Ladder Accidents Lawyer

Some common causes of ladder accidents include:

• loss of balance;
• improperly mounting or dismounting the ladder;
• failure to set up the ladder properly;
• attempting to over-reach while on the ladder; and
• missing a step while climbing or descending the ladder.

Ladder accidents can cause all kinds of injuries. Examples include:

• Head injuries
• Broken bones
• Broken hips
• Paralysis
• Cuts and abrasions
• Brain injuries
• Concussions

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, ladder accidents mostly occur in the following industries:

• Installation, maintenance, and repair - over 5000 injuries in 2020
• Construction and extraction – over 5000 injuries in 2020
• Service industry – over 3000 injuries in 2020
• Sales related – over 2600 injuries in 2020
• Transportation and material moving – over 1600 injuries in 2020

This will depend on the specifics of the accident. In some cases, more than one party might be responsible for your injuries. Here is how liability is determined in such an accident.

The Ladder Manufacturer

The ladder's condition will come into play when determining liability for the injury. The main question here is whether the ladder was fit for human use. In other words, the person investigating the injury will want to establish whether the ladder had a defect in style, design, or even a missing part that could have contributed to the accident.

If so, then the ladder manufacturer might be held responsible. The argument is that the ladder injury could have been prevented had it not been for the manufacturer's negligence in designing or assembling the ladder.

The Ladder's Owner

You can also sue the owner of the ladder under certain circumstances. For example, let's say you are a professional electrician. You show up at a particular apartment to repair an electrical fault. The apartment manager gives you a ladder to use to access the electrical fault in the ceiling. Unfortunately, halfway into climbing the ladder, the ladder collapses, sending you landing head-first on the hard ground.

As a result, you suffer several broken bones that require surgery. In that case, you may be able to hold the ladder's owner responsible for the injuries if investigations show that the ladder was old, rusty, and poorly maintained. This is because it is the ladder owner's responsibility to ensure that the ladder is safe and in good condition before handing it to anyone to use it. Therefore, failure to do that is considered negligence and worthy of a lawsuit.

The damages you may be able to recover will depend on the type and severity of injuries sustained. In most cases, the more severe your injuries, the more damages you may recover. But that rule is not permanent; the unique circumstances of your case will ultimately decide what damages you may recover. Some common damages in a ladder accident lawsuit include economic and non-economic damages.

Examples of economic damages in such a lawsuit include medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, and the cost of ongoing treatment, such as physical therapy.

On the other hand, you may recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and loss of consortium. It is important to note that a loss of consortium claim is usually a standalone claim filed by the spouse of the injured. This claim seeks compensation for the loss of companionship, moral support, and even intimacy due to a loved one's injury.

For instance, let's say you fell off a ladder and suffered severe back injuries, which led to permanent paralysis. As a result, your spouse can file a loss of consortium claim if you can no longer participate in intimacy with them like you used to due to your new condition.

Yes, you can file a wrongful death claim if your loved one dies due to a ladder accident. This is because their death could have been avoided had it not been for the other party's negligence. However, keep in mind that, in most cases, only the deceased's immediate family members can file such a claim.

Some common damages in a wrongful death claim include funeral expenses, loss of financial support the deceased would have proved had it not been for the ladder injury, and loss of companionship.

You will likely need to file a worker's compensation claim when you get injured due to a ladder accident at work. Most employers are required to provide worker's compensation insurance for their employees. This insurance compensates employees who get injured at the workplace. As a result, the worker loses their right to pursue legal action against the employer.

However, this does not necessarily mean you cannot entirely sue your employer if you get injured in the workplace. The unique circumstances of your case will determine whether or not you may be able to sue. For example, although workers' compensation insurance protects employers from lawsuits, employers can still be sued if they intentionally injure their employees. You can also sue your employer if you get injured in the workplace and realize they do not have workers' compensation insurance to protect you.

Another thing you need to know is that when you file a worker's compensation claim, you can only recover medical expenses and lost wages. On the other hand, when you file a lawsuit, you recover economic and non-economic damages, as discussed earlier. This explains why it is always advisable to contact an experienced attorney to learn more about your legal options.

Follow these steps if you get injured in a ladder accident.

Seek Medical Attention
This is the first and most crucial step. Here's why.

When you seek medical attention, diagnosing and treating injuries becomes easier. This simple step could be the difference between life and death after a ladder accident. Remember, internal injuries are quite common when it comes to ladder accidents. If you do not seek immediate medical attention, you may not know whether or not you suffered serious internal injuries. In addition, if left untreated, these injuries could lead to brain damage and even death.

Secondly, seeking medical attention is one of the best ways to prove that you actually suffered a ladder accident injury. Otherwise, the other party will not believe your version of events, even if you have visible injuries. Instead, they will simply argue that you suffered those injuries elsewhere, and you will be responsible for proving them wrong.

Remember to obtain a copy of the doctor's report when you seek medical attention. This report will come in handy when you need to prove your case.

Document the Accident

If possible, document the accident. While at it, remember to note the following:

• where the accident occurred;
• what happened;
• the injuries sustained; and
• whether anyone witnessed the accident.

In addition, you may take photos and videos of the accident and injuries, including the dangerous condition. For instance, if the ladder was rusty, broken, or had missing parts, ensure you document that and take photos or videos to prove your claim.

Contact a Ladder Accident Attorney

Speaking with an attorney before filing a claim or lawsuit is always a good idea. An experienced attorney will help review the unique circumstances of your case and determine the best approach. For example, the attorney might walk you through filing a workers' compensation claim if you got injured in the workplace. On the other hand, if you get injured at a residential or commercial property, the attorney can help determine liability and also help you file a claim or lawsuit against the liable party.

Morgan & Morgan is the best personal injury law firm to contact when looking for a competent and experienced ladder accident attorney. But with the availability of numerous personal injury lawyers and firms across the country, what makes Morgan & Morgan the best?

Here's the answer:

Morgan & Morgan is the largest personal injury law firm in the United States, serving clients from coast to coast. Regardless of where the accident occurs, a Morgan & Morgan ladder accident attorney may be able to represent you.

In addition, Morgan & Morgan has the resources to fight for you if you have a valid claim. With an army of over 800 personal injury attorneys specializing in different injuries, including those caused by ladder accidents, we always have the right lawyer to represent you during these difficult times.

And that's not all—we have an impressive record of winning huge settlements for our clients. This is because we have powerful resources and aggressive attorneys who do not settle for less. In addition, our attorneys understand how painful and stressful it is to deal with injuries sustained due to someone else's negligence.

You will have huge medical bills and other personal financial commitments you can no longer keep up with due to your injuries. But, that is where Morgan & Morgan comes in to offer the shoulder you need to lean on in these trying times.

Our ladder accident lawyers will fight for you as you recover from your injuries. And, if you lost a loved one, we can also fight even harder to ensure you get compensated for your loss. 

Despite being the nation's largest personal injury law firm, we offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Additionally, you do not have to worry about not being able to afford our lawyers; we will only charge you if we win. This means you have nothing to lose but a lot to gain when filling out our free case evaluation form.

Anytime you’re involved in an accident and suffer injuries, it’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer to see if you have a valid legal claim. Serious injuries can be extremely expensive to treat. Hospital costs add up, as do physical therapy or other rehabilitative treatment costs. If someone else is responsible for your injury, it’s only fair that they pay. A lawyer can help you determine all of this. If they decide that you do have a claim, they will help you with all of the other steps along the way. They will file all of the necessary paperwork you need in order to begin your case, and they will also investigate the incident for you and obtain evidence. An experienced lawyer will interview witnesses, find experts to testify on your behalf, and more. Personal injury cases can be complicated, so it’s usually not a good idea to try to handle it on your own.

In Maryland, you must file a lawsuit for most personal injury claims within 3 years of the date of the injury. If you file after that time period expires, your case will likely be dismissed, and you will be unable to claim compensation that you’d otherwise be entitled to had you filed on time. 

Discovery of Harm Rule

While most of the time the statute of limitations is three years, sometimes the deadline can be extended. If you’ve been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, or you’ve suffered injuries as a result of medical malpractice, sometimes the statute of limitations doesn’t actually start running until you become aware of the injuries or the negligence that caused your injuries. 

The statute of limitations is one of the most important aspects of a case because if you miss the deadline, your case will almost never be successful. It’s always a good idea to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Maryland right away so they can ensure you don’t miss any important dates.

In Maryland, there is a limit to the amount of compensation you can recover in personal injury cases. For non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, the cap is $890,000 as of 2021. Most years, this amount increases slightly to account for inflation. 

For economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, there is no damages cap. This means the jury can award as much as they think is appropriate to cover these expenses. 

All cases are different. Some of the most straightforward cases could end up being settled within a few months, and some of the more complex cases that go to trial could last for a few years. When you have a consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Maryland, you should ask them to share their thoughts about how long they think the case might take. While no lawyer is going to be able to give you a definitive answer, most lawyers will be able to let you know how long cases generally take.

Many people are hesitant to hire a personal injury attorney or even consult with one because they’re worried about the cost. Fortunately, most reputable personal injury attorneys and firms take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning they don’t get paid anything unless they win or settle your case. At Morgan & Morgan, this is how we operate as well. We offer everyone a free and confidential case evaluation where we can discuss your case and what we think your chances of success are. If we decide to take your case and you decide to hire us, you’ll never pay us up front or out of your own pocket. We collect our fee from the money you are awarded during the trial or from a settlement. This means you never have to worry about the cost of a personal injury lawyer in Maryland.

Maryland personal injury claims are governed by a rule called contributory negligence. This is one of the strictest rules regarding a plaintiff’s fault in an accident. If you are in any way responsible for the accident, even if it’s as little as one percent your fault, you will be barred from recovering any money whatsoever. For example, if you are in a car accident that was almost entirely someone else’s fault, but you were driving a few miles per hour over the speed limit, you will be barred from recovering any money if the court determines that you were even one percent at fault based on the fact that you were going over the posted speed limit.

Most personal injury cases in Maryland are based on a negligence framework. There are some exceptions, however. The most common exception is dog bites. If a dog is unleashed, the owner of the dog is liable for any damage the dog causes, even if the owner of the dog was in no way negligent. This is known as strict liability.

In Maryland, there are some circumstances where you won’t be able to collect any compensation, even if someone else’s negligence was the cause of injuries you suffered. Under Maryland law, if you had a full understanding and knowledge of an existing danger and voluntarily exposed yourself to that danger, you have assumed the risk, and cannot hold the other party liable for any injuries or damages you suffer. This can apply to a variety of different scenarios, but it’s a defense used very often in slip and fall cases. For example, a defendant might argue that you knew their sidewalk was icy and you chose to walk on the ice anyway. Therefore, you assumed the risk and cannot hold anyone responsible for the injury.

Morgan & Morgan has been handling all types of personal injury cases for decades. When you hire us, you can be confident that you are hiring lawyers who are experienced in negotiation and who know their way around the courtroom. At Morgan & Morgan, we have won more than $20 billion dollars for our clients. Anytime you hire us, the defendant and their attorneys will know you’re serious. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, we are confident in our ability to win the cases we take. You don’t pay unless we win, so you know we will work as hard as possible to get you a good settlement or take your case to trial if necessary. Contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation today and to get connected to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Maryland.