New York Painter Successfully Obtains Compensation After Fall From Ladder

Whenever someone hires a painter to do work, chances are that the painter will use a ladder at some point to reach the upper part of walls and ceilings. But did you know that there are strict laws in New York regarding ladder use and the safety measures that need to be taken whenever a worker uses a ladder? Learn more from our ladder fall lawyers in New York.

Ladder Laws Are Supposed To Keep Workers Safe

Both the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and the Department of Buildings has worked to create labor laws regarding ladder use in an effort to prevent accidents. Ladder laws indicate that:

1. Any metal or fiberglass ladder that is longer than 10 feet must be approved before use.
2. Every ladder that is used by employees must be strong enough to sustain four times the maximum weight that is expected to be placed on it.
3. All ladders must be regularly checked and repaired if needed. No ladder may be used if:
   1. It has any broken parts.
   2. If any joints are insecure and in need of repair.
   3. If any wooden step is worn down to less than ¾ of its original size.
   4. If the owner has detected any other flaw or defect which may make its use dangerous.
4. If work is being done between heights of 6 - 10 feet, a second worker needs to be placed at the foot of the ladder to ensure it does not slip from its intended position. If work is being done at a height of more than 10 feet, then the ladder needs to be mechanically secured to prevent movement.

These are just a few of the regulations regarding ladders and employers in New York are expected to follow all of them. When they ignore these rules, their employees get hurt as one man found out.

A Long Way Down

On the day of his accident, the plaintiff, who was working as a handyman in a New York building, had been asked to paint the interior. He was using a 14-foot ladder and was standing on the ninth rung, when the ladder began to shake, slide, and then ultimately collapsed. He fell to the hard floor below and fractured both his left elbow and his right ankle in several places.

After being rushed to the hospital, he underwent an immediate open reduction internal fixation of the ankle fracture. Unfortunately, his elbow didn’t heal the way that doctors expected it to and two years later he required a decompression surgery during which doctors released and then repositioned his ulnar nerve.

Today, he continues to experience numbness and pain in his ankle which has left him with a permanent limp, as well as reduced strength and pain in his left arm. His doctors have warned him that he will likely need additional surgery on his ankle in the future.

Although workers’ compensation paid for the majority of his medical expenses and a small portion of his lost wages, he still sustained significant losses. For this reason, he chose to pursue a work injury lawsuit.

His Allegations

In his lawsuit, which he filed against the owner of the building, he alleged that they had violated New York Labor Law and that he should have been provided a spotter, adequate footing, and a way to secure the ladder to the wall. He sought compensation for lost future earnings since his injuries prevented him from continuing in his chosen field and for his physical pain and suffering.

In response, the defendant claimed that the employer was responsible for making sure that safety measures were in place and that the employee should have tied off the ladder before he began work.

The case never went to trial, as the two parties reached a settlement agreement in which the plaintiff obtained $1.1 million in compensation.

What Is A Ladder Fall Accident Settlement?

In civil lawsuits, most cases never go to trial because, during the discovery phase, an offer of compensation is made that the plaintiff finds acceptable. This frequently saves all parties involved substantial time and money and is an alternative to going to trial. However, if the defendant does not make an offer or if the plaintiff refuses, the case will go to trial.

Was this article informative? Check out other reads here: https://banvillelaw.com/construction-injury/infographic-4-ways-your-construction-job-can-kill-you-and-how-the-law-can-save-you/