Common Fall From Ladder Injuries

Every day, thousands of workers and individuals use ladders to perform all kinds of tasks.

Ladders help millions of people hang their holiday lights every year and offer access to high areas like rooftops and hard-to-reach windows.

No one starts their day expecting to suffer injuries in a ladder accident. However, ladder accidents happen more often than you might think.

Ladder accidents can happen for many different reasons ranging from using a defective ladder to operating in a reckless workplace. 

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a ladder accident due to another person’s negligence, they might be liable for your losses.

The team at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers can evaluate whether you have suffered common fall from ladder injuries that allow you to seek compensation, and we can develop a strategy to prove who was at fault.

Contact our office today online or by phone to schedule your free initial consultation. 

Statistics on Ladder Accidents

In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named the month of March National Ladder Safety Month.

At the time, the CDC reported that approximately 500,000 people suffered ladder-related injuries annually, while approximately 300 people died in ladder-related accidents.

The financial cost of ladder injuries in the United States is an estimated $24 billion per year. 

In 2020, the United States saw 161 fatal work injuries where ladders were named the primary cause, a decrease of 10 fatalities from 2019.

Additionally, there was an estimated 22,710 injuries where the primary source of injury was a ladder. The industries that see the most non-fatal ladder accidents include:

• Installation;
• Maintenance;
• Repair;
• Construction;
• Service;
• Sales;
• Transportation and moving;
• Production;
• Management or business; and
• Farming, fishing, and forestry.

Falling from a ladder can inflict devastating injuries. While some ladder accidents are purely accidental, others may be the result of another person’s negligence.

If your ladder accident was caused by someone else’s negligent conduct, you might be eligible to seek compensation for your injuries and losses.

What Is the Most Common Type of Ladder Accident?

Falling is a very common injury both in the workplace and at home around the United States. In fact, the National Safety Council reported that 42,114 people died in falls at home and at work in 2020.

You may be wondering what is the most common type of ladder accident. As you may expect, falling is the most common type of ladder accident.

However, a ladder falling on top of someone is also a common type of ladder accident.  

What Are the Biggest Causes of Ladder Falls?

What are the biggest causes of ladder falls? There are several common causes of ladder falls, including:  

• Failure to set the base of a ladder correctly,
• Selecting the wrong ladder for a job,
• Using a worn or damaged ladder,
• Using a ladder incorrectly, or
• Ladder defects.

An experienced attorney at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers can investigate your ladder accident to determine what caused it and who might be liable for your injury. 

Common Fall From Ladder Injuries

The severity of a ladder injury often depends on the height from which a person falls from. A person who falls from thirty feet will likely suffer more significant injuries than someone who falls off a five-foot step ladder.

Common injuries that happen in ladder falls include:

• Traumatic brain injuries,
• Concussions,
• Broken bones,
• Sprained or dislocated joints,
• Back injuries,
• Torn or sprained muscles,
• Spinal cord injuries, or
• Bone fractures.

Falls result in thousands of head injuries each year. After a fall, you may not realize you suffered any common fall from ladder injuries.

Some head injuries can present minor symptoms initially that intensify later on. If you fall off a ladder, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible to ensure you did not suffer any significant injuries. 

Ladder Safety Tips to Prevent Accidents

The CDC offers guidance on how to use ladders in a safe, responsible way. First, different jobs require different kinds of ladders.

The CDC recommends inspecting your ladder and making sure you have the type of ladder you need for the job. All ladders come with a duty rating that tells you the maximum amount of weight the ladder can safely hold.

Some ladders are made of non-conductive materials and work well for electricians and others trying to avoid electrocution.

You also want to make sure your ladder is tall enough to complete your task. Using a ladder that is too short can lead to instability.

You should never stand above the second-highest step of a step ladder or above the fourth-highest rung on an extension ladder. An extension ladder should extend at least three feet beyond the area you are trying to reach. 

Finally, you should always maintain three points of contact with the ladder you are using.

If you fail to follow basic ladder safety tips, the court may find that you also contributed to your ladder accident which can reduce the amount of compensation you are eligible to receive.

Who Is Liable After a Ladder Accident?

In some cases, another person may be liable for an individual’s ladder injuries.

For example, if one person’s negligence causes another person to fall from a ladder and break their arm, the negligent party may be liable for the losses stemming from that broken arm.

Alternatively, if a manufacturer or other business sells a ladder that is defective, they may be liable for any injuries caused by the defect.

An attorney at the Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers can review the details of your case and determine whether you are eligible to seek compensation. 

Contact Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers Today to Discuss Your Ladder Injury Claim

When you meet with an attorney at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers, you can expect high-quality and compassionate legal service.

We will take the time to sit down with you and learn the facts of your case so we can handle your claim effectively.

Our team knows that a single strategy cannot fit every ladder accident case. That is why we tailor our approach to the facts of your case and your desired outcome.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a ladder accident, contact Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers today so we can review your case.