Scaffolding Injury Lawyer & Crane Accident Attorney for Construction and Ladder Injuries

All construction jobs can be dangerous, but this is especially true for the over 2.3 million construction workers who work on scaffolds and steep ladders and the more than 250,000 crane operators.  Because of the inherent danger of such work, Massachusetts has special legal protections for workers employed in high-risk construction jobs.

Massachusetts construction companies must uphold strict safety standards and are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which covers employees injured in worksite accidents, regardless of the cause.  If you or a loved one has been injured in a scaffolding, ladder, or crane accident, you should be eligible for worker’s compensation through your employer.

Client Success

$515,000 Verdict

On May 20, 2011, our client, 26 at the time, was painting a support post on the second floor of an apartment building on Worthington Ave. in Springfield, Mass. when the ladder he was on slipped, and he fell 30 feet to the parking lot below. In the process, he fractured both of his heels, a vertebra in his lower back (L-4) and his right wrist. He was taken by ambulance to Bay State Medical Center in Springfield, where he eventually underwent three open reduction internal fixation surgeries, one on each heel and the third on his right wrist. He accrued approximately $100,000 in medical bills.

Additionally, you may be entitled to additional compensation from third parties who played a role in causing the accident or from employers who failed to implement legally mandated safeguards.

Call our office to schedule a free consultation.  We can listen to the facts of your case, evaluate your injuries, and explain your legal rights and options. We accept construction injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you will not need to pay us unless compensation is recovered.  Further, we advance litigation costs while suits are ongoing so that clients do not have to compromise the quality of their case or worry about how they will afford to cover expenses, such as court or expert witness fees.  Typically, these costs are covered by a settlement or a trial award.  

Understanding Third Party Construction Claims, and the Compensation Available

Except in limited circumstances, workers’ compensation laws prevent injured construction workers from suing their employer.  Instead, they must look solely to workers’ compensation laws which dictates the compensation and benefits to which they are entitled.

This is not the case if another party is at fault for the accident, such as another on-site contractor, a company that manufactured defective scaffolding, or even a property owner.  In these cases, an injured worker may sue any and all other “third parties” for their role in causing injury.  Importantly, these third parties are not subject to the compensation limits and prohibition on recovering for pain and suffering inherent in workers’ compensation laws.

As a result, when others are responsible for workplace injury, the opportunity for full compensation (including lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages) is available.

Our role as scaffolding injury lawyers, crane accident attorneys, and a law firm for construction accidents is to meticulously review construction accidents and to identify all those responsible.  Then, we can seek to hold all third parties responsible for their role and damages, as well as seeking full compensation for injured workers under workers’ compensation laws. We can handle all settlement negotiations, and we will not hesitate to take your personal injury lawsuit to trial if necessary.

How Many Construction Workers Are Injured in Scaffold and Ladder Accidents?

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 4,500 injuries and 60 scaffold-related deaths occur each year.¹  We are available to represent clients in scaffolding, ladder, and all types of other construction accidents, including those caused by:

• Faulty Design Resulting in Collapses
• Poorly Maintained Steps or Boards
• Faulty Wiring
• Poor Maintenance
• Weak Building Materials
• Overloading
• Falling Debris
• Lack of Proper Safety Harnesses
• Failure to communicate between crane operator and people on the ground
• Failure to erect scaffolding properly
• Failure to have fall protection for workers on scaffolding and man lifts
• Use of a ladder on unsafe ground

How Many Crane Injuries and Deaths Occur Each Year?

Cranes (also referred to as derricks in the offshore industry) are responsible for carrying heavy loads effectively by lifting and moving them about job sites.  Any amount of negligence by an operator can cause a heavy load (often weighing thousands of pounds) to plummet, potentially hitting another worker or bystander below.

Crane operators, other construction workers, and the general public can be at risk of serious and often fatal injuries when accidents involving cranes, derricks, hoists, and other hoisting accessories happen.²  Unfortunately, this occurs more often than most people think, as over 40 workers are killed each year, and thousands more are injured in crane accidents.³

Most crane catastrophes are due to operator negligence, meaning that they could have been avoided.  If you or a loved one were involved in a crane accident caused by human error, those at fault should be held accountable in court.  In addition to holding those responsible liable, by filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation, you may be able to reclaim past medical expenses, provide for future medical treatment, and receive damages for pain and suffering.

How Can a Scaffolding and Ladder Accident Attorney or Crane Injury Lawyer Help?

In many construction accidents, there may be multiple people at fault.  When injuries are serious, those potentially at fault almost always try to blame one of the other potentially at-fault parties.  As a result, serious construction injuries required dedicated and experienced construction injury lawyers who know conduct a thorough investigation of all aspects of a construction injury.

Led by Attorney Robert A. DiTusa, our firm conducts extensive and exhaustive investigations into every accident case we handle. We go to the construction site and examine the machinery and location to determine if there were any safety violations or defective parts. We also consult with safety experts to learn how the accident could have been prevented. In addition, we gather federal and state reports.  If the contractor was cited for violating safety regulations in the past, we will find out.  Once we have built a case for fault and liability, we demand full compensation from all those liable.   

Call Us Today at (413) 781-0000 to Get Started and to Learn About Your Opportunities for Compensation!

If you have sustained injuries in a scaffolding, ladder, crane, or other construction accident, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need one who is experienced in handling construction accident cases and is knowledgeable about safety regulations on construction sites. You also need an attorney who understands the complex interaction among contractors and subcontractors in order to identify the parties at fault for your injuries accurately.

At Alekman DiTusa, LLC, our personal injury practice is led by an attorney with over two decades of experience handling construction site accidents. He has extensive knowledge of the safety regulations put out by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and has a long track record of success obtaining verdicts and settlements for clients in addition to workers’ compensation.

If you were injured because an employer or third party compromised your safety by not following guidelines, call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation.  We want to help you seek justice!