Scaffold Accident

A scaffolding accident can leave injured workers with long recovery and financial concerns. If an accident has occurred and you need help, a Chicago scaffolding accident lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the claims process after the incident.

How We Help Injured Construction Workers

Scaffold accidents often leave injured construction crew members facing mounting medical treatment costs and lost wages. When filing a personal injury claim, a personal injury lawsuit, or a workers’ compensation claim, you may encounter resistance from construction companies, insurers, or even your employer. Our construction accident lawyers can help level the playing field and secure maximum compensation.

Notable Case Results:

• $5,000,000 – Wrongful death lawsuit following a scaffolding collapse
• $2,150,000 – Dominant arm injuries following a scaffolding fall
• $400,000 – Leg fracture injuries from a scaffold accident

How We Build Your Case:

• Speaking to workers and witnesses of the accident
• Conducting safety inspections of the scaffolding equipment
• Consulting occupational safety experts
• Reviewing the incident report
• Examining medical records for serious injuries sustained
• Evaluating construction site safety protocols and compliance with OSHA regulations
• Determining if required safety training and fall protection were provided.

An Overview of Scaffolding Accidents

Scaffolding is essential in the construction industry, allowing workers to reach elevated areas. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations require that construction sites maintain a safe working environment, yet construction companies fail to comply far too often.

Types of Scaffolds:

• Tubular steel scaffolds – Heavy-duty, built with galvanized steel pipes
• Rolling scaffolds – Mobile, with wheels for easy relocation
• Wood or pole scaffolds – Constructed entirely of wooden supports

How Common Are Scaffold Accidents?

OSHA reports that 2.3 million U.S. construction workers use scaffolding, 65% of the workforce. Each year, scaffold accidents cause approximately 4,500 injuries and 50 deaths.

Causes of Scaffolding Accidents

Understanding why the accident happened, such as a scaffold collapse, is critical for legal claims. Common construction site hazards include:

• Defective scaffolding and manufacturing flaws
• Failure to follow safety protocols
• Inadequate scaffold safety training
• Lack of guardrails and falling objects
• Scaffolding collapses due to overloading
• Slippery surfaces causing falls
• Electrocution from overhead power lines
• Falling debris from upper levels

Common Scaffolding Injuries

More serious injuries will impact your recovery period and the legal damages you can claim with the help of a Chicago scaffolding accident lawyer. If you were injured at a construction site, keeping all medical records as evidence for your scaffolding accident case is critical. Our construction accident lawyers work with injured workers to ensure they receive compensation for their injuries, ranging from minor to life-threatening.

Head Injuries – Traumatic blows to the head from falling objects or falls from scaffolding can cause concussions, skull fractures, and long-term cognitive impairment.

Broken Bones – workers often suffer fractures from scaffolding collapses or falls from unsafe scaffolding structures.

Lacerations—Sharp construction equipment or exposed materials on job sites can cause deep cuts, increasing the risk of infection.

Back Injuries – Falls from unstable scaffolding can result in serious back injuries, including herniated discs and chronic pain, making it difficult for workers to return to the field.

Spinal Cord Injuries – Severe falls from heights may result in spinal cord damage, leading to partial or complete paralysis, drastically impacting a worker’s life and ability to earn wages.

Fall Injuries—Falls from scaffolding are among the leading causes of injuries on the job in the construction industry, often due to improper maintenance or a lack of safety measures.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – Chicago construction injury attorneys frequently handle cases involving severe brain trauma caused by falls, falling objects, or lack of proper safety training.

Internal Damage – Blunt force trauma from scaffold accidents can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and other life-threatening conditions.

Sprains—Even minor falls or unsafe working conditions can lead to severe sprains, which require extended recovery periods for injured employees.

Crushed Limbs – If a scaffold accident occurs, a construction worker may become pinned or crushed, sometimes resulting in amputation or permanent disability.

Death – Fatal accidents on Chicago construction sites often involve scaffolding collapses, falls, or being struck by falling objects, leading to wrongful death lawsuits filed by the victim’s family.

If you or a loved one has suffered any of these injuries, our Chicago scaffolding accident attorneys help you pursue compensation through a third-party lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim.

OSHA Safety Standards for Scaffolds

OSHA has established stringent scaffold safety regulations to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities. Employers must adhere to these safety measures to protect construction workers from scaffolding collapses and other workplace injuries.

Key OSHA regulations include:

• Workers on scaffolds over 10 feet above a lower level must wear personal fall arrest systems (29 CFR 1926.451(g)).
• Scaffold footings must be level, stable, and capable of supporting at least four times the intended load (29 CFR 1926.451(c)(2)).
• All scaffold workers must undergo mandatory safety training to recognize and avoid hazards (29 CFR 1926.454).
• A qualified person must conduct regular safety inspections to ensure scaffolding equipment is in good condition and free from defects (29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3)).

