Construction workers on multilevel building projects typically require scaffolding to reach higher levels. By design, properly installed scaffolding is durable and resilient with strong load-bearing capabilities. However, despite its material strength, scaffolding accidents happen, resulting in worker injuries.
If you were hurt in a scaffolding accident, our Orange County scaffolding accident lawyer can help you file the compensation claims you need to recover financial losses. At Silberman & Lam, LLP, our construction accident attorneys are committed to helping injured workers get the compensation they need after an injury, including filing an application with the WCAB when an insurance provider denies their claims.
Types of Scaffolding Accidents
Scaffolding accidents can happen in several ways. These include:
- Electric shocks
- Collapsing scaffolding
- Falling from an elevated platform
- Slipping and falling due to a wet or oily scaffolding surface
- Falling objects or tools from higher levels striking workers on scaffolding
In many cases, workers involved in scaffolding accidents tend to sustain catastrophic injuries such as multiple fractures, joint dislocations, deep cuts and abrasions, impalement on hard objects, internal bleeding, spinal cord injuries, chest injuries, or traumatic brain injuries.
These often translate to prolonged hospitalization and long recovery periods. As a result, injured victims will have to deal with mounting medical bills and an inability to earn a living while hospitalized. This is where our Orange County attorneys step in to help you file a claim for your scaffolding accident injuries.
Common Causes of Scaffolding Accidents
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established standards for setting up scaffolds. A violation or failure to adhere to these standards often results in structural defects that lead to these accidents on construction sites.
The leading reasons why these platforms may collapse, or other issues lead to accidents on them, include:
- Adverse weather events
- Bad construction designs
- Cutting corners with safety protocols
- Vehicular collision with the platform
- Construction with poor quality or defective materials
- More people on the scaffold than its designed capacity
- Lacking platform maintenance or infrequent inspections
- Scaffold construction without guard rails or fall arrest systems
Our Orange County attorneys could use these details to help build a strong argument for the compensation you deserve while healing from your injuries. In most instances, it is clear that negligence is a key contributing factor, as most of these issues can be resolved by meticulous planning and execution, and following OSHA guidelines.
Available Compensation Options for Scaffolding Accident Victims
There are often two compensation pathways for injured construction workers. These include workers’ compensation and third-party liability lawsuits. Workers’ comp is often the only compensation option for injured workers, and our dedicated scaffolding accident attorneys can work with you to pursue compensation. This is usually provided by the employer through their insurer and is meant to pay medical expenses and cover a percentage of the injured worker’s weekly wage. If another company other than your employer is at fault, then you may have a third-party claim. We can evaluate this for you.
There is no need to prove fault to access workers’ comp benefits in California. However, it is important to note that insurance companies may deny a workers’ compensation claim even when the injured worker is entitled to one. If this happens, it is best to talk to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to figure out the available options.
Seek Legal Help From an Orange County Scaffolding Accident Attorney
Working in construction is already hard enough. So to suffer injuries and other losses because someone did not do their job is unfair to you. However, with the help of an experienced Orange County scaffolding accident lawyer from Silberman & Lam, LLP, we can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us to discuss your case and learn how the workers’ compensation process works.
