Ladder Accident

A Chicago ladder accident lawyer can help you seek compensation if you’ve been injured in a workplace ladder fall or due to a defective ladder. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 22,710 ladder-related injuries across all occupations in 2020, with over 5,300 occurring in construction and extraction fields [1]. Workers in Chicago’s construction sites, warehouses, and industrial facilities are at particular risk, often facing serious injuries or even fatalities from falls.

Many ladder accidents result from unsafe working conditions, lack of proper safety equipment, or defective ladders, which can fail due to design flaws, poor manufacturing, or lack of maintenance. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a ladder fall in Chicago, the experienced attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the workers’ compensation process or file a personal injury claim against the responsible parties.

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are committed to obtaining the maximum compensation for clients injured in ladder accidents. Our experienced legal team specializes in handling complex personal injury cases and has a proven track record of achieving substantial settlements and verdicts.

• $7,300,000 – Extension ladder defect lawsuit following numerous internal injuries
• $7,200,000 – Settlement following a ladder fall in a warehouse construction project
• $4,900,000 – Settlement following a defective ladder collapse in an office building

We meticulously investigate every aspect of your case to ensure all medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are fully covered. With our deep expertise in ladder accident claims, we navigate the legal complexities effectively and fight tirelessly to protect your rights.

Legal Liability for Ladder Accidents

There are a variety of parties who may be held responsible for ladder-related injuries based on the specifics of the case, including.

• Companies – If you are an employee of the company that owned the ladder, you can file for workers’ compensation benefits regardless of how the accident occurred. This claim will be with their workers’ compensation insurance provider.
• Construction Site Owners – Property owners can be held accountable by a ladder accident lawyer through premises liability, which states they are responsible for the safety of any invited guest on their property, including contractors.
• General Contractors – General, sub, and prime contractors are held to the same standards as construction companies. If they fail to uphold OSHA standards and cause ladder accidents, they may be open to a lawsuit.
• Equipment Retailers – Companies that sell contracting or safety equipment are obligated to ensure their products are safe. Properly maintained ladders that collapse may implicate the retailer in a product liability suit.
• Ladder Manufacturer – Additionally, manufacturers must produce safe products or, should they recognize a flaw, promptly recall the product. Our attorneys can pursue proper compensation from manufacturers who fail to uphold quality assurance and ladder safety standards.

What If You’re Partially at Fault?

If you’re partially at fault for a ladder accident, your ability to recover damages may depend on the negligence laws applicable in your state. These laws vary and can significantly impact the amount of compensation you can receive. The primary frameworks used in different states include modified comparative negligence, pure comparative negligence, and contributory negligence.

Modified Comparative Negligence

Under modified comparative negligence, a plaintiff’s compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault, but only if their fault is below a specific threshold, often 50% or 51%. For instance, if you are found to be 30% at fault for a ladder accident, your damages will be reduced by 30%. However, if you are found to be 52% at fault, you would be barred from recovering any damages.

Pure Comparative Negligence

Pure comparative negligence allows a plaintiff to recover damages regardless of their level of fault. The compensation is simply reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if you are 70% responsible for the accident, you could still recover 30% of the total damages awarded. This approach ensures that even if you bear significant responsibility, you are still entitled to some form of compensation.

Contributory Negligence

Contributory negligence is the most stringent rule, where any degree of fault by the plaintiff can prevent recovery. If you are found to be even 1% at fault for the ladder accident, you would be barred from receiving any compensation. Only a few states apply this rule, making it critical to understand the specific laws of your jurisdiction.

Workers’ Compensation Claims for Construction Workers

A workers’ compensation claim operates under a no-fault system, which fundamentally differentiates it from negligence-based claims. In this framework, an injured construction worker is entitled to benefits regardless of who caused the accident.

This means that even if the employee’s own actions contributed to the ladder accident injury, they can still receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs.

The primary objective of this system is to provide prompt financial assistance to construction workers while avoiding extensive legal battles over fault. This expedited process is designed to ensure that workers obtain the necessary care and financial support without the need for protracted litigation.

How a Ladder Fall Accident Attorney Can Help With Your Case

A ladder accident lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a vital resource for ensuring injured workers receive maximum compensation, as we can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.

The insurance carrier will work hard to minimize their responsibility to you, including claiming your injuries are the result of unrelated activities or they were not as serious as you claim. We will thoroughly investigate every aspect of your claim to establish how the accident happened.

We can also evaluate your ladder accident injuries to determine how much they may be worth. Thanks to our experience in negotiation, our legal team is familiar with fair settlements in cases like yours, and our ladder accident attorneys will not settle for less than we believe you deserve for your injuries.

