Atlanta Ladder Fall Accident Lawyers
Falls from heights are the number one cause of death for workers at construction sites. Frequently, these falls will come from a ladder. According to the CDC, over 80% of emergency room visits for fall injuries come from a ladder fall, and over 40% of fatal falls involve a ladder. If the ladder was defectively manufactured or designed, or if the ladder was provided by a third-party contractor in a defective condition, the injured worker might have a negligence or product liability claim against that manufacturer or third party. General contractors, property owners and developers might also be liable to independent contractors working on their site who are provided with unsafe ladders that lead to a fall.
If you have been injured in a ladder fall on a construction site in metro Atlanta, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal ladder fall construction accident, call Shiver Hamilton Campbell to review your case with an experienced Atlanta ladder fall accident lawyer. We’ll review the facts surrounding the fall and help determine whether another party is responsible for the accident and liable to you for money damages in compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other legal damages. Our law firm is known for taking on cases involving serious personal injury or wrongful death and achieving significant results for our clients. Read more about ladder fall accidents below, and call Shiver Hamilton Campbell for a free consultation and immediate assistance with your case.
OSHA Ladder Requirements on Atlanta Construction Sites
Workers who fall from a height of six feet or higher risk being seriously injured or killed in the fall, but safety standards required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) start at much lower heights. According to OSHA standards, ladders are required for any elevation of 19 inches or higher if no other means of scaling the height are present such as runways, hoists or ramps. OSHA further mandates that employers regularly inspect ladders and keep them maintained in a safe condition. Appropriate ladder fall protection systems must also be in place where necessary, including safety cages, wells, body belts or harnesses. This set of OSHA standards applies to all portable ladders at a construction site whether they were purchased pre-made or crafted on the job. Different rules apply to ladders used to get up or down from scaffolds.
Common Reasons for Ladder Falls
- The wrong type of ladder is selected
- The ladder is damaged or worn
- The ladder is incorrectly placed on an uneven, slippery or otherwise unstable surface
- The ladder is improperly used for some other purpose than what it was designed for
- A-frame ladders are used in their closed position
- The ladder is overloaded above its weight capacity
- Grease or oil gets on the ladder and is not cleaned up
- The ladder is placed in a narrow passageway where there is a lot of foot traffic
- A job-made ladder is negligently constructed on-site with crooked or uneven rungs
- An aluminum ladder is placed on or near exposed electrical wiring or energized surfaces
Ladder Falls Can Cause Devastating Injuries
A worker who falls from a ladder can suffer grave injuries, whether falling six feet, sixteen feet, or onto a dangerous surface. Some of the most common ladder fall injuries include:
- Broken neck
- Spine injuries
- Head or brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts and bruises
- Sprains
- Death
Ladder fall injuries can be painful and debilitating, requiring surgery or long periods of rehabilitation, and sometimes causing permanent injuries or disabilities. Injured workers deserve to be fully compensated for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other legal damages. Filing a civil lawsuit against the responsible party is often the best or only way to recover the significant compensation required to deal with a serious ladder fall injury.
Our Atlanta Ladder Fall Accident Lawyer Are Here for You After a Ladder Fall Injury
Depending on your status as an employee or independent contractor, workers’ compensation benefits may or may not be available to you after a ladder fall. Also, even where workers’ compensation is available, if a third party is responsible for causing the accident, then a civil negligence claim can provide a much higher recovery than what workers’ comp offers. The personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Shiver Hamilton Campbell will work to see that you are fully compensated for the harm done to you in an Atlanta ladder fall accident.
If you have been injured in a ladder fall at a metro Atlanta construction site, or if you lost a beloved family member in a ladder fall or other construction accident, call Shiver Hamilton Campbell at 404-593-0020 for a free consultation. We take on cases involving the most serious catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, and we fight to secure significant compensation for our clients who were hurt because of another’s negligence or wrongful conduct.
