Ensuring a safe work environment is crucial when performing any type of manual labor. This is especially true when carrying out jobs at a considerable height above the ground. Equipment such as ladders and scaffolds are used to make the job easier. However, these can also increase the risk of serious injury at the job site.
Ladder-related accidents result in 90,000 injuries requiring emergency room treatment each year. Falls from elevated areas are responsible for 700 deaths every year.
Common causes of scaffolding and ladder accidents include:
- Unsafe construction of the ladder or scaffolding
- Slip and fall accidents
- Defective ladder or scaffolding e.g. failure of non-slip surface
- Lack of inspection
- Improper use
Many scaffolding and ladder accidents result in the person falling off the scaffolding or ladder. There are also various other injuries that can result from these elevated accidents including:
- Back and neck injuries
- Traumatic head injuries
- Lacerations
- Bone fractures
- Pulled muscles
- Sprains
- Amputations
- Ripped, torn or strained tendons and ligaments
Who’s at Fault
If you or someone you know has been injured in a scaffolding or ladder accident, it’s important to know who is responsible for the accident. This will help you determine who to seek compensation for the accident from.
Ladders and scaffolds can be defective in their design. This can result in an injury. In such cases, you can file a product liability claim for compensation against the manufacturing company.
In cases where the design of the scaffolding or ladder is good but the equipment was in bad condition, you may be able to file an injury claim against the owner of the ladder or your employer.
It is important to note that multiple parties can be held liable in these accidents e.g. if the ladder was defective and the owner knew that it was defective and still required you to use it.
Making a claim
It can be difficult making a successful claim for a scaffolding or ladder accident. However, with the help of a personal injury lawyer, it is possible to get compensation for your injuries.
You will have to prove negligence on the part of another party. Depending on your case, you may have to show that someone had knowledge about the equipment’s defects or poor condition and that you were still required to use the unsafe equipment.
You will also have to provide evidence of your injuries and other damages resulting from the accident.
Be sure to hire a reliable attorney to help you file your personal injury claim.
