New York Ladder Injury Lawyers

If you fell from a ladder and injured yourself, what can you do? You have options. You see, you are not alone. Every year, about 500,000 people across the country sustain ladder-related injuries of varying degrees. Unfortunately, that is not all. Ladder accidents can lead to about 300 fatalities every year.

According to the statistics, falling from a ladder is pretty common in the farming, construction, manufacturing, landscaping, and general labor industries. Many of these incidents could have been prevented, regardless of the inured person’s experience with ladders.

If you sustained any personal injury on the job because your employer did not provide a safe working environment, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and seek compensation for your injuries. The compassionate personal injury lawyers with New York law firm, Hill & Moin LLP, may be able to help.

Contact Hill & Moin LLP today at (212) 668-6000 to speak to a qualified lawyer free of charge.

You Have the Right to Be Compensated

All it takes is one fall for you to sustain serious physical injuries. This fall may have been the result of an unsafe workplace or poor safety protocols. If you have been injured in a fall, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim, thanks to New York labor laws and OSHA guidelines.

According to the guidelines set out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), your employer is required to provide a safe workspace for you at all times. Even if you have evidence of your employer’s negligence, you must talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer in New York who understands ladder accident cases in order to file a claim.

Hill & Moin LLP is a well-established personal injury law firm based in New York City. We serve ladder accident clients throughout the State of New York. Our lawyers have extensive experience with ladder accidents and can help you build a solid case against the right entities. We get results because we have been representing clients injured from ladder falls for over 40 years, and we can help you too.

Remember: In New York State, you have the right to receive proper compensation for your injuries regardless of your immigration status!

Causes of Ladder Accidents in New York, NY

Ladder accidents are particularly common in industries where the use of ladders is mandatory. Construction workers, for instance, tend to use ladders almost on a daily basis.

A ladder accident might be mistaken as a general construction accident and treated as such, instead of being handled as it should. This is even more likely to happen if the accident took place on a construction site.

The common causes of ladder accidents are many, and you need the specific skills of an experienced lawyer who knows how to investigate your case as a ladder accident case and identify the real cause of your fall.

Some of the more common causes of ladder accidents include:

• Lack of training on ladder safety inspection before use – This puts construction workers at risk, as they may be unable to tell if the ladder is safe to use
• The ladder was not secured at the top or braced at the bottom
• The ladder broke while it was in use
• The ladder was defective or had major structural flaws
• The ladder was not evenly spaced in accordance with recommended spacing requirements – This typically leads to the climber tripping over the steps
• Negligence on the part of the employer, construction site supervisor, safety personnel, and other people who should know about it
• The ladder was improperly positioned
• Inclement weather conditions
• Birds, rodents, or reptiles startling the construction worker and causing the worker to panic and fall down – This often happens to construction workers working on rooftops or near trees

Ladder accident cases are very specific, and they require a special set of skills and experience. This is why only highly qualified lawyers who understand your case type and the associated laws should handle it. The wrong personal injury lawyers or construction accident attorneys are likely to treat a ladder accident case as a mere construction accident.

You do not want this. Why? Well, construction accidents may not pay as much as a ladder accident. Plus, there are loopholes that the insurance company or their client (your employer, a third-party, or an independent contractor) can explore if the case is filed as a construction accident.

To help you understand why you should let an experienced New York ladder accident lawyer handle your case, let us examine the requirements of New York labor law.

New York Labor Law On Ladder Accidents

Section 240(1) of New York’s labor regulations specifically protects construction workers who must carry out their jobs at elevated heights using equipment like ladders.

The section basically mandates the employer, construction project supervisor, and independent contractor to provide safety measures for all construction workers under their care who work with ladders at the construction site.

The law does not differ depending on whether the worker was at fault or not. It places all the liability on the project owner or contractor.

Most construction workers in New York City and throughout the state, including undocumented workers, already have the right to file for a workers’ compensation claim if they are ever injured while on the job. It goes without saying that they should be compensated, ideally, when injured.

How much compensation you may receive, however, depends on your attorney’s ability to negotiate and fight for your rights. It may possible to also bring a third-party suit in addition to a workers’ compensation claim if a contractor is involved in your case.

The reality is that ladder accident cases are highly technical and delicate. The motions and procedures are different from those of regular construction accident cases.

Thus, you need a New York law firm with solid experience in handling ladder-related cases throughout the state. There is no substitute for this if you want to successfully pursue the compensation that is due to you.

The ladder accident attorneys at Hill & Moin LLP are highly skilled and knowledgeable about this somewhat “obscure” aspect of the law. We are experienced in this area and always stay well-informed, so our law firm can help you as we have helped many other clients in the State of New York.

Do you have any questions or need more clarification? Contact Hill & Moin LLP today at (212) 668-6000 to schedule a free case evaluation.

