Ladders are common tools used in many popular industries in Austin, including construction and industrial occupations. While you may be used to working on ladders every day, it’s important to realize that they can be extremely dangerous if used incorrectly – or if not correctly maintained by your employer. At FVF Law Firm – Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers, we provide education and legal information for people who’ve been injured in ladder accidents so that they can start to rebuild their lives.Â
Any workplace that requires workers to use ladders is responsible for ensuring the reasonable safety of its workers. This responsibility – also known as a duty of care – requires employers to obey state and federal ladder safety laws, including those enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Employers throughout Texas must properly train their workers on how to correctly use ladders for job-related tasks. Workers should receive training that is specific to the type of ladder: portable, fixed, extension, step, etc. They should know where, when and how to use ladders to prevent serious accidents and injuries.
OSHA’s laws also require employers to maintain safe workspaces by regularly inspecting and maintaining their ladders. A ladder shouldn’t be allowed to fall into a dangerous state of disrepair, with issues such as broken rungs, unsafe surfaces or missing safety devices. If a ladder issue is reported, an employer must take prompt action to prevent related injuries.
Ladder accidents are preventable types of disasters in Austin. This is part of what makes these incidents so tragic; they wouldn’t occur as often if employers and coworkers exercised a reasonable amount of care around them. Some of the most common causes of ladder accidents in Austin include:
An unsafe ladder in the workplace is a type of negligence that could make an employer liable – meaning financially responsible – for a worker’s related injury or death. Another example of employer negligence is failing to properly train workers in how to safely utilize ladders, such as which ladder to choose based on the worker’s needs.
Falling from a ladder can result in serious and even life-threatening injuries. Falling from any height, even a few feet, can inflict blunt-force trauma against any part of the body that strikes the ground. Every year, thousands of people visit emergency rooms in Texas after ladder-related accidents.
Common types of injuries from ladder accidents include:
Ladder accident injuries can be painful, debilitating and emotionally overwhelming. A victim’s life may never be the same after this type of tragedy in Austin. If you find yourself in this situation, know that help is available. You don’t have to seek answers or accountability alone. An experienced personal injury attorney can go over your legal rights in detail with you.
After any type of accident in the workplace, your first priority is getting the medical help that you need. Then, a personal injury lawyer in Austin can support you by assessing your case and educating you about your rights and options. You may be eligible for financial compensation through one or more types of legal action.
Texas is the only state that doesn’t require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, many companies opt for this insurance anyway to protect themselves financially. After a ladder accident, ask your employer if workers’ compensation insurance is available. If so, you can file a claim to seek compensation for your medical bills, partial lost wages and any disability costs without having to prove that someone else was at fault for your ladder accident.
If your employer negligently failed to prevent your ladder accident, you may have grounds to sue the employer directly for your losses. One benefit of this route over a workers’ comp claim is that you could receive full benefits for your losses, such as 100 percent reimbursement of your lost wages instead of about 67 percent. However, you or your Austin work injury lawyer will have to prove that your employer was negligent.
At FVF Law Firm, we put our clients first. We empathize with what you’re going through as a victim of a workplace ladder accident in Austin and are here to help in any way we can. We will start with a free, no-pressure consultation, where we will listen to your accident story and offer personalized advice and information about your rights.
Our Austin personal injury lawyer can help you understand the laws that may impact your case and what legal options exist in your specific situation. Our goal is to empower our clients so that they can make the best possible decisions moving forward. To learn more, contact us online or call us at (512) 640-2146 anytime, 24/7.
