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Ladder Accidents

Attorney for a Ladder Accident Lawsuit in California

If you were injured in a ladder accident, then you might be able to file a personal injury claim to receive money damages.

Depending on the details of the incident, the lawsuit involving the ladder could be filed against the property owner, construction company, the manufacturer of the ladder, and even the store that sold it to you.

Personal Injury Lawsuit for Ladder Injuries
If you were injured in a ladder accident, you could be eligible to recover compensation.

Ladder accidents are very common on construction sites and often result in serious injuries or some cases, even death.

When an accident occurs on a portable ladder, extension ladder, or scaffolding, an elevated fall frequently result in severe injuries, such as back injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injuries.

It might be possible to file a third-party personal injury claim in addition to workers' compensation benefits after a ladder accident. This includes the contractors and subcontractors who often share responsibility for a fall.

A severe injury from a ladder fall frequently results in long-term medical and rehabilitative treatment along with lost wages and temporary or permanent disability that will substantially impact your future earning capacity.

You may receive compensation for a ladder injury affecting you or a loved one. Liable parties may cover your medical costs, lost income, lost earning power, diminished quality of life, and other forms of pain and suffering.

Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers will take a closer look below.

Who Is Liable When a Ladder Injury Occurs?

Every ladder accident and injury are unique, and a lawyer must have the facts before identifying liable parties.

Defendants named in your ladder injury lawsuit for product liability may include:

  • The owner of the property where your ladder accident occurred;
  • A ladder manufacturer, assembler, or distributer;
  • The owner of a business that sold the ladder;
  • Any party that violated their duty of care to you, consequently endangering you.

The specific cause of your ladder accident may be relevant when determining liability.

To file a lawsuit against the ladder company, it must be proven that you suffered harm and the ladder defect was a substantial factor causing you harm.

What Are Potential Causes of a Ladder Accident?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies the leading causes of ladder-related falls as:

  • Improper ladder setup, which can cause the ladder's feet to slip out from under the user;
  • Defective ladder collapse;
  • Broken or flawed ladder steps;
  • Metal ladder contacting an electrical wire;
  • Slippery Ladder rungs;
  • Using the wrong type of ladder for a specific purpose;
  • Failure to regularly inspect and maintain a ladder;
  • Ladder was set up on the uneven surface;
  • User-related errors like overstepping;
  • Lack of access to information and training about how to use a specific ladder properly.

Ladder accidents can stem from other causes such as unstable surfaces, slippery floors, and ladder defects. Often, ladder accidents occur at the workplace or while working on a roof.

Types of Injuries in a Ladder Accident

Readers should note that not all ladder injuries or deaths are caused by a high fall. A fall from just a stepladder could cause the victim serious injuries if they struck their head on the ground.

Some of the most common injuries sustained in a ladder accident include:

  • Broken hip,
  • Head injury,
  • Broken leg or arm,
  • Fracture of the foot,
  • Concussion,
  • Back injury,
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI),
  • Spinal cord injury,
  • Neck injury,
  • Paralysis,
  • Soft tissue injury,
  • Cuts and abrasions.

Recoverable Damages in Ladder Injury Cases

Recoverable damages may depend on your case type—the two primary types being personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits.

You may bring a personal injury claim for a nonfatal ladder injury. Recoverable Damages in a personal injury lawsuit may include:

  • All medical costs required to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate your fall-related injuries;
  • Emergency room treatment, including surgery;
  • Physical therapy and ongoing medical care;
  • Your pain and suffering, which may include physical pain, emotional anguish, diminished quality of life, and other specific trauma;
  • Treatment for pain and suffering, including but not limited to counseling and medication;
  • Lost income, including permanent loss of income;
  • Diminished earning power;
  • Loss of consortium.

Liable parties may owe you for any other unlisted damages that are related to your ladder injury.

Recoverable Damages in Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes that falls from ladders can kill

A fatal ladder injury case may include some of the same damages as a nonfatal ladder injury case—most notably, medical expenses and pain and suffering.

The amount awarded for pain and suffering may be substantially greater in wrongful death cases, though.

In addition to these two damages, plaintiffs in a wrongful death case may receive awards for:

  • Loss of a spouse, parent, or child, also known as loss of consortium;
  • Lost financial support which may extend through the deceased's projected years of employment;
  • Funeral expenses;
  • Any other damages resulting from the fatal ladder accident.

The same standards of liability generally apply to both personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.

Liability Standards in Ladder Accident Cases

Negligence is generally the standard of liability in ladder injury cases, whether the injuries are fatal or nonfatal.

Someone is negligent when they fail to exercise reasonable behavior within their specific circumstances. One may prove negligence by:

  • Establishing that the defendant owed you a duty of care (in other words, a duty to act reasonably);
  • Proving that the defendant breached their duty of care;
  • Showing that the defendant's breach of duty of care caused your ladder accident;
  • Linking your ladder accident to resulting injuries and damages.

Other legal standards such as vicarious liability may apply to your ladder injury case.

Negligence in a ladder injury case may look like this:

  • A ladder manufacturer or assembler producing a defective ladder;
  • A businessperson selling a ladder they should have known was defective or otherwise dangerous;
  • A business owner failing to provide, inspect, and maintain safe ladders for employees.

These are just a few of the countless examples of how negligence can cause serious ladder accidents and injuries.

How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help You?

Our personal injury lawyers can protect your rights and seek compensation after a ladder accident.

We can shield you from any parties that may violate your rights and potentially deprive you of fair compensation for your damages. We will take the following steps:

  • Review your case and determine the appropriate way to seek compensation;
  • Identify all parties with liability for your ladder accident;
  • Identify each of your damages and determine their monetary value;
  • Negotiate a settlement on your behalf;
  • Seek an alternate solution if they do not settle your case;
  • Ensure that you receive the medical treatment that you need.

We will lead the legal process following your ladder injury.

Contact Injury Justice Law Firm for a free Consultation
Contact our firm to review the details and legal options to recover financial compensation.

Meanwhile, you can recover from any physical or emotional hardship that you have experienced.

If you were injured, or a family member was killed, a ladder accident, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your legal case.

We will closely evaluate the specific details of your accident and then discuss the best next steps in your case.

Injury Justice Law Firm has two offices located in Los Angeles County and we serve clients throughout Southern California. Contact us by calling (818) 781-1570, or you can fill out our contact form.

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If you have been injured in an accident, our experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorneys will protect your legal rights and help you recover compensation for your injuries. We are available 24/7 for your risk free initial consultation in Beverly Hills, Encino, Glendale, Hermosa Beach, Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Marina Del Rey, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Santa Monica, San Fernando Valley, Valencia and Ventura County areas.

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