Did You Suffer Injuries After a Scaffolding Accident or Fall at Work?

Scaffolding accidents can result in some of the most tragic and debilitating injuries. Workers injured while performing their duties can seek Workers’ Compensation benefits from their employer. These benefits cover medical bills and a portion of lost wages. In many cases, Workers’ Compensation does not cover the full extent of an employee’s injury and damages. There are numerous situations where a worker can experience a scaffolding accident due to the negligence of a third party.

Scaffolding is a platform erected around a building under construction, typically at great heights. Construction workers are most at risk of experiencing a fall from scaffolding in their work environments. Contractors and property owners are responsible for ensuring reasonably safe conditions on construction sites. When safety standards and requirements are neglected, accidents with severe injuries can happen. If you have suffered injuries due to a scaffolding accident, Galfand Berger LLP can help.

What Are Common Causes of Scaffolding Accidents?

Scaffolding accidents can happen in a variety of ways for many different reasons. Negligence can be the cause of these dangerous accidents. Recent studies show that the majority of scaffolding accidents are caused in one of the following three ways:

• Defective equipment or improper assembly causes scaffolding support or planking to give way.
• Lack of guardrails and slick surfaces lead to slipping or tripping while on scaffolding.
• Falling objects hit and injure workers on scaffolding or others below.

Some other ways scaffolding accidents can occur include:

• Electrocution due to scaffolding being too close to power or utility lines.
• Wind, rain, and the presence of hazardous substances.
• Inadequate or lack of handrails and fall protection.
• Overloading causes scaffolding to collapse.

What Are Common Injuries Caused by Scaffolding Accidents?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, scaffolding accidents result in about 60 deaths and 4,500 injuries yearly. Falls from scaffolding account for approximately 25 percent of fatal falls from all surfaces on job sites. Injuries in scaffolding accidents are often severe and permanent, leaving victims and their families emotionally and financially burdened.

Common injuries caused by scaffolding accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Cuts and lacerations
• Concussions and other head trauma
• Fatal injuries

Workers performing their jobs from stories-high scaffolding are not the only ones at risk of injury. Other workers and pedestrians on the ground can also be seriously injured or killed when dangerous scaffolding collapses.

Who Is Liable for a Scaffolding Accident?

While Workers’ Compensation covers most work injuries, you may also be able to sue another party that was responsible for the safety of the worksite, like a general contractor, or the company responsible for maintaining the area in which you were injured. If you are injured on someone else’s property because they fail to maintain the premises properly, you can take legal action to recover compensation for your financial and other losses.

Companies other than employers are often held liable for injuries suffered by workers or others on the property. Third-party personal injury claims can be filed against individuals and entities, allowing compensation for intangible losses, such as pain and suffering.

Potentially liable parties include:

• Business or property owners
• General contractors or subcontractors
• Manufacturers and distributors of defective products
• Maintenance crews
• Equipment repair companies
• Co-workers

What Damages Can I Recover After Being Injured in a Scaffolding Accident?

Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to recover both economic and non-economic damages for your injury. A knowledgeable lawyer can help calculate the value of your claim and fight for the full extent of appropriate compensation.

Damages you may be eligible to recover for a scaffolding accident injury may include:

• Current and future medical bills
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Cost of home care
• Home modifications and equipment
• Physical and other therapies
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of life’s enjoyment
• Loss of spousal services
• Loss of companionship

If a life is tragically lost in a scaffolding accident, our compassionate lawyers can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of family members.

What Should I Do After a Scaffolding Accident at Work?

Your health and safety are paramount after any type of work accident. It is critical that you seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. Call 911 or make sure someone else brings medical assistance to the scene.

Other important steps to take include:

• Report the accident to your supervisor at work.
• Try to take pictures of the accident scene and your physical injuries.
• Speak to any eyewitnesses and get their contact information.
• Keep copies of accident reports and documentation of your medical treatment.
• Contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.

How Can a Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyer Help With My Case?

If you or a loved one suffered an injury on someone else’s property, you need skilled representation. Protecting your rights and best interests from the start of the process is essential. Injured workers who retain legal counsel are much more likely to recover a higher financial award.

Our Philadelphia construction accident lawyers can do the following:

• Review the details of your case and discuss the best legal strategy.
• Handle verbal and written correspondence with insurance companies and opposing representatives.
• Investigate the scene and circumstances of the accident.
• Review the accident report and your medical records.
• Work with medical and industry experts.
• Gather evidence.
• Negotiate a favorable settlement when possible.
• Prepare to take your case to trial.

We Can Help You After a Construction Accident

Galfand Berger LLP has a long-standing history of successfully representing workers after sustaining a fall injury:

• $12 million recovery for workplace fall.
• $10 million recovery for construction site fall: Our client was a middle-aged construction framer who fell from the second floor of a house under construction. He suffered multiple skull fractures and a severe TBI. Our client’s doctors said he would never fully recover and, traumatically, he passed away four months after the parties reached a settlement, leaving behind two teenage children. We filed claims against multiple parties. They argued that the defendants failed to provide proper fall protection, violated their policies and procedures, and violated OSHA guardrail mandates. We alleged that our client’s catastrophic injuries were preventable and the fall should never have occurred. After much negotiation, the defendants agreed to pay a $10 million settlement to resolve the lawsuit. This resolution ensured that our client received top medical care until his death and also provided for his two children’s future.
• $8 million recovery for construction accident: Our client was working as a framing subcontractor when he fell 18 feet while installing lateral bracing on a house under construction. We claimed the defendants negligently failed to provide adequate fall protection to prevent our client’s injuries. As a result of the catastrophic fall, our client was diagnosed with multiple severe injuries. The defendants maintained that our client’s employer was responsible for providing fall protection for workers. They also asserted that the plaintiff failed to follow the framing specifications for the construction of the house and should not have been working at the location from which he fell. We settled the matter for a global resolution of $8 million on the seventh day of trial.

Our Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Successfully Handle Scaffolding Accident Cases

Our Philadelphia construction accident lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP are here for you and your family after a devastating scaffolding accident. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.