According to a study conducted by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are a leading cause of mortality in workers. Nearly half of the fatal falls involved a ladder. In fact, 81% of construction workers who had a fall at work, were using a ladder at the time of their accident. These are amazingly high statistics.
If your ladder accident occurs at work and is deemed compensable, the workers’ compensation insurance company should readily make benefits available to you. These include payment of authorized medical care, reimbursement of a portion of lost wages and a possible award for some portion of permanent disability. It is best to retain legal representation soon after the accident. This may help move the process forward without delay.
The workers’ compensation carrier may also decide that your case warrants investigation. This is not necessarily because they are skeptical about your version of the accident. They may not doubt the causal relationship of your injuries to the incident. Instead, they have another concern. The insurance company has a stake in pursuing subrogation rights. In short, if a party other than your employer was responsible for your injuries, the insurance company has a right to recoup money they paid on your behalf.
Whether your ladder accident occurred at work or somewhere else, there is a potential for a products liability claim. These cases are considered complex and should be handled by someone with experience in this field, such as the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone. Some common issues regard the design, construction and use of the ladder. For these types of cases, an expert is retained and examines the ladder for any defects.
The ladder may have also been provided as part of a rental or loaner program. Was it in good condition? Was it maintained properly? These are also issues for consideration of a claim against some other entity that may be responsible for your injuries.
If you were injured as a result of a ladder accident, we want to help you understand your legal rights. Call us to schedule a complimentary appointment to discuss your case.