While ladders aren’t complex pieces of equipment, they have a huge capacity for accidents or injury. If ladders aren’t maintained properly or used correctly, they can cause significant injuries, disability, or death. If you are injured in a ladder fall, you should consult with a ladder failure attorney in New Jersey. A ladder fall attorney can evaluate your case, determine the best way to secure compensation for your injuries and damages and fight for your rights in court. At Gelman, Gelman, Wiskow & McCarthy, LLC, our ladder failure attorneys in New Jersey have decades of experience. Our ladder accident attorneys can determine if your ladder accident was due to poor design, defective production, or anything beyond your control.
If your ladder accident occurred during the course of your normal job duties or while you were on the clock, you might be eligible for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance paid for by employers. It protects employees from out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost wages due to workplace accidents. If the accident was due to the employee’s negligence or occurred off the clock and off business property, however, it won’t be covered by workers’ compensation. Some employers include a clause in their worker’s compensation claims that requires you to agree not to pursue legal action against them in exchange for workers’ compensation benefits. You should not file a workers’ compensation claim without consulting an accident attorney first.
Your employer is obligated to follow OSHA’s standards for maintaining equipment, providing safety training, and providing safety equipment and protective gear. OSHA has specific safety standards regarding ladder maintenance, upkeep, storage, and use. They also outline very specific requirements for designing and constructing ladders used on job sites. Your employer is required to understand these rules and comply with them, or risk liability in the event of an accident. If you suspect that your employer isn’t following OSHA standards for a ladder or any other element of your worksite, there are steps you should take. You should file a complaint with OSHA, contact your union representative, and consult with an accident or injury attorney. These steps can prevent a dangerous accident and protect your rights.
Hiring a ladder accident attorney will protect your rights, secure your job, and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Your accident attorney will determine who is at fault for your accident. They can immediately take photos and videos of the ladder involved to preserve a record of its condition. They will also secure statements from witnesses, investigate the job site, review previous complaints or records of accidents, and evaluate your employer’s history of safety violations.
Your injury attorney will also request sufficient damages in your lawsuit, including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, long-term care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation expenses. They will determine if you also qualify for non-economic damages such as loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, mental anguish, and physical limitations. Ladder failure attorneys can also determine if it is appropriate to seek punitive damages, which require that you prove gross negligence.
If you were injured in a ladder accident, call our ladder accident attorneys in New Jersey. At Gelman, Gelman, Wiskow & McCarthy, LLC, we have decades of experience helping clients navigate the complexities of pursuing compensation for injuries sustained in a workplace ladder accident. We work tirelessly for our clients to recover damages and protect their rights in court and on the job. Call or contact us online to schedule a free, one-hour consultation to find out how our ladder accident attorneys can help.