Failure to comply with these OSHA regulations can result in construction accident lawsuits, penalties for contractors, and increased liability in third-party lawsuits. If safety measures were ignored and an accident occurred, our Chicago scaffolding accident attorneys can help you pursue legal action against the responsible party.

Steps to Take After a Scaffolding Accident

After a scaffolding accident, immediately ensure safety, gather evidence, and protect your legal rights.

Ensure Immediate Safety

The first priority should be moving away from further danger and providing first aid to anyone injured. Call emergency services promptly to address any medical needs.

Report the Accident

Injured workers should notify their employer or site supervisor as soon as possible about the scaffolding accident. This ensures an official report is made, which will be crucial for any subsequent personal injury claims or legal actions.

Document the Scene

Take photographs and videos of the accident scene, the scaffolding, and any visible injuries. Collect contact details of witnesses who can support your account of the incident.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Even if injuries appear minor, it is essential to see a healthcare professional; medical records will be necessary for any compensation claims.

Contact Chicago Scaffolding Accident Lawyers

Consult with an experienced Chicago scaffolding accident attorney to understand your rights and to receive guidance on the best course of action for pursuing a claim.

Establishing Liability for Scaffolding Construction Accidents

Establishing liability is the key to a successful claim, as it will determine your case type. Our Chicago construction accident lawyers can help you determine who the liable party is and what type of claim is the right option to seek compensation. Generally, you may have one of the following claims:

Third-Party Liability Claim

A third party in construction accidents is anyone who is not the injured worker’s employer. This could include a delivery driver, a passerby, property owners, a coworker, or even another contractor on the work site.

Typically, the victim can pursue a third-party personal injury lawsuit with the help of our Chicago personal injury lawsuit attorneys to recover compensation if negligence is involved in the scaffold accident. Personal injury cases are complex because they require proving negligence.

Product Liability

Product liability comes into play if the scaffolding had a defect that led to your injuries.

For example, if the scaffolding had a design flaw that made it structurally unstable, causing scaffolding collapse under normal use, this would constitute a defect.

Another example is if there was a manufacturing defect, such as using substandard materials that failed to support the weight as intended, resulting in a dangerous and unsafe structure for injured workers.

Workers and other injured parties can then file a lawsuit against the product manufacturer with the help of aproduct liability attorney from our team.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers can pursue workers’ compensation claims if the incidents are not caused by fault or the employer is responsible.

The workers’ compensation system is a type of insurance that most employers, including building contractors, must pay for. It is designed to protect workers injured or sick while working and must miss time.

A workers’ compensation claim can yield benefits like medical bill coverage, the majority of a worker’s wages, and even partial disability. A Chicago workers’ compensation attorney from our team can assess your situation to see if this is the best course for maximum compensation.

Damages a Scaffolding Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover

The legal damages you suffer due to your severe injuries will determine the level of compensation you can win with your claim. A workers’ compensation case may be limited in what it can cover, while personal injury lawsuits include both economic and non-economic damages.

Damages that you may be eligible for after a scaffold accident include lost wages, medical expenses, loss of future earning potential, emotional distress, physical pain, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

If a scaffolding accident tragically results in fatal injuries, the surviving family members may be entitled to recover damages with the help of our Chicago wrongful death claim lawyers.

These can include compensation for lost wages and future earning potential, covering the financial support the deceased would have provided, medical expenses incurred before death, funeral and burial costs, and compensation for the emotional distress and loss of companionship suffered by the family. companionship suffered by the family.

The Cost of Hiring a Chicago Scaffold Accident Lawyer

When you hire an experienced attorney from our Chicago law firm to handle your scaffolding accident claim, you enter into a contingency fee agreement—meaning there are no upfront legal costs for our services. We only get paid if we win your case, and our fee is deducted from the settlement amount.

This ensures that those injured at construction sites due to scaffolding collapses or improper maintenance do not face additional financial burdens while pursuing justice. Our construction accident lawyers conduct a thorough investigation to identify the responsible party, whether it’s construction firms neglecting job site safety regulations or third-party negligence leading to the scaffold accident.

If a scaffold accident occurs due to ignored safety measures, victims may have the right to file a third-party lawsuit and seek compensation through a workers’ compensation claim. No matter how severe your injuries are, our team is here to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Chicago Scaffold Accident Lawyers Today

If a scaffold accident occurs at a construction site, the consequences can devastate workers, often leading to severe injuries and long-term recovery. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, our Chicago scaffolding accident attorneys are dedicated to ensuring that injured employees receive the justice and the full compensation they deserve. We understand the complexities of the construction industry, and are experienced in handling cases involving collapses, falling debris, and a scaffolding accident claim.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Contact our Chicago scaffolding accident attorneys today for a free initial consultation. Call 888-424-5757 or fill out our online form, and one of our attorneys will reach out to discuss your case and answer any questions you may have. You may still have a valuable case if you have minor or more severe injuries.

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.