Our personal injury attorneys can assist with every aspect of a ladder accident case, including:

• Inspecting construction sites for potential infractions
• Interviewing witnesses for further details
• Reviewing incident reports and medical records
• Collaborating with construction experts
• Reviewing ladder safety policies and contract records at the site
• Examining OSHA regulations and standards related to ladders
• Filing claims and legal paperwork

Cost of Hiring a Ladder Fall Lawyer

Our personal injury law firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning we deduct our legal fees from your settlement. You will benefit from our extensive experience without any upfront costs and you’ll owe our law firm nothing unless we are able to win your case.

Contact us at any time for a no-obligation free consultation and learn how we can assist you in getting justice for construction accidents.

You Have a Limited Time to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit

It’s important to recognize that you have a limited timeframe to file personal injury lawsuits, a period known as the statute of limitations. The length of the statute of limitations varies depending on your location and the specific type of injury claim. Typically, the timeframe ranges from one to six years, with most states allowing two to three years from the date of the accident to take action.

It’s crucial to not delay in taking action, as once the statute of limitations has passed, you will no longer be able to seek compensation for your injuries.

Workers’ compensation claims have different deadlines, which can vary significantly based on your location. In most jurisdictions, there is a specific timeframe within which you must report your injury to your employer, often ranging from a few days to a month. Failing to notify your employer within this period can jeopardize your eligibility for benefits.

Additionally, there is a deadline for filing the actual workers’ compensation claim, which generally ranges from one to three years from the date of the injury or diagnosis of a work-related condition.

Consulting with a personal injury attorney can help ensure that you meet all deadlines and have a strong case for seeking damages.

Damages a Ladder Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover

A construction site accident lawyer from our firm will work hard to ensure you receive all damages relevant to your type of claim. The damages you may receive depend on which legal avenue you choose to pursue, whether that is workers’ compensation or a personal injury lawsuit.

Workers’ compensation provides for a limited range of economic damages, which include:

• Medical bills for all medical attention associated with the accident
• Up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $1,897.92 per week [9]

Personal injury claims for a ladder accident can cover a larger range of damages, which include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages and lost future earnings
• Property damage
• Burial expenses in the case of wrongful death
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disability and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Grief

Types of Claims You Can File Following Ladder Accidents

Ladder accident lawyers from our firm can assist you with several different types of claims, including the following.

Workers’ Compensation

Construction workers who suffer ladder-related accidents can work with a workers’ compensation lawyer to receive benefits from their company’s insurance agency. This no-fault system is only eligible for employees of the company, not contractors.

Personal Injury

A ladder accident lawyer from our firm can assist victims with a third-party claim, which can be against workers, property owners, or companies other than their employer.

Product Liability

Our product liability attorneys can file a lawsuit for construction workers or others who were harmed by a faulty ladder. These can be against retailers or manufacturers, and they can be filed if it can be established that defects in the product were the primary or contributing cause of the accident.

Wrongful Death

Should a worker or passerby die because of injuries caused by a ladder, a wrongful death attorney from our law firm will pursue appropriate compensation on behalf of their surviving family members. This may be against an individual, construction firm, or manufacturer of defective equipment, depending on the cause of the accident. Accidents Involving Visitors and Other Civilians

Passersby or visitors who suffer injuries caused by a falling ladder can file a third-party personal injury claim against the responsible individual or party. It must be shown that another party was negligent, which includes that they had a duty to act responsibly, they failed to uphold that duty, this failure caused the accident, and the plaintiff suffered injuries as a result.

During a free case evaluation with our law firm, we will identify whether you have a claim based on the circumstances of the accident, as well as who may be held primarily responsible.

Contact Our Experienced Ladder Fall Attorney Today!

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has recovered millions of dollars in damages for those who have suffered a serious injury in workplace accidents. We work on a contingency fee basis and are only paid if we can win your case.

Based in Chicago, we’re dedicated to helping victims of job site ladder falls across Illinois and take select cases nationwide. With a deep understanding of accidents involving anything between step ladders and platform ladders, we will examine the circumstances surrounding your case to make sure you receive maximum compensation.

Call (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation with a construction injury attorney in Chicago.

Specific Cases We Handle

• Nail Gun Accident Lawyer
• Punch Press Accident Lawyer
• Roof Fall Accident Lawyer
• Run-Over Construction Equipment Accident Lawyer
• Scaffold Accident Lawyer

References: [1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, [2] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, [3] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, [4] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, [5] Centers for Disease Control, [6] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, [7] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, [8] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, [9] Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission,

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.