Were You Injured in a Scaffolding Accident?
Scaffolding is a common sight at construction sites. It allows construction workers to perform tasks while elevated, such as installing windows on the second floor or working on a roof. At the same time, scaffolding shields pedestrians who walk underneath it from any falling debris.
Unfortunately, scaffolding sometimes collapses for various reasons, including improper installation or faulty design. If you were hurt at a construction site, then you could have a legal right to compensation.
Why Scaffolding Fails
Scaffolding accidents usually result from:
- Improper assembly. Scaffolding typically consists of a metal frame and wood planks as a working platform. When workers rush, they can fail to install screws and casters, as required. They might also fail to set up the scaffolding on level ground, which would make it inherently unstable. Various state and federal regulations cover scaffolding, but many jobsites are lax in following these guidelines.
- Overloading scaffolding. Some construction sites put too much weight on scaffolding. Either too many workers are using one platform or the crew rests heavy materials on the wooden planks. Scaffolding can tip over when it is overloaded, or the planks might give way.
- Lack of training or safety equipment. Workers on scaffolding need to wear appropriate footwear so they don’t fall off, and they require training to work safely.
- Defective construction or design. Some scaffolding is defective as soon as it leaves the factor. There might be weaknesses in the materials used, or the design could be faulty. The entire scaffolding can collapse in these situations, even when workers follow all guidelines and regulations.
Both construction workers on the platform and pedestrians can be hurt and suffer traumatic injuries, including head or neck injuries. Other victims struggle with fractures, back injuries, and nerve damage.
Whether you have a right to compensation depends on several factors, including whether you are a worker or pedestrian, as well as the cause of the accident. When a manufacturing or design defect is to blame, then injured victims can typically sue the manufacturer. When it is set up improperly, then bystanders can sue the contractor or subcontractor who installed it.
Construction workers might be limited in their legal remedies. Typically, workers settle for workers’ compensation benefits if their employer installed the scaffolding improperly. Workers’ compensation benefits are the exclusive remedy in most cases for workers. Let us review if an independent contractor assembled the scaffolding and their possible legal liability.
Reach out quickly to our law office. We want to investigate both the scaffolding and talk to people, including those involved in the installation. The sooner we can begin gathering evidence, the stronger your claim.
Contact an Attorney for a Consultation
Scaffolding has helped the Miami skyline rise higher than ever before. Unfortunately, when scaffolding fails to work properly, too many people are hurt in preventable accidents. Call Pita Weber Del Prado today to talk with a Miami construction accident lawyer. In a free consultation, we can walk you through what happened and answer your most pressing questions. Contact us to start.
Source:
osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.451
