Construction Accidents

Ladder Accidents

Shapiro Law Offices has an appreciation for the workers who are required to work on ladders at elevated heights.   In doing so, these people risk their safety in order to provide a living for themselves and their loved ones.   Often, the ladders provided are inadequate to protect the workers from being seriously injured or killed.   Depending on the type of ladder being used, there are a variety of ways in which the ladder may fail to adequately protect a worker.   Typical examples include:

• tipping ladders
• slipping ladders
• collapsing ladders
• loose / broken rung(s)
• slippery (inadequate traction) ladders
• improperly positioned ladders
• improper / inadequate flooring

There are various types of ladders used in the construction industry, all of which have failed to adequately protect workers from serious injuries, death, and significant loss of income.   These types of ladders include:

• A-frame ladders
• extension ladders
• step-ladders
• roofing ladders
• rolling ladders
• permanently affixed ladders

There is a section of the Labor Law which holds the property owner, the general contractor, and their agents fully responsible for the damages resulting from many ladder falls.   This area of the law is very delicate, and the courts’ rulings are very fact-specific.   Proper handling of a ladder accident case requires an attorney with specialized knowledge in the field.   Jason Shapiro, founder of Shapiro Law Offices, discusses the proper handling of ladder accident cases (including the ever-changing laws) in his textbook, The Lawyers’ Guide to Personal Injury Law.