A family celebration in Newark, New Jersey, was cut short when a deck suddenly collapsed at a home, leaving several people injured on May 27. According to an NBC New York news report, a family was celebrating Dominican Mother’s Day when the deck suddenly gave way collapsing under their feet causing people to fall to the ground. Eight people were injured.
One person at the party said she had been on the porch with her friends before the collapse. Minutes later she said she heard screaming and saw her friends injured and bleeding, crying for help. Another witness said several suffered head injuries and broken bones. He said most of the injured victims were members of the same family many of whom were in their 50s or 60s. An 18-year-old girl was also thrown from the porch. It is not clear what caused the porch to collapse and an investigation is underway. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was injured. We wish them a speedy and complete recovery.
What Causes Deck and Stairway Collapses?
Deck and stairway collapse accidents can occur as a result of various factors, often stemming from structural weaknesses, poor maintenance, or overloading. One primary cause is structural deterioration due to age, weather exposure, or inadequate construction. Over time, wooden decks can weaken due to rot, termite damage, or corrosion of metal fasteners, compromising their integrity and increasing the risk of collapse. Insufficient support posts, beams, or joists can also contribute to structural instability, especially in decks built without proper engineering or adherence to building codes.
Poor maintenance practices, such as failure to inspect and repair deteriorating components, can lead to structural weaknesses, making collapses more likely. Also, lack of regular inspections to identify issues like rusting bolts, rotted wood, or loose connections can allow problems to go unnoticed and escalate into safety hazards.
Overloading is another significant factor in collapses, particularly in decks or stairways designed to support a specific weight capacity. Exceeding this capacity, either through overcrowding or placing heavy objects like furniture or appliances, can stress the structure beyond its limits, leading to failure. Improper installation or construction methods, including inadequate anchoring, use of substandard materials, or shortcuts taken during assembly, can compromise the structural integrity of decks and stairways from the outset, making collapses more likely over time.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Determining liability for a deck or stairway collapse depends on various factors, including the cause of the collapse, ownership of the property, and responsibilities outlined by local building codes and regulations. Generally, potential parties held liable may include property owners/managers, contractors, builders, architects, engineers, or manufacturers of defective materials.
Property owners/managers may be liable if the collapse resulted from negligence (carelessness) in maintaining or repairing the structure, such as failure to address visible signs of deterioration or overloading the deck beyond its capacity. Contractors, builders, architects, and engineers could be held responsible if the collapse occurred due to construction defects, design flaws, or failure to adhere to building codes and standards during the installation process.
Manufacturers may be liable if the collapse resulted from defective materials used in the construction of the deck or stairway. Determining liability often requires a thorough investigation to identify the root cause of the collapse and the parties responsible for ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident because of the negligence (carelessness) of a property owner or property manager, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. Our law firm helped a hot water burn victim secure $750,000 in damages from the property owner and manager.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/newark-deck-collapse-kearny-street-eight-hurt-nj/5450470/