Dothan Scaffold Accidents Lawyer Assists Injured Workers
Alabama lawyer sues over injuries caused by scaffolding hazards
A fall at work is always concerning. But when your job places you high on a scaffold, a fall can have severe, life-long consequences. At Carey & Hamner, P.C., we’ve championed the legal rights of workers who have suffered catastrophic injuries in falls from heights. Our Dothan, Alabama scaffold accident lawyers thoroughly investigate the causes and circumstances of workers’ falls, ascertain who is responsible and pursue the full compensation the victims need and deserve.
Common causes of Alabama scaffolding accidents
Working on a platform high above the ground has inherent risks. But negligence in the manufacture, erection and use of scaffolding can increase those risks dramatically, inviting accidents that cause severe injury and even death. Common causes of scaffold accidents include the following:
- Defects due to intrinsic flaws in manufacture or design, as well as
- Poor maintenance and use of aging equipment, including deteriorated planking
- Faulty, unstable assembly and/or failure to properly secure the structure
- Exceeding the weight limit of ladders and scaffolds
- Failure to use safety equipment designed to prevent falls
- Poor training of workers laboring on the scaffolds
- Overcrowding the structure with too many workers or too much equipment or materials
- Ignoring weather conditions that elevate the risk of using ladders and scaffolds.
- Worker haste, inattention, or distraction
Determining the actual cause of an accident requires an Alabama construction accident attorney who knows how to conduct a thorough investigation.
Frequent injuries from scaffolding accidents on construction sites
Falls from heights are the deadliest type of construction accidents. In addition, scaffold accidents produce a wide range of serious injuries, which include:
- Bone fractures
- Concussion and traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Joint dislocations
- Impalement
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries
Because of the inherent risks of scaffold use, the Occupational Safety and Health Agency has issued a long list of safety requirements. Unfortunately, employers sometimes violate these regulations, putting workers at additional risk.
Personal injury lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims for scaffolding injuries
A scaffold accident victim’s first recourse is often to apply for workers’ compensation. This is a no-fault insurance system designed to get injured workers fast reimbursement for medical expenses, loss of wages and partial or total disability. If you have an issue accessing any of your workers’ comp benefits or need assistance negotiating a disability settlement, a workers’ compensation attorney can assist you.
In many cases, workers’ compensation is an injured worker’s only remedy. Even when an employer violates OSHA regulations or is otherwise negligent, workers’ comp law shields the employer from a lawsuit. However, when an injured worker does not have an employer-employee relationship with the person or business responsible for the accident, that worker can bring a third-party lawsuit. For example, a general contractor subcontracts with a supplier to provide and erect the scaffold. If the subcontractor was negligent and causes an accident, an injured employee of the contractor can sue for all provable damages, including pain and suffering, which workers’ compensation does not cover.
Alabama scaffold accident lawyer proves fault
Unlike workers’ compensation, a third-party lawsuit requires proving fault. If negligence is alleged, the plaintiff must show that the person or company responsible for assembling, maintaining or inspecting the scaffolding did not adhere to reasonable standards of care. If the accident allegedly resulted from defective scaffolding, the manufacturer may be sued under the doctrine of product liability. Proving fault requires obtaining and presenting complex evidence, such as safety inspection reports, maintenance records and expert testimony from construction safety specialists.
A third-party lawsuit also requires adhering to Alabama’s two-year statute of limitations, so an injured party needs to act immediately to preserve their right to sue.
Contact a highly skilled Dothan scaffold accident lawyer today
Carey & Hamner, P.C. in Dothan represents victims of scaffold accidents throughout Alabama. Contact us online or call 855-435-4797 to set up a free consultation about your case.
