Injured in a Ladder Fall in Pennsylvania? Your Legal and Insurance Options
Whether you use one for work or have one around the house for tasks, ladders and stepladders can pose a serious risk. Falls from a ladder can cause severe injuries that are expensive to treat and leave you unable to work. If you have injuries after falling off a ladder, you must understand your legal options for recovering financial compensation. You can talk to a personal injury attorney if you have further questions about liability and insurance claims after a ladder fall.
Common Injuries From a Ladder Fall
Common injuries you can sustain after falling off a ladder might include:
- Bruises and soft-tissue injuries
- Sprains and muscle strains
- Head injuries and concussions
- Broken bones and fractures
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
The severity of falling injuries can vary significantly depending on the height of the fall and how the victim strikes the ground. For example, a fall on the head or neck can be fatal even from a low height.
Options for Financial Compensation After a Ladder Accident
Your options for financial compensation after a ladder fall depend on the nature of the accident. You can discuss your case with an attorney to determine which option would be the most ideal in your circumstances.
Workers’ Compensation
If you fall from a ladder while at work and performing work duties, you can be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation will pay for the reasonable costs of treating your injury and replace a portion of your lost income if you cannot work. It can also pay permanent benefits if you become disabled and provide a death benefit if you die from work injuries. Workers’ compensation will cover work injuries regardless of who is at fault, but it will not pay for intangible personal losses, such as pain and suffering.
Product Liability Lawsuit
If you fell because of a manufacturing or design defect in the ladder, you could file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. For example, you may fall off a ladder if the locking mechanism breaks while engaged. Companies are responsible when their defective or dangerous products cause injuries. In Pennsylvania, product liability lawsuits operate under a strict liability standard, meaning the injured victim doesn’t have to prove the manufacturer was negligent to recover damages.
Negligence Injury Claim
You may also be able to file a negligence injury claim against the owner of the property where the ladder fall occurred. If the property had dangerous conditions that contributed to the fall, the landowner might be liable for your injuries and losses. In order to make a negligence claim, you must demonstrate that the property owner owed you a duty of care to provide safe premises or warn of dangers, that they violated their duty of care, and that they caused your injuries through some action or omission. For example, if the property owner lets their large dog run free and it hits the ladder while you are climbing, causing you to fall, the owner could be liable for any falling injuries you sustain.
Fall Injury Attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA
You have a limited time to file a falling injury claim in Pennsylvania, so it’s important to act quickly. The attorneys from Ainsman Levine, LLC, can investigate your claim and help you pursue the financial compensation you need. We have extensive experience with both personal injury lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims and can confidently protect your rights and interests.
Contact our offices today or give us a call for a case consultation with a falling injury attorney in Pittsburgh. Consultations are free, and we don’t charge attorney fees unless we win your case, so you have nothing to lose by getting in touch.