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New Jersey Personal Injury Attorneys at the Clark Law Firm, P.C., Handle Construction Accidents Involving Scaffolding Collapse

Scaffolding is used in construction, repair and maintenance environments to enable workers to reach heights they would otherwise be unable to and/or where ladder use is not functional or possible. Unfortunately, construction accidents involving scaffolding are quite common and can result in serious injuries and even the death of workers and bystanders.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a death has occurred as a result of a scaffolding accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact a New Jersey personal injury attorney so that your case may be evaluated. The personal injury lawyers at the Clark Law Firm, P.C. are experienced in handling personal injury cases involving scaffolding accidents.

Types and Causes of Construction Accidents Related to Scaffolding

Scaffolds are usually temporary structures made of lumber and/or steel, and are typically erected for a specific purpose and for a limited amount of time. The design of scaffolding can range quite a bit from simple to very complex structures, depending upon the purpose, functionality and height. Because scaffolding is used on a temporary basis and frequently assembled quickly, it is often poorly constructed putting workers and bystanders at risk. Hundreds of thousands of construction workers, painters, window cleaners and maintenance staff work on scaffolds on a regular basis. These individuals are at great risk of personal injury or death when they utilize unsafe scaffolding that was negligently and improperly constructed.

Common construction accidents involving scaffolding usually include either scaffold collapse and/or falling objects from the scaffold itself. Usually workers on the scaffold are utilizing some type of equipment while on the scaffold, such as paint and related supplies, tools such as hammers, screw drivers or drills, as well as window cleaning equipment. In addition to the workers on the collapsed scaffold being injured, those on the ground working or walking by may be seriously injured by the falling scaffold itself, of by other falling objects. Causes of scaffold construction accidents vary but may include:

  • Unsecure scaffolding
  • Poor or careless construction
  • Use of poor quality of damaged material
  • Missing or malfunctioning brakes
  • Missing or malfunctioning fall safety systems
  • Insufficient maintenance of scaffold
  • Lack of or poorly conducted safety inspections

Severe weather conditions may also cause scaffold accidents. When safety precautions are not followed and workers utilize scaffolding in inclement weather, such as precipitation and/or high winds, unsafe conditions develop and include slippery surfaces and the possible “blowing off” of equipment.

OSHA | Prevention of Construction Accidents / Scaffolding Accidents

According to OSHA, “an estimated 2.3 million construction workers, or 65 percent of the construction industry, work on scaffolds frequently. Protecting these workers from scaffold-related accidents would prevent 4,500 injuries and 50 deaths every year …”. * OSHA, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, is part of the United States Department of Labor and is charged with promoting safe working conditions by creating and enforcing safety standards and providing resources for related education for employers and workers. OSHA has extensive safety regulations pertaining to scaffolding which include but are not limited to the type of materials utilized, weight limitations, training requirements, use of safety equipment and safety inspections. Most if not all construction accidents involving scaffolding collapse can be avoided if OSHA safety standards are implemented and followed.

Scaffolding Accident Injuries – Call a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer

Injuries from construction accidents involving scaffold collapse are usually serious and may include broken bones, head and/or brain injuries, paralysis, spinal cord injuries and even death. Victims of construction accidents involving scaffold collapse who have suffered personal injury will usually have a long road to physical and financial recovery, including significant and ongoing medical expenses, temporary or permanent disability and related loss of income. Since employing the proper safety practices can prevent the vast majority of scaffold construction accidents, employers who do not properly follow OSHA standards are acting with negligence and put their workers and potentially innocent bystanders in harms way.

If you have suffered personal injury as a result of a scaffold accident, an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney will help you determine which party or parties are liable for your injuries. Responsible parties may include property owners, equipment manufacturers (in the case of defective scaffold equipment), contractors or employers. The experienced personal injury lawyers as the Clark Law Firm, P.C., can evaluate the circumstances surrounding the construction accident and find out who should be held accountable for the accident. Our personal injury lawyers will work hard to help you recover appropriate compensation for your medical bills, possible loss of income and pain and suffering as a result of the scaffold construction accident. Please contact us immediately if you or a loved one have been injured as a result of scaffolding.

* http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/scaffolding/index.html

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