Scaffolding accidents can result in serious, life-altering injuries. If you’re a construction worker or anyone who suffered such an accident in Los Angeles, securing representation from a lawyer specializing in scaffolding and construction site accidents in Los Angeles is critical. If you need help, contact Grey Law to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Grey Law?
Choosing the right attorney for your case can significantly impact the result. At Grey Law, we stand out from typical personal injury law firms and here’s why:
High Success Rate: With our 96% success rate on all of our cases, you benefit from working with attorneys who have a track record of obtaining favorable verdicts and settlements.
Decades Of Experience: We bring over three decades of experience to each and understand what it takes to establish successful legal strategies.
Risk-Free Representation: You will not incur any attorney fees until we win your case. Our ‘No Win, No Fee’ policy minimizes financial risk while allowing you to seek justice.
For help with your scaffolding claim, contact a scaffolding accident lawyer in Los Angeles today to schedule a free consultation.
How an Attorney Can Help With a Scaffolding Accident
When you’re dealing with a scaffolding accident, an experienced Los Angeles scaffolding accident attorney can be your greatest ally. Here’s how they can support your claim:
In-Depth Investigation: Attorneys thoroughly investigate the incident to obtain substantial evidence like accident scene photos, witness testimonies, and medical records.
Insurance Negotiations: Lawyers negotiate directly with insurance companies on your behalf which includes countering their tactics aimed at minimizing or denying settlement payouts.
Legal Representation in Court: If negotiations are unsuccessful, attorneys will represent you and fight for you in court if necessary.
If you’ve experienced a scaffolding accident, it’s a good idea to speak with a Los Angeles work injury lawyer as soon as possible.
What is Scaffolding?
Scaffolding refers to the temporary structure used in construction or renovation projects. It’s erected for workers to gain access, work on high structures safely, and support materials during construction, maintenance, or repair jobs.
Common Causes of Scaffolding Accidents
Scaffolding accidents are unfortunately common in the construction industry. Some of the most common causes of scaffolding accidents include the following:
Poor Construction: Sometimes these structures may not be assembled or secured correctly, creating an unstable platform that can lead to collapses and injuries.
Scaffolding Defects: Scaffolds with structurally defective parts compromise the structure’s rigidity, potentially leading to falls.
Lack of Training and Safety Equipment: If workers are not provided with adequate training on setting up and working safely with scaffolding, they could sustain injuries. Additionally, lack of necessary safety equipment can cause accidents.
Lack of Proper Maintenance: Regular inspection and maintenance are crucial to ensuring scaffold stability. Negligence in updating or fixing parts that have been worn down over time increases accident risk.
Falling Objects: Items left unsecured on a scaffold pose a risk for falling onto someone below.
Navigating the aftermath of a scaffolding accident can be complex; it is crucial to enlist professional help from experienced Los Angeles scaffolding accident lawyers who understand how best to safeguard your rights.
OSHA’s Scaffolding Standards
Understanding OSHA’s scaffolding standards is crucial for maintaining a safe construction site and ensuring the well-being of workers. Some key standards include:
Planking Requirements: Platforms must be fully planked or decked, leaving minimal space between the platform and scaffold uprights – no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm). A wider gap of up to 9½ inches (24.1 cm) may only exist due to structural necessities.
Each platform must be planked and decked as fully as possible with the space between the platform and uprights not more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. The space must not exceed 9½ inches (24.1 cm) when side brackets or odd-shaped structures result in a wider opening between the platform and the uprights. [29 CFR 1926.451(b)(1)]
Weight Support: Every scaffold and its components need to be sturdy, able not just to support their own weight but also at least four times the maximum intended load without risk of failure.
Scaffold planking must be able to support, without failure, its own weight and at least four times the intended load. [29 CFR 1926.451(a)(1)]
Fall Protection: For scaffolds elevated more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above a lower level, OSHA mandates comprehensive fall protection measures. This standard is designed to prevent injuries from falls to lower levels, which represent one of the most common and potentially severe risks on construction sites.
The standard requires employers to protect each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above a lower level from falling to that lower level.
Guardrails: To provide additional safety, OSHA insists on the installation of guardrails. This involves placing guardrails along all open sides and ends of a scaffold. There are sometimes exceptions to this rule.
Guardrail Exceptions
Guardrails are not required, however:
- When the front end of all platforms are less than 14 inches (36 cm) from the face of the work. [29 CFR 1926.451(b)(3)]
- When outrigger scaffolds are 3 inches (8 cm) or less from the front edge. [29 CFR 1926.451(b)(3)(i)]
- When employees are plastering and lathing 18 inches (46 cm) or less from the front edge. [29 CFR 1926.451(b)(3)(ii)]
If you’ve been injured because these requirements haven’t been followed, it’s essential to reach out to a Los Angeles scaffolding accident attorney as soon as possible.
Who is Liable?
Pinpointing liability in a scaffolding accident can be complex due to the involvement of various parties. Here’s how different entities could bear responsibility:
Company That Set Up The Scaffolding: If they didn’t follow necessary safety standards or regulations during installation, they may be held liable.
Construction Company/General Contractor: These parties have an obligation to provide safe working conditions. If they failed to ensure the scaffolding was safe for use, they could be found negligent.
Scaffold Manufacturers: If a manufacturing defect causes the accident, then these parties could bear liability under product liability law.
Safety Inspectors/Engineers: If they examined and certified that the scaffold was safe, but it wasn’t due to overlooked flaws or issues, they could potentially be found responsible.
Equipment Rental Companies: If scaffolding equipment was leased and it malfunctioned due to improper maintenance by these companies, they may also shoulder liability.
While the points illustrated above provide a general overview of potential liability, each scaffolding accident is unique, and this list is not exhaustive. The best way to determine who might be liable for your accident is to speak with a Los Angeles scaffolding accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Contact a Los Angeles Scaffolding Accident Lawyer
If you have suffered injuries in a scaffolding accident, navigating your legal rights and potential compensations can be overwhelming. A Los Angeles scaffolding accident lawyer from Grey Law is ready to advocate fiercely on your behalf. With our unparalleled expertise in construction accidents in Los Angeles, we are committed to pursuing the compensation you need to be able to focus on your recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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