Common Ladder Accident Injuries in New York

Falls account for the bulk of ladder accident injuries in New York and around the country. The severity of your injury depends on factors such as:

• Height of ladder – Where you were on the ladder when the accident happened
• How you fell – Did you fall head-first or legs-first?
• What parts of the body made contact with the surface – Did you hit the ground with your hip, arms, or leg?
• What surface did you land on – Soft grass or a pile of sand can cushion your fall and minimize your injury

These factors determine how badly you may be injured. Obviously, if you were at the top of the ladder when it snapped and you landed on concrete, your injury may be worse than someone who was just a few feet away from the ground and fell on plush grass.

The most common injuries recorded from ladder accidents include:

• Broken or shattered bones – These can be fractures in different parts of the body like the arm, leg, back, hips or neck
• Dislocations – Some examples include dislocation of the hips, shoulder, knee, or ankle
• Bruises, cuts, or punctures – This can be anything from mild bruises to deep lacerations
• Traumatic brain injury or head injury – Such injuries can lead to brain damage
• Spinal cord injuries – These injuries may cause temporary or permanent partial or total paralysis
• PTSD – Some people never recover from the experience as they end up being scared of heights and ladders
• Wrongful Death

Severe injuries require moderate to extensive medical care. They can also incur wage loss, post-operative care, rehabilitative care, and in some cases, lifelong care.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Ladder Accident in New York City

In a ladder accident, determining liability is critical for pursuing a successful ladder accident lawsuit. Under New York Labor Law Section 240(1), employers, contractors, property owners, and other parties overseeing a job site are required to implement proper safety measures, such as fall protection systems. When these parties fail to uphold their duty to provide a safe worksite, they may be held liable for injuries sustained in a work-related accident.

For instance, if a ladder is defective, the manufacturer or distributor may also share responsibility. Similarly, a subcontractor who improperly set up the ladder could be liable. Injured construction workers may have the option to pursue a ladder accident claim against multiple entities, including third parties beyond their employer.

By identifying all potential defendants, an experienced personal injury lawyer can maximize compensation for injuries like broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. If your employer failed to adhere to worksite safety guidelines or OSHA regulations, you could recover damages through a combination of workers’ compensation and third-party claims. It’s essential to work with attorneys well-versed in ladder accident cases to protect your rights and build a compelling case.

What Can a Personal Injury Attorney Do for Me if I Sustained a Ladder Injury

If you’ve suffered serious injuries like neck injuries, brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries from a ladder accident, a personal injury attorney can play a crucial role in helping you secure compensation. Experienced lawyers understand the complexities of ladder accident cases and can handle every aspect of your claim, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

Here’s how an attorney can assist you:

• Evaluate Your Case: Determine the strength of your claim and explain your legal options, including filing a personal injury lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim.
• Investigate the Accident: Examine the job site conditions, assess whether safety protocols like fall protection were followed, and identify negligence, such as defective ladders or improper setup.
• Identify Liable Parties: Pinpoint all responsible parties, including employers, contractors, and manufacturers, to ensure no potential source of compensation is overlooked.
• Navigate New York Labor Laws: Leverage expertise in laws like Section 240(1) to hold employers and contractors strictly liable for unsafe working conditions.
• Negotiate with Insurers: Handle communications and negotiations with insurance companies to fight for maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
• Build a Strong Case: Collect and present evidence to support your ladder accident claim, such as medical records, expert testimony, and OSHA violations.
• Represent You in Court: If necessary, litigate your case to ensure you receive fair compensation for your work-related accident.

By working with an experienced attorney, you can navigate the legal complexities of a ladder accident lawsuit and maximize your chances of a successful outcome. Contacting a lawyer promptly after your accident is essential to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.

Speak to a Highly Proficient Ladder Accident Lawyer in New York, NY

Medical expenses, loss of wages, and losing your ability to earn a living can be financially devastating for you and your loved ones. This is why you need a highly skilled, results-oriented ladder accident attorney to help recover your compensation.

At Hill & Moin, our knowledgeable and up-to-date lawyers understand the complicated and ever-shifting nature of these cases. Through our thorough investigative process, we can identify the entities liable in your New York City ladder accident case and fight for your rights when we take on your case.

Please examine some of our latest wins for our clients who have sustained injuries from ladder accidents:

• $750,000+ settlement for worker after fall from ladder;
• $950,000 for worker who fell off shaky ladder;
• $500,000 for a cable technician who sustained injuries after a ladder accident.

We know and understand ladder accidents and can assure you that you have rights. Let us help you. Call Hill & Moin LLP’s local office at (212) 668-6000 to discover your Personal Injury Recovery SolutionsⓇ. 

Don’t wonder about your rights!