Construction work in New York and in other parts of the nation involve working from elevations. A large number of construction workers such as ironworkers, steelworkers, carpenters, masons, laborers or electricians carry out their work with the help of ladders, scaffolds, platforms etc. Despite being used often in construction sites, ladders continue to pose serious dangers. In New York City, falling from a ladder is one of the most frequently reported injuries in the workplace. Ladders may also fall on workers and cause debilitating injuries. It is important to understand that when ladder accidents do occur in worksites, injured workers and their families can seek compensation for their injuries, damages and losses.
How Do Ladder Accidents Happen?
There are four common causes of ladder accidents in construction accidents:
Use of the wrong ladder: It is important that contractors and construction 
companies provide the right type of ladder for the job to their workers. A number of accidents occur because ladders are used which are too short for the specific task. This leads to people placing the ladder on top of something or being forced to stand on the top rung. These types of actions can be very dangerous for workers. It is the duty of contractors, construction companies, property owners, managers or other involved parties to make sure workers have the right tools and equipment for the job.
Damaged or worn ladders: Ladders may become worn out. A common mistake that is made in construction is not paying attention to ladders that are becoming worn out or are in a state of disrepair. Just the regular use of people climbing up and down may result in damaged and dangerous ladders over time. Missing or loose rungs, split stiles and absent feet are typical issues with old or worn ladders and some of the most common causes of ladder accidents.
Inadequate training: Workers should be properly trained by construction companies or contractors with regard to how to use ladders properly. Such training should be provided in a language that the workers can understand. Workers who are operating from heights should also be provided with fall safety equipment such as harnesses, safety nets, guardrails, etc.
Improper placement: An important issue when it comes to using ladders is to make sure that the ground upon which it is place is both firm and level. Many ladder accidents have occurred because ladders are placed on uneven floors. When a ladder is not properly supported, it can cause devastating accidents and injuries. Supervisors at construction sites must make sure before a job commences that ladders are properly secured and that workers receive proper training in ladder use.
Types of Ladder Accidents and Injuries
There are a number of ways in which workers might get injured in ladder accidents. For example, they might fall off a ladder. If a ladder is damaged or defective or improperly secured, it may potentially collapse and injure a number of workers. Falling objects from ladders such as hammers, drills or other tools can become a hazard to those working underneath.
Ladder accidents can also cause a number of serious injuries. Brain injuries might occur as a result of a blow or jolt to the head. Even brain injuries that are not fatal or life-threatening might require long-term or lifelong care. Spinal cord and back injuries are also common in ladder accidents. These injuries can result in a range of symptoms from chronic pain to paralysis. A fall off a ladder can also cause a lung to be punctured or rupture of the spleen. These types of injuries to internal organs are extremely dangerous and require immediate medical treatment and care. Ladder accidents can also result in other injuries such as broken bones, lacerations, sprains and scarring.
Contacting a Construction Accident Lawyer
Workers in New York are protected under federal, state and city laws. Therefore, a worker who suffers a fall from a ladder may be able to seek compensation from several responsible parties including but not limited to the general contractor, a sub-contractor, building owner, developer, the manufacturer of a defective ladder, etc.
If you have suffered injuries in a construction-related 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.
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 and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been 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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