Why Hire an Attorney After Scaffolding Accidents

Many construction sites depend on scaffolding instead of ladders to allow workers to reach high areas. The scaffolding may be constructed by other members of the construction team or may be contracted out to a third-party. Scaffolding accidents can occur for a number of reasons including:

• Improperly installed scaffolding
• Improper operation of scaffolding
• Defective scaffolding
• Failure to train workers
• Failure to use safety equipment
• Failure to provide safety equipment
• Safety equipment failure

Possible victims of scaffolding accidents

In many cases, the person most at risk is the person who is actually working on scaffolding that collapses. However, this is not always the case. While a person who is standing on scaffolding that collapses may suffer injury from a scaffolding collapse, pedestrians who are in the area of falling scaffolding and other construction site workers may also suffer injuries or even death due to falling scaffolding.

Employer requirements

As an employee, a worker must receive proper training before being asked to perform his or her job on a platform. Unlike when you are standing on solid ground, when you are working on scaffolding you are literally hanging at least several feet in the air in order to complete certain tasks. In addition to ensuring you understand how to maintain your balance, employers generally must also provide needed safety equipment, such as harnesses, and make sure that their employees understand how to use such equipment.

Obvious dangers and minimizing risk

While performing any tasks from scaffolding presents some dangers, safety equipment is designed to help minimize the risk. Regardless of how well you are trained, faulty scaffolding is a dangerous place to be working.

Scaffolding accidents can cause catastrophic injuries including broken bones, crushed bones and, in extreme cases, death. Victims of scaffolding accidents should hire a personal injury attorney. It is important to note that employees who are injured are entitled to collect Workers’ Compensation, but may still be entitled to additional compensation if the accident was caused by the negligence of a third-party, such as another contractor or company which is not the injured worker’s employer.

If you are the victim of a scaffolding accident, whether you were working on the scaffolding or simply because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, you should always contact an attorney who is familiar with scaffolding accidents and the various laws which govern your rights. Pedestrians can suffer many of the same injuries that employees face when they were simply an innocent passer-by.

Victims of scaffolding accidents are likely to face long periods of time in the hospital, having broken bones set and may also suffer internal injuries that require time to heal. In addition, after they are released, they may suffer ongoing pain and be facing weeks or months of rehabilitation therapy. This means they also have to deal with increased medical bills and potential loss of wages. A qualified scaffolding attorney can help ensure you are not also victimized by an insurance company seeking to force you to settle for less than what you deserve. Contact us today.