Get Construction Fall Injury Lawsuit Help
Falls from scaffolds, ladders, and elevated roof work remain a leading cause of catastrophic injuries and fatalities on construction sites and industrial workplaces.
While workersâ compensation may cover basic benefits, serious cases often involve thirdâparty negligence (e.g., general contractors, property owners, subcontractors) and/or product liability (defective scaffolds, ladders, anchors, PFAS, roof hatches, or fallâprotection equipment).
Identifying and preserving these fault avenues can be the difference between limited benefits and full civil recovery for lifelong harms.
How Much Is Your Case Worth?
How these falls usually happen
- Unprotected edges or skylights: No guardrail or cover; a skylight that looks âwalkableâ but isnât.
- Shaky or incorrect scaffolds: Parts missing, not tied in, or overloaded.
- Ladder problems: Wrong angle, slippery feet, bad floor, damaged rungs/rails.
- Gear failure: Harness, lanyard, or selfâretracting lifeline (SRL) that doesnât catch; no safe place to clip in.
- Open roof hatches or poor setup: Openings left uncovered or guardrails removed.
Claim Strategy
When someone falls at work (scaffold, ladder, roof), there are two main ways to hold others financially responsible in addition to workersâ comp:
ThirdâParty Negligence (beyond workersâ comp)
Idea: A company that controlled the jobsite or created a hazard failed to keep things safe.
Who this might be:
- General contractor or construction manager: They run the site and must plan for fall protection (guardrails, covers, tie-off points) and make sure everyone follows the rules.
- Property owner/building manager: They must keep the area reasonably safe (e.g., mark fragile skylights, guard roof hatches, provide safe access).
- Other subcontractors/trades: Another crew might remove a guardrail, move an anchor, leave debris that makes a ladder slip, or otherwise create a hazard.
- Maintenance/rental vendors: If a scaffold, swing stage, or hoist was assembled or inspected poorly by a third party.
Simple example: The GC removes guardrails so a delivery can pass and doesnât put them back. You step back and fall. Thatâs likely on the GC.
Product Liability (defects & warnings)
Idea: A piece of equipment failed because it was badly designed, badly made, or poorly labeled/instructed and that caused the fall.
What this might involve:
- Design defects: A ladder that tends to slide out even when set correctly; scaffold parts that can come loose; a lifeline that doesnât catch reliably; anchors not strong enough for a fall.
- Manufacturing defects: A cracked weld, weak metal, wrong materials, or a faulty batch.
- Warnings/instructions problems: Missing or unclear instructions (e.g., proper ladder angle, how to tie off, where anchors can safely be used); not warning that a skylight isnât walkable.
- Warranty breaches: The product wasnât fit for normal jobsite use as promised.
Simple example: Your harness and lifeline are set up correctly, but the self-retracting lifeline doesnât lock when you fall. That points to a defective product claim against the manufacturer.
What We Have To Show
Another company was careless (third-party negligence):
- They controlled the area or created the hazard (GC/site manager/other trade/rental or maintenance vendor). They failed to take basic safety steps (guardrails/covers/tie-off options, safe access/housekeeping, proper assembly/inspection).
The property was unsafe (premises liability):
- A dangerous condition existed (unmarked skylight, open hatch, unprotected edge, slippery surface). The owner/manager knew or should have known. They didnât fix it or warn, and it led to your injury.
A safety rule was broken (negligence per se):
- A safety rule applied (e.g., covers/guardrails required, proper ladder setup, fall-protection requirements). The rule was violated. The violation contributed to the fall.
A product was unsafe (strict product liability). The product was defective when sold:
- Design (tends to slide, too weak, locks donât engage), Manufacture (cracked welds, bad materials), or Warnings/Instructions (unclear, missing, or misleading). You used it in a normal/expected way. The defect caused your injury.
The product didnât live up to its promises (breach of warranty):
- The company promised it was fit/safe for the job (labels, specs, brochures). In real-world use, it wasnât. That shortfall resulted in your injury.
Learn More
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