the most common workplace injury suits filed with substantial compensation available when negligence is proven. Employers have a duty to provide the highest levels of safety for their employees. If they do not carry out this responsibility to its fullest extent, they may be responsible for the injury and the injured party or their beneficiaries have a legal right to file a claim. 

If you believe you are a victim of negligence following a ladder accident, it is crucial that you seek out legal representation. While the average individual may not know how to prove a defendant was negligent, a legal professional can evaluate the claim and detect potential avenues for compensation that someone with no legal training may overlook. Additionally, an experienced personal injury attorney is necessary to obtain the best result.  

Past Verdicts & Settlements in Ladder Accident Cases

• Construction Accident – Unsafe Ladder – $2.5 Million Recovered – A 33-year-old carpenter fell from an unsafe ladder at a construction site, resulting in disabling injuries, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the right knee, wrist fracture, and herniated discs, requiring surgery.
• Construction Accident – Fall from Ladder – $1.92 Million Recovered – A 41-year-old female sheet metal worker fell eight feet from an unsafe ladder, sustaining a disabling radial head fracture of the right arm and injury to the radial nerve, requiring surgery.
• Construction Accident – Unsecured Ladder – $1.25 Million Recovered – 39-year-old painter fell 20 feet from an unsecured ladder, suffering permanently disabling dislocation of their right shoulder, fractures of the left wrist, and of the pelvis, with multiple surgeries.
• Construction Accident – Lack of Hoisting Device – $1.5 Million Recovered – A 35-year-old building maintenance worker fell from a ladder while carrying a 40-lb. pail of Karnac, due to the failure to provide a hoisting device, resulting in a fracture of the arm and ulnar nerve injury.

Contact the New York Attorneys at SPBMCC To Schedule a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has recently experienced a ladder accident and believe negligence is at fault, it is essential to speak with an attorney as soon as possible about your potential options for legal recourse. Contact SPBMCC today to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Call (212) 732-9000 today.