Written By: Attorney Ryan Toomey
CALL (800) 863-5312 TO SPEAK WITH A SCAFFOLDING ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY
Workplace injuries are common throughout the United States. Workplace accidents involving falls from scaffolding or other high workspaces can lead to serious bodily injury or even death, especially when employees fail to use proper safeguarding equipment. Employers and independent contractors are well aware of the risks posed by scaffolding when adequate protections are not in place. Scaffolds must be erected properly to prevent harm.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to scaffolding at the workplace, the workplace injury attorneys at Zinda Law Group may help. We have the knowledge and resources necessary to help you seek maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, mental anguish, and any other damages to which you are entitled. Call us today at (800) 863-5312 to schedule your free consultation.
HOW DO I HOLD SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY SCAFFOLDING WORKPLACE INJURY?
Construction workers have rights. Your employer and/or the contractor in charge of the job site is required to comply with strict rules with regard to scaffolds that are erected at a job site. The United States Department of Labor, through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has enacted such rules. If your employer does not follow these rules, then it is likely that they did not put proper protections in place for your safety and, thus, they could be liable for your injuries.
These rules include requiring that fall protection and/or fall arrest systems be in place for any employer more than 10 feet above a lower level. Such protections can includ:
- Guardrails or other fall arrest system (like a harness) must be present
- Guardrails must meet certain height requirements
- Employees must erect scaffolds with proper footings
- Platforms must be fully planked or decked
- Scaffolds must have capacity of at least four times the intended load
- Employers must train each employee who works on a scaffold about the hazards
- Scaffolding must be inspected at the beginning of each shift and after any occurrence that could affect structural integrity
It is important to note that there are even special rules detailing how a scaffold should be erected and dismantled. If you have been injured due to an accident involving scaffolding, it is vital that you seek the representation of an experienced scaffold workplace injury attorney as soon as possible.
Learn More: How Are Roofing Accident Cases Handled
WHO MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY SCAFFOLD WORKPLACE INJURY?
There are many potential parties to consider when evaluating any workplace injury claim, especially one involving a scaffold workplace injury. When evaluating the potential parties, it comes down to that specific party’s actions and, potentially, their level of knowledge and/or control over the job site. Potential parties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The general contractor
- Your employer
- A third-party company hired to erect and/or maintain the scaffold
- A company hired to provide fall protection and/or fall arrest systems
- Other subcontractors on the job site
- Other third parties on the job site
The workplace injury attorneys at Zinda Law Group are experienced in locating all of the potential parties in a scaffold workplace injury case. Each party is a potential source of recovery that could be responsible for compensating you for the injuries that you sustain in a scaffold workplace injury. If you are severely or catastrophically injured, it will be crucial to identify as many sources of recovery as possible to ensure that your compensation covers the extent of your injuries.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUFFER A SCAFFOLD WORKPLACE INJURY?
There are things that you can do to help ensure that all of the necessary evidence is protected after you sustain a scaffold workplace injury.
Photograph the Scene and Your Injuries
The first thing you should do, if possible, is to take photographs of the equipment that you were provided at the job site, as well as any physical injuries that you sustained. This includes photographs of the scaffold, the job site in general, any harness you were provided, any other fall protection or fall arrest system, and the job site’s overall conditions.
If you used any of your own equipment, you must keep that preserved and separate and separate from your own personal items if it becomes evidence later.
Keep Track of All Documentation
Documentation of the job site is key. If a job site is generally unsafe, or the parties located on the job site are not following proper OSHA guidelines, that evidence will be crucial in holding one or more party liable for the safety deficiencies that led to your injuries.
It is vital that you retain copies of any policies, procedures, handbooks, or any other documentation provided by your employer or any other party in conjunction with the scaffold or the job site in general.
You will also want to request and/or maintain copies of any documentation that you signed when you were hired or during your employment, regardless of whether you signed the document before or after your injuries.
Learn More: How to File a Construction Injury Lawsuit
WHAT DAMAGES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME IN A SCAFFOLD WORKPLACE INJURY?
When you suffer a workplace injury due to scaffolding, there are several distinct measures of damages to which you are entitled under the law. Common things that can be compensated for are as follows:
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Past and future mental anguish
- Past and future physical impairment
- Past and future disfigurement
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future loss of earning capacity
Hiring an attorney that is experienced in holding companies liable for your injuries and knowledgeable in the areas of damages to which you are entitled is essential.
The Workplace Injury Lawyers of Zinda Law Group May Help You Seek Compensation
Workplace injuries occur daily in the United States, including ones that involve scaffolding. The attorneys at Zinda Law Group are here to help you navigate the pitfalls associated with making those claims. Our experienced attorneys may help ensure that the proper steps are taken to seek maximum compensation.
If you sustained an injury at your workplace due to scaffolding, call Zinda Law Group today at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with a workplace injury attorney. You will pay nothing unless we win your case.
Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.
Suggested Reading:
