Fall from Ladder Attorney in Boston

A fall from a ladder is not only scary, but it can cause serious injury, disability and even death.

If you or a family member has been injured in a ladder fall, the personal injury attorneys at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers in Boston can pursue a claim against all responsible parties and get you the compensation you deserve.

Our lawyers are available to evaluate your claim and provide advice on the steps to take to make yourself whole. There are no out-of-pocket fees or costs unless we recover money for you, and all of our consultations are free and confidential.

Our law firm knows what it takes to win these cases and has the resources to do so. We can help with cases involving step ladders, extension ladders, platform ladders, folding ladders and all other types of ladders. Regardless of whether your fall occurred on a construction site, another jobsite or some other location, our skilled and aggressive attorneys can help you recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and more.

If you’ve been injured in a fall from a ladder, it’s imperative that you contact our ladder accident attorneys as soon as possible to increase your likelihood of a successful outcome.

After a ladder fall, you should try to collect as much evidence as possible at the scene. Use your cellphone to photograph your injuries and the ladder that you fell from. It’s likely that the ladder will be moved and maybe even removed from the accident scene, and you won’t be able to come back later and document the accident scene.

Record the brand of the ladder and any other product identifiers, as well as any warning stickers or stickers instructing on safe use. This type of information could be important if you end up pursuing a product liability suit against the ladder manufacturer.

If anyone witnessed the accident, request their contact information. Eyewitnesses can be critical in winning these cases, especially if your version of how the accident happened is contested.

If you fell while working at your job, report the accident to your supervisor.

Get medical attention as soon as possible, even if your injuries don’t seem to be serious. You might not know the severity of your injuries until weeks or even months after the accident. Proper medical documentation is important in substantiating your claims.

Contact the ladder accident attorneys at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers in a timely manner. These cases have strict time limits. An attorney will make sure you meet all applicable deadlines and don’t lose out on your opportunity to recover for your injuries.

You’ve fallen from a ladder. Who’s to blame for your accident and, more importantly, your injuries?

If the ladder was defective and caused or contributed to your fall, the ladder manufacturer could be held liable for your injuries. The store that sold the ladder could also be held liable. A ladder could be deemed defective if it buckled or collapsed during use, was poorly designed or manufactured, or failed to properly warn of hazards. Manufacturers have a duty to warn consumers of dangers associated with their products.

Injured ladder users have successfully filed product liability claims against manufacturers over ladders that had improperly installed rivets, were not strong enough to hold a person’s weight, and had defective locking systems.

If your fall was caused by another person’s negligence, that person could be held liable for your injuries. To prove negligence, you must be able to establish that the person owed you a duty of care, breached that duty and that the breach was the cause of your injury. In addition, you must be able to show that you were injured or suffered damages.

If a fall occurs while an accident victim is working, the worker can file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation provides coverage for all types of on-the-job injuries and work accidents. In Massachusetts, workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system, which means workers are entitled to benefits even if they caused their own injuries. The workers’ compensation attorneys at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can help navigate and maximize workers’ compensation claims.

After evaluating your case, the ladder injury attorneys at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers will identify all potentially liable parties and help you build a case against those who are responsible for your injuries. Our law firm can call in experts to weigh in on how the accident happened and who is to blame. An expert can identify defects in a ladder and explain how it deviates from industry standards.

A fall from a ladder can result in serious injuries with permanent consequences. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that 500,000 Americans are treated for ladder-related falls and more than 300 die from ladder falls every year. These ladder falls cost the United States $24 billion annually for work loss, medical costs and other expenses, the agency said.

Workers who are male, Hispanic, older, self-employed, work in smaller establishments, and construction, maintenance or repair experience higher ladder fall injury rates, NIOSH said. Here’s a list of some common injuries caused by ladder falls:

• Cuts and bruises
• Broken bones
• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Spine injuries
• Paralysis
• Electrocution
• Electrical burns
• Wrongful death

Older adults are especially vulnerable when it comes to falls. A senior who falls from a ladder is likely to face a longer recovery time than a younger person. When it comes to ladder falls, age tends to matter more than the height of the ladder.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, ladder fall accidents are a hazard in the workplace and at home. There are five major causes for ladder fall incidents:

1. Incorrect extension ladder setup angle: In about 40% of cases, the primary cause of ladder-related injuries is a ladder sliding out at the base as a result of an incorrect setup angle. Ladder users often set extension ladders at shallower angles than the optimal desired angle, which is 75 degrees.
2. Incorrect ladder selection: Selecting a ladder with the correct “duty rating” is important to avoid structural failure. The duty rating is the ladder’s maximum “safe load” capacity. Ladder users should include their fully clothed weight plus the weight of any tools and materials being carried when calculating the total weight.
3. Faulty ladder inspection: Regular inspection and maintenance can prevent ladders from structural failure.
4. Improper ladder use: Activities like overreaching, carrying objects, applying excessive force and missteps are frequent causes of ladder-related fall injuries.
5. Lack of access to ladder safety tools and information: Small companies, including construction companies, and individual ladder users such as homeowners usually don’t receive the required training for safe use of portable ladders.

NIOSH offers a free Ladder Safety App to help prevent extension and step ladder fall injuries and deaths. An angle measuring tool included in the app, uses visual, sound and vibration cues to set an extension ladder at the correct angle. The app also includes ladder safety tools that help users plan a job, select the proper size and type of ladder, inspect the ladder for mechanical problems, and properly set up and use the ladder.

According to a recent study completed by the American Ladder Institute, missing the last step on a ladder and overreaching were cited as the two most common causes of ladder accidents. To avoid these types of ladder accidents, the institute recommended that ladder users select the right size and type of ladder, set up the ladder correctly, inspect the ladder for damage and wear, and use the ladder correctly.

To learn more about how our personal injury attorneys can help you with your ladder fall claim, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today at (617) 777-7777 or use our online form.