Scaffolding and Ladder Accidents Lawyer Pittsburgh, PA

Pennsylvania Scaffolding Accidents Attorney Helps Clients Get Compensated for Construction Site Injuries in Allegheny County, Erie County & Across Western PA

In the construction site context, improper scaffolding and ladder use (and dangerous conditions related to such use) count among the leading factors contributing to worker injuries and deaths in Pennsylvania and the United States. According to a 2011 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 20 percent of fall injuries associated with workers — construction and non-construction workers alike — involved ladders, along with 43 percent of fatal fall injuries.

If you have suffered an injury in a scaffolding or ladder accident in a construction zone, then Pennsylvania law may entitle you to damages as compensation for your various injuries. Here at Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC, our Pittsburgh scaffolding and ladder accidents lawyers have extensive experience handling such claims throughout Western PA, including Cranberry Township, Butler, Erie, Greensburg, and Uniontown. We encourage you to contact our firm today to schedule a free and confidential consultation about your ladder or scaffold fall accident claim.

Cranberry Township Construction Site Injuries Involving Ladder & Scaffolding Accidents

Common sense tells us that worker engagement with ladders and scaffolding must be properly supervised, ladder and scaffolding setup must be safe (to the degree possible, given the circumstances), and training must be provided to ensure that workers are well-equipped to protect themselves in the event of some unexpected failure.

Injury risks associated with ladders and scaffolding at Pennsylvania construction sites and other types of worksites include the following:

• Failure to strengthen support structure of scaffolding.
• Failure to clear area where ladder and scaffolding is located.
• Failure to train workers to safely operate ladders and scaffolding.
• Failure to properly maintain ladders and scaffolding to minimize the risk of a preventable accident.
• Improper placement of ladders.
• Failure to provide adequate safety equipment to workers (i.e., safety vests, harnesses, helmets, etc.).
• Failure to control worker walking paths so as to minimize the threat of a pedestrian collision.
• And more.

Workers’ Compensation and Related Issues in Erie Scaffolding Accident Cases

Although Pennsylvania employers have a duty to provide a reasonably safe working environment, the effectuation of said duty is generally irrelevant for the purpose of a construction site accident involving a worker injury (i.e., a fall injury involving a scaffolding or ladder issue). Why? The availability and application of workers’ compensation in PA will likely preclude recovery pursuant to a standard lawsuit against the employer.

Workers’ compensation are benefits paid out in the event of a work-related injury. In the construction context, for example, if a worker falls off a ladder, they could be entitled to submit a claim for workers’ compensation benefits (i.e., medical expenses, wage loss, etc.). Workers’ compensation benefits are available regardless of fault. In other words, so long as you did not intentionally or recklessly injure yourself, you should be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits under Pennsylvania law.

The major sacrifice when it comes to workers’ compensation is that you lose your right to bring an action against your employer for damages (unless you can show that the employer willfully and/or maliciously caused your injuries). Workers’ comp benefits are “okay,” but can be inadequate in many situations, as they do not cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and a range of other losses.

So, how can you get around this issue? The answer is that you may be able to sue a liable third party for your ladder or scaffolding accident, depending on the circumstances of your case.

Potential Third-Party Liability for Greensburg Ladder Accident Injuries

Bringing an action against a liable third party gives you access to the “missing damages” that you would otherwise not receive through PA workers’ compensation benefits, but it can be challenging to prove that a third party is liable (in part) for your injuries, particularly in the scaffolding and ladder context.

Often, third-party liability at a construction site involves product defects. For example, if you slip and fall and injure yourself while using a ladder, then you may have to show that the ladder was defectively manufactured or designed such that it exposed you to an unreasonable and non-obvious risk of injury. Perhaps the ladder locking mechanism was designed poorly, such that a significant percentage of the time it simply does not work. That could be sufficient for an actionable defective product claim against the manufacturer of the ladder.

Speak to an Experienced Pittsburgh Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation About Your Ladder & Scaffolding Accident Injuries

Here at Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC in Pittsburgh, PA, our Western Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys boast decades of experience representing injured clients in a range of litigation, from worker-related accidents to third-party pedestrian accidents. We understand the challenges unique to litigation where the injuries were caused at a place of work such as a construction site, and we are capable of navigating these roadblocks to your benefit. Our results speak to the effectiveness of our approach in ladder and scaffolding accident cases.

Call (412) 471-4300 or send us an online claim form to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a seasoned Pittsburgh personal injury attorney here at Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC.