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A ladder is a staple tool in the world of construction. Every day, hundreds of construction workers in White Plains use ladders to go up and down heights—sometimes hundreds of times a day. While it may not be obvious, ladders are very hazardous when they are not in good condition, regularly maintained, properly utilized or properly monitored. When any of these important ladder requirements are not followed, workers using them may slip and fall off of them, resulting in severe injuries or even death.
It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that the tools workers use are safe and in good condition. Ladders, in particular, must be constantly checked for steadiness and suitability of use before workers can use them. Ladders must also be properly braced and supported every time they are used.
Ladder injuries are quite common, as they can happen to different people in various settings, including at construction sites and homes when carrying out repairs or projects. Most ladder-related injuries result from falling off ladders from an elevated height. There are various types of ladders, including wooden, metal, retractable, extendable, rope, and step ladders.
Regardless of the type of ladder, the injuries the victim can sustain are often quite severe. In most use cases, Ladders do not typically have a safe landing area or a catch net. For this reason, most ladder injuries sustained after a fall may include:
Electrocution is another commonly reported ladder injury, especially with metal ladders. Electrocution may occur when a person falls off the ladder onto uninsulated electrical wires or when the ladder contacts live electrical lines and components.
Note that ladder injuries may also apply to persons on the ground and not only those climbing up the ladder. In some cases, an object or person falling off the ladder may land on someone on the ground, causing them to sustain injuries.
When you or someone you care about sustains ladder injuries, it is wise to speak with a lawyer regardless of who or what the accident may be attributed to. Most ladder injuries in White Plains are considered preventable, and, consequently, the individual or company responsible for preventing them may be held liable for the injuries. Therefore, you should go to a specialized ladder injury attorney to have your case evaluated and to determine what legal issues are associated with the ladder injury.
The legal issues associated with ladder injuries may include:
The law defines negligence as a failure to behave with a sufficient level of care that a prudent person would exercise under the same circumstances. These include actions taken or omitted by another party.
Negligence is the first legal issue a ladder injury attorney checks when handling such an injury case. One point our lawyers will seek to establish is whether the person responsible improperly maintained the ladder. This is applicable in cases where the ladder:
Another issue the lawyer may want to determine is whether a person holding or setting up the ladder acted negligently or recklessly and caused the accident that resulted in the ladder injury.
Many cases brought to our ladder injury attorneys in White Plains revolve around the stability and quality of the ladder that caused the accident. Legally, product liability refers to the damage liability of any or all the parties in the ladder manufacture chain. The right lawyer should seek to establish whether poor product design or manufacture may have caused the accident that resulted in the ladder injury.
If you sustained ladder injuries while carrying out a task assigned by an employer, during work hours, or in your work environment, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. In this situation, your employer may be required to compensate you for the injuries and related costs, under New York’s workers’ compensation laws.
Importantly, even if you are injured at work you may also be able to pursue a claim for injury against the owner or contractor(s) at the site (other than your own employer). Determining these issues and establishing legal fault is often the first step a specialized ladder injury attorneywill take in building a strong case for the injured individual.
The first thing you should do after a ladder injury is to seek medical treatment. Next, contact us at Lever & Ecker, PLLC, to have a specialized ladder injury lawyer examine your case and provide sound legal advice.
Our legal team is compassionate and will go the extra mile to provide the guidance and support you need during the recovery period. When you come to us, we will:
Each ladder injury case is unique in many ways. Therefore, leave it to us to handle the technical aspects of the case and pursue compensation against the liable party or parties.
You have limited time from the day of the ladder accident to file a lawsuit against the liable parties. The sooner you take the next step, the higher your chances of getting fair compensation.
Lever & Ecker, PLLC, is a law firm local to you, where our award-winning personal injury lawyers have over 65 years of combined experience representing cases just like yours. We want you to feel comfortable knowing that you have someone by your side with your best interests in mind, and we are dedicated to handling the legal matters associated with your injury while you focus on recovery.
To arrange a free consultation, reach out to us by calling (914) 288-9191 or (718) 933-3632, or fill out our contact form.
