Ladders are among the most common tools used on construction sites. However, they are also one of the leading causes of serious workplace injuries. A ladder fall can happen within seconds. For injured construction workers and their families, understanding the true cost of ladder fall injuries is important. The impact of such a construction site accident goes far beyond the initial emergency room visit. Medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, long-term rehabilitation and emotional suffering can create long-term challenges not just for the victims, but also their families. A very experienced New York construction accident lawyer can help injured workers understand their rights and pursue compensation after a ladder accident.
Ladder Fall Injuries on Construction Sites
Construction environments often require workers to use ladders at various heights and under difficult conditions. Factors such as uneven ground, debris and weather hazards can increase the risk of serious falls at work sites. Some of the most common ladder fall injuries include:
Broken bones: Fractures are among the most frequent injuries caused by ladder falls. A worker may instinctively reach out to break the fall, leading to broken wrists, arms or shoulders. Falls from greater heights can cause fractures to the legs, hips, ribs or spine. Even relatively minor bone breaks can result in weeks or months away from work. Construction jobs often require physical labor. So, returning to work before a bone has properly healed can increase the risk of a reinjury.
Head and brain injuries: A fall from a ladder can cause a worker’s head to strike concrete, tools or other equipment. Traumatic brain injuries can range from concussions to severe brain damage. Serious brain injuries can require ongoing medical treatment, therapy and assistance with daily activities. The financial and personal impact of such injuries can be overwhelming.
Spinal cord and back injuries: A ladder fall that impacts the back or neck can cause serious spinal injuries. These may include herniated discs, nerve damage, paralysis that result in weakness and/or chronic pain. For construction workers, spinal injuries can be especially devastating because many job duties involve lifting, climbing, bending, and constant physical movement. Some injured workers may never be able to return to the same type of employment.
Soft tissue injuries: Not every ladder injury involves a broken bone. Sprains, strains, torn ligaments and muscle injuries are also common. These injuries can still cause significant pain and limit mobility. Soft tissue injuries are sometimes underestimated because they may not show up clearly on imaging tests. However, ongoing pain and reduced function can affect a worker’s ability to earn a living and enjoy everyday life.
The Financial Cost of a Ladder Accident
The true cost of a ladder fall often extends far beyond hospital bills. After an accident, injured workers may face:
Medical expenses: Costs for emergency treatment, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, specialist appointments and future medical care can add up very quickly.
Lost income: A construction worker who cannot return to work may lose wages during recovery. In severe cases, a permanent disability may reduce or eliminate future earning ability.
Rehabilitation costs: Physical therapy, occupational therapy and other recovery services may be needed for months or years.
Impact on the household: A serious injury can affect a family’s finances, especially if the injured worker is the family’s sole breadwinner.
Pain and suffering: The physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of life’s enjoyment caused by a serious injury are also important considerations in a claim for compensation.
Why Ladder Accidents Happen
Many ladder falls are preventable. Construction companies and contractors have responsibilities to maintain safe working conditions and to provide proper training for the workers.
Common causes of ladder accidents include:
• Defective or damaged ladders
• Ladders placed on unstable surfaces
• Lack of fall protection
• Improper ladder placement
• Poor job site organization
• Inadequate worker training
• Failure to follow safety procedures
• Using the wrong ladder
Often, a property owner, site manager, contractor, equipment manufacturer or another party may have contributed to unsafe conditions, making them potentially liable for the worker’s injuries.
Ladder Accident Compensation
When a construction worker is injured on the job, the first line of financial protection is usually workers’ compensation, which provides benefits irrespective of fault — covering medical expenses, a portion of lost wages and rehabilitation costs. However, workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering and benefits are often limited compared to the full extent of losses. The large verdicts and settlements occur when others are sued in third-party cases.
In some situations, injured workers may also pursue a third-party lawsuit in addition to workers’ compensation. These claims arise when someone other than the employer — such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner or manager — contributed to the accident. For example, if defective machinery caused the injury, the manufacturer may be held liable. Third-party lawsuits can provide compensation for damages not covered by workers’ compensation, including pain and suffering, emotional distress and full lost earnings, and these verdicts and settlements can be quite large.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you have suffered injuries 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.
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 cases, motor vehicle accidents, slip-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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