New York Ladder Accident Lawyer

As nationally acclaimed New York trial lawyers with over 150 years of combined experience, we’re known for winning tough cases, setting records, and shaping New York construction law through our arguments. Our case results include hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards. Now, we’re ready to fight for the financial justice you deserve after a NYC ladder accident, too. Call our law office at (212) 514-5100 today to learn more and schedule a time for a free consultation.

Why Construction Workers Trust The Platta Law Firm After Ladder Accidents in NYC

Falling off of a ladder or being struck by a ladder can cause catastrophic injuries. Whether the consequences of a ladder accident are temporary or permanent, they can be a lot to handle. You shouldn’t be expected to navigate the fallout on your own – especially when you have the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits and/or damages in a third party lawsuit.

However, your employer, their insurance company, and other responsible parties will work hard to prevent you from being fully compensated for your ladder accident injuries. Every penny counts when you’re dealing with traumatic injuries and time lost at work, so it’s important to be aggressive and demand the top-dollar financial award you deserve. That’s why construction workers and families turn to The Platta Law Firm for help after ladder accidents in New York City. We’re:

• A top-rated New York personal injury law firm invested in protecting the rights and future of the city’s construction workforce
• Recognized as leaders in workers’ compensation and construction accident litigation by Featured Verdict, Super Lawyers, Attorney and Practice Magazine, Best Attorneys of America, Power Lawyers, and other respected legal organizations
• Award-winning litigators with a proven ability to negotiate favorable settlements and win life-changing jury verdicts for our clients at trial, which currently include hundreds of millions of dollars in damages
• Constantly shaping New York construction law to benefit the city’s workers through our compelling legal arguments and case results
• Backed by the depth of resources needed to take on construction companies, insurance carriers, property owners, and ladder manufacturers and win
• So confident we can win your case that we’ll stake our fees on the results – no win, no fee

Don’t settle for less than you deserve after falling off a ladder on a New York City construction site. Call our New York construction accident lawyers and discover how we can be the difference-makers in your fight for maximum compensation. We offer a free consultation. Reach out to speak with our team about your ladder accident case today.

How Common Are Ladder Accidents?

Falls from heights – including falls off of ladders – are a leading cause of injury and death for construction workers across the nation. According to the CDC, 500,000 people are injured and 300 people die in ladder-related accidents every year — many of them while working in construction, installation, and repair trades.

In 2020, at least 161 workers were killed in fatal ladder accidents on the job. Two-thirds of ladder accident fatalities involved movable ladders, rather than fixed structures. When workers suffered non-fatal ladder accident injuries, 22,710 had to miss considerable time at work because their injuries were so extensive.

Common Ladder Accident Injuries

Ladder accidents tend to involve (a) falls or (b) being struck by a ladder. These two events can both cause serious physical harm or death.

Statistically speaking, broken bones are the most commonly reported injuries in ladder accident victims. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), fractures account for nearly one-third of all ladder-related injuries. Other commonly reported ladder accident injuries include:

• Crushing injuries
• Amputation injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Back injuries
• Herniated discs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Cuts and lacerations
• Sprains, strains, contusions, and other soft tissue injuries
• Organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Neck injuries
• Wrongful death

Don’t underestimate just how severe your injuries might be after a ladder accident in New York City – especially if you fell. Seek prompt medical attention at the closest emergency room. A thorough physical examination can help to diagnose any internal trauma and ensure that your injuries are treated promptly, significantly reducing the risk of complications or death.

What Causes Most Ladder Accidents in NYC?

When you work in construction, there’s a good chance that you use a ladder regularly, no matter your trade or specialty. Even though ladders are standard pieces of construction equipment and seemingly innocuous, they can pose serious threats to the safety and lives of construction workers if they’re misused, neglected, or defective.

Ladders become increasingly more dangerous when workers carry or hold objects while climbing or descending the rungs. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that approximately half of all ladder accidents involve a worker carrying something.

While carrying something up or down a ladder can increase the likelihood of injury or death, there are often other factors that cause ladder accidents in NYC, too. These include:

• Improper ladder placement
• Failing to keep three points of contact on a ladder at all times
• Jumping off of ladders
• Overreaching
• Using the wrong size ladder for the job
• Setting up a ladder at the wrong angle
• Exceeding the ladder’s weight capacity
• Inappropriate footwear
• Insufficient ladder safety training
• Defective ladders
• Negligently maintained ladders
• Placing ladders on unstable terrain

When you’re injured in a ladder accident in New York, it’s important to know why. Identifying the underlying cause is necessary to establish your rights as a victim and recover maximum compensation for your injuries.

Our NYC ladder accident attorneys will carefully investigate your situation, gather important pieces of evidence, and consult expert witnesses so that we can fully appreciate why and how you got hurt. Once the cause(s) is clear, we can develop a winning legal strategy to help you get the money you need to cover your medical bills, make up for a lapse in your income, and offset other costs of your injuries.

Will Workers’ Compensation Benefits Cover my Ladder Accident Injuries?

New York state law requires almost all for-profit employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance policies. So, as long as you’re an employee and your ladder accident was work-related, you will likely be able to file a claim to recover benefits from your employer’s policy. Workers’ compensation benefits can be a critical lifeline when your life is turned upside-down unexpectedly, helping to alleviate the costs of:

• Reasonable and necessary medical treatment
• Temporary lost wages
• Impairment, and
• Permanent disability

However, benefits are limited and often only available for a short time. Workers’ compensation can help to blunt the financial consequences of your ladder accident, but you shouldn’t expect the benefits to make you whole. It is also essential to explore other avenues for obtaining compensation.

Can I Sue my Employer for a Ladder Accident in New York City?

Probably not. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so benefits can be awarded even if you share responsibility for your ladder accident. At the same time, the no-fault system protects your employer from being sued.

However, you can still assert a civil legal claim for damages against another party if they contributed to your ladder accident. Your claim might be based on another party’s negligence or strict liability if the ladder was defective. Through a civil ladder accident lawsuit, you can seek economic damages and non-economic damages to help with:

• Current and future medical bills
• Disability
• Reduced earning capacity
• Lost wages and benefits
• Physical therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Funeral expenses if a ladder accident was fatal
• Chronic physical pain
• Emotional distress
• Inconvenience
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Reduced quality of life

The more your life changes because of a ladder accident in New York City, the more you can expect to recover through a settlement agreement or jury verdict at trial. Working with an experienced New York City ladder accident lawyer at The Platta Law Firm can help ensure you’re armed with the knowledge required to make informed decisions about your case and your financial future.

Ladder Accident FAQ

As the victim of a ladder accident in New York City, you’re bound to have questions about your rights and your future. Our New York personal injury lawyers have the answers you need.

Call The Platta Law Firm for a Free Consultation After a New York Ladder Accident

Every second counts when you’ve suffered an injury in a ladder accident in New York City, New York. Make the most of your opportunity to pursue compensation by calling The Platta Law Firm.

Our New York ladder accident attorneys have 150 years of combined litigation experience. As fierce advocates for New York City’s construction workforce, we’ve helped our clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary awards.

When you ask for our help after a ladder accident in New York, you can expect us to invest the attention, time, and care that’s needed to make a positive difference in your life. As top-rated New York trial attorneys, we’ll do whatever we can to ease your road to recovery. There’s no cost to hire our construction accident attorneys in NYC until we win your case. Contact us at our NYC law office at (212) 514-5100 today to set up a time for a free consultation.