According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, over the last 10 years, the number of people who have died from ladder falls has tripled. Falls from ladders are also the leading cause of ladder-related injuries followed by unsafe conditions and a faulty or defective ladder.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that between 2017 and 2021, falls caused 887 fatal injuries. Most of these fatalities were from a height to a lower level and many were due to falls from ladders. Some of the most common causes of ladder falls include:
• Defective or faulty ladders
• Damaged ladders
• Improperly opened or positioned ladders
• Incorrect height or type of ladder for the job
• Lack of supervision on a worksite
• Dangerous property conditions
• Improperly secured ladders that put workers at risk
• Lack of maintenance or repair
A fall from any height from a ladder, even if it is just a few feet, can result in major injuries. Falls from greater heights or while carrying heavy objects can be catastrophic and, in some cases, fatal. Even a minor fall from a ladder often requires emergency room care. There were 22,000 non-fatal ladder fall injuries in 2020 alone. Some serious injuries involving ladder falls include but are not limited to:
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head or neck injuries including skull fractures
• Spinal cord trauma resulting in paralysis
• Sprains and strains
• Ligament tears and muscle injuries
• Broken bone injuries or fractures
Many construction workers in New York City such as ironworkers, steelworkers, laborers, carpenters, masons, bricklayers, painters, window washers, and electricians etc. carry out their tasks while on scaffolds, ladders, platforms, etc. New York’s Scaffolding Law (Section 240 of the New York Labor Law) requires contractors, owners and their agents to be responsible for providing necessary equipment such as scaffolds, ladders, hoists, stays, irons, ropes, blocks braces and other devices to keep workers safe from fall-related accidents.
Since this law was enacted in the early part of the 20th century, workers injured in scaffolding accidents have had the ability to bring civil actions against the contractor and property owner/managing agent etc. responsible for the safety of the jobsite.
Workers who have been injured in fall-related accidents can receive workers’ compensation benefits, which covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. In addition, workers may also be able to file a third-party claim against a negligent (careless) party other than the employer or co-employees for significant monetary damages and have two sources of compensation available for their losses.
Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, construction companies, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents etc. In cases where a worker dies from injuries suffered on the job, surviving family members may seek death benefits through workers’ compensation and/or file a wrongful death claim against a third party.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, 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. For over 51 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses.
Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job — one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year. Our law firm also recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. 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.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com