Experienced NJ Attorneys Help Victims of Ladder Accidents
Determined representation for ladder and scaffolding falls
A fall from a height is one of the most dangerous types of accidents. Therefore, people who use ladders and scaffolds must be sure of their equipment and must proceed with utmost caution. Unfortunately, defective equipment and/or human error can directly cause a tragic mishap. Additionally, workers on ladders can endanger people on the ground by failing to prevent tools or other objects from falling and injuring someone. If you have been injured, or a family member has died, due to a ladder accident, you might be entitled to compensation. At Seigel Law in Ridgewood, we have been helping New Jersey accident victims since 1976. We are ready to fight for your right to collect appropriate compensation for the harm you’ve suffered in a personal injury or wrongful death action.
Frequent causes of ladder accidents
Typically, ladder accidents can be averted if reasonable precautions are taken. There are rare exceptions, when a moment of careful inspection wouldn’t have revealed a hidden defect in the ladder. But most of the time, the accident occurs because someone is not paying attention or is more concerned with getting the job finished quickly rather than safely. Specific reasons why a ladder accident might occur include the following:
- Using a ladder that’s too short
- Using a ladder that is not designed for the particular task
- Using a ladder that’s unsafe due to age or poor maintenance
- Placing the ladder at too great a distance from the target
- Not placing the ladder on a firm, level surface
- Not using the levelers when working on an inclined surface
- Failing to stabilize the ladder
- Neglecting to maintain three points of contact while climbing the ladder
- Using ladders outdoors in inclement weather
- Climbing while carrying too great a weight
- Failing to warn passersby to steer clear of the ladder
All of these oversights can put the ladder’s user in danger of a fall and/or cause a dropped object to hit someone on the ground. Serious injuries can result from these accidents, such as:
- Spinal trauma resulting in paralysis
- Broken bones
- Concussion or traumatic brain injury
- Internal injuries
- Severed limbs
Our legal team investigates the circumstances of your accident to determine the cause and whether personal injury liability exists.
Liability for ladder accidents in New Jersey
Workers who fall from ladders at a job site might be limited to workers’ compensation as their sole remedy. However, an employer has a responsibility to make the worksite reasonably safe. If there was a problem with the equipment, or the employer compelled a worker to take an unreasonable risk, that employer might incur personal injury liability. This allows a victim to obtain damages, such as payment for pain and suffering, not available under workers’ comp. A court will consider many factors when evaluating the reasonableness of an employer’s actions, so it’s important to retain experienced counsel to represent you.
Compensation for ladder falls in New Jersey
When a fall occurs due to the negligence of a party that is not the victim’s employer or co-worker, the victim is entitled to personal injury damages, which cover economic and noneconomic losses. Specific types of damages include the following:
- Lost wages, present and future
- Medical bills, present and future
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for lost quality of life
Because fall injuries can have dire, lifelong consequences, it’s imperative that you retain experienced counsel who will fight to collect maximum compensation for you
Contact a Ridgewood, NJ attorney for a free ladder accident consultation
Located in Ridgewood, Seigel Law represents victims of ladder and scaffold accidents throughout North Jersey. Please call 201-444-4000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. If you are unable to travel, we can meet in your home or hospital room.
