A ladder accident at a construction site can happen within seconds, but the consequences can last for years for not just workers, but also their families. In New York City, workers, contractors, and laborers and others may use ladders while they operate in worksites. A fall from a ladder often causes broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries and other serious conditions that require extensive medical treatment.
For a construction accident victim, however, the immediate medical bills may represent only a fraction of the financial consequences. A serious ladder accident can affect a person’s ability to work, earn income, care for family members, and participate in everyday activities. Understanding the potential long-term costs is important when evaluating a personal injury claim.
Medical Treatment Can be Necessary for Years
The costs associated with a ladder accident often begin with emergency medical care. A person who falls from a ladder may require an ambulance, emergency-room treatment, diagnostic imaging, surgery and hospitalization. More serious injuries can require intensive care and extended rehabilitation.
Treatment does not necessarily end when the injured person leaves the hospital. Depending on the nature of the injury, ongoing care may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, follow-up appointments, prescription medications, additional surgeries or specialized medical equipment.
Some injuries may require treatment for months or years. A person with a spinal injury, for example, may need continuing rehabilitation and assistance with daily activities. Victims who suffers a traumatic brain injury may require neurological treatment, cognitive therapy, or other specialized services. When evaluating a ladder injury claim, it is important to consider not only medical bills that have already been incurred, but also accurately estimate future medical expenses.
Lost Income Can Become a Major Expense
A ladder accident can also interfere with a person’s ability to earn a living. This can be particularly significant for construction workers and other employees whose jobs require climbing, lifting, standing, or other physical activities. Even a relatively short period away from work can result in lost wages and benefits. A serious injury may prevent someone from returning to the same job for months. In some cases, an injured worker may never be able to return to the same occupation.
The financial consequences can extend beyond current wages and benefits. If an injury permanently limits a person’s ability to work, the individual may lose future earning capacity. A younger worker who suffers a permanent disability, for example, can potentially lose decades of future income. A personal injury claim in such cases should factor in both lost earnings/benefits and diminished future earning capacity.
Some Injuries Can Permanently Change a Person’s Life
The financial consequences of a ladder accident are not limited to medical expenses and lost wages. Serious injuries can affect virtually every aspect of a person’s life. A spinal injury may limit their mobility. A brain injury may affect memory, concentration or emotional functioning. A severe fracture may result in chronic pain, reduced range of motion or permanent limitations.
These consequences can make ordinary activities more difficult. An injured person may have trouble driving, exercising, shopping, caring for children, maintaining a home or participating in hobbies. In a personal injury case, compensation may therefore include damages for pain and suffering, which address the physical and emotional consequences of an injury rather than simply reimbursing financial expenses.
Determining Who Was Responsible
A number of parties may be held liable for injuries from a ladder accident. Some of the common causes include:
• A defective or damaged ladder
• An improperly positioned ladder
• A lack of appropriate safety equipment including ropes and harnesses, etc.
• Unsafe instructions or supervision
• Failure to provide a safe workplace
• Dangerous construction-site conditions
• Failure to secure a ladder properly
• Violations of applicable safety requirements
• Negligent (careless) maintenance or inspection
Photographs, accident reports, witness statements, medical records, employment records and other documentation can prove invaluable when determining how an accident occurred and who can be held responsible.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, the very 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. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact a very experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 55 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. Also, we got $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an unguarded hole.
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 cases, negligence cases, motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, trip-and-fall accidents, ceiling collapse cases, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases, quadriplegia cases 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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