Indiana Scaffolding Accident Lawyers

Scaffolding can be found at practically any modern construction site, where it facilitates access to buildings, bridges, and other elevated structures as they are being erected, maintained, or repaired. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that about 2.3 million workers (roughly 65 percent of the American construction industry) routinely perform the duties of their jobs on scaffolds.

Unfortunately, scaffolding accidents are widespread as well, linked to approximately 4,500 injuries and 60 deaths annually throughout the country, though you might be eligible to seek compensation if you are the victim of a scaffolding accident in Indiana. To increase your chances of success, get in touch with the Indiana construction accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group, who have been tirelessly advocating for hardworking Hoosiers just like you for over a quarter century.

You can call or text us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now to arrange a free case review with a seasoned Indiana scaffolding accident attorney.

Why Do Scaffolding Accidents Happen?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 72 percent of scaffolding accidents happen for one of three reasons:

Scaffold support or planking gives way because of defective equipment or improper assembly;

Insufficient railing or slippery surfaces compromise the footing; or

Falling objects strike workers standing on or below scaffolds.

Other scaffolding accidents may occur when:

Scaffolds are electrified because they are not set up far enough from power lines.

Adequate fall protection measures are not installed, as is true of the 77 percent of scaffolding that is currently unequipped with guardrails.

Scaffolds are overloaded to the point of collapse.

Poor environmental conditions, including rain, wind, and the presence of harmful substances, expose workers on scaffolding to injury.

Avoidable mistakes are made in the absence of scaffold safety training, which an estimated 25 percent of workers never undergo.

Regardless of the causes of scaffold accidents, the outcomes can be catastrophic, often making the assistance of skilled Indiana scaffolding accident lawyers necessary.

How Can Scaffolding Accidents Be Prevented?

Clearly, scaffolding accidents can have dire consequences, which is why a number of government agencies have advanced initiatives and put forth recommendations to prevent them. For example, OSHA has enacted strict regulations to make it less dangerous to work on scaffolds in both general industry and construction industry positions and to reduce the likelihood of slipping or falling from scaffolding. To remain in compliance with OSHA, employers need to satisfy the following requirements when deploying scaffolding:

Both guardrail systems and body belt or harness systems are mandated for work from suspension scaffolds.

Guardrails must be between 38 and 45 inches high.

Scaffold suspension ropes and body belt or harness system drop lines (lifelines) must be shielded from heat and corrosive processes.

Scaffolding components have to be capable of bearing at least four times the weight of the maximum intended load.

Footing needs to be level and able to support the loaded scaffolds.

Scaffolds and equipment must be inspected before each use by a “competent person,” which OSHA defines as “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.”

Employees who work on scaffolding should receive training from a “qualified person,” defined as “one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.” This training must prepare workers to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffolding being used and to understand the procedures to minimize or manage those hazards.

Additionally, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health proposed its own guidelines to curb “worker injuries and deaths caused by falls from suspension scaffolds”:

OSHA regulations for designing, constructing, or making use of scaffolds should always be followed.

Drop lines for body belt or harness systems and tiebacks for suspension scaffold support devices must be anchored to structurally sound portions of buildings or other structures.

Scaffolds need to be assembled, rigged, and used in keeping with the manufacturers’ specifications.

Personal fall protection equipment must be consistently worn while standing, climbing, or walking on scaffolding.

Failure to implement appropriate scaffolding safety protocols could be a sign of negligence, which is a key element in personal injury litigation, and our Indiana scaffolding accident attorneys are proficient at unearthing negligent conduct that could provide grounds for a civil case.

Who Is Responsible for an Indiana Scaffolding Accident?

It can be tough to determine who is responsible for an Indiana scaffolding accident, especially when it takes place on a construction site where dozens of professionals may be working simultaneously.

The at-fault parties in a construction-related scaffolding accident might include the owner and/or the developer of the property, the general contractor in charge of construction, the contractors employed by the general contractor, and the subcontractors employed by them. When a scaffolding accident is the result of defective equipment, the companies who manufactured, distributed, or sold the scaffolding may be culpable. Furthermore, a scaffold may be disturbed by an outside party with no role in the operations of the scaffolding whatsoever, such as a driver who loses control of a large vehicle and crashes into a scaffold while it is in use.

In certain instances, multiple individuals and entities could share varying degrees of legal liability, for which they might share varying degrees of fiscal liability, and you must pursue them all within the time allotted by law or be forever barred from full recovery. However, you can rest assured that Hensley’s Indiana scaffolding accident lawyers will dot every “i” and cross every “t” so that a valid claim can be established.

What an Indiana Scaffolding Accident Attorney Can Do for You

A scaffolding accident can turn your world upside down, forcing you to cope with astronomical medical bills and unforeseen costs while sharply curtailing your ability to earn a living. Simply making ends meet could become difficult, much less meeting the new demands on your finances. To make an already challenging matter even worse, insurance companies may take advantage of the inherent complexities of scaffolding accidents to limit their economic exposure.

In a situation like this, you need attorneys with the compassion to support you through your struggles and the wisdom to overcome them – like the Indiana scaffolding accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group. No task is too daunting or adversary too intimidating to stop us from doing whatever it takes to serve our clients’ interests.

If you hire Hensley, we will launch a comprehensive investigation into your scaffolding accident and everyone to blame for it, then move swiftly to secure the materials to support your claim, coordinating our efforts with top experts in their fields if the circumstances warrant it.

After putting together a rock-solid case against all of the defendants, Hensley’s Indiana scaffolding accident lawyers will negotiate directly with their insurance carriers for a settlement that compensates you for the totality of your losses, including:

Medical expenses

Lost wages

Pain and suffering

Psychological trauma

Impaired mobility

Diminished quality of life

Loss of consortium

Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)

And unlike many of our competitors, who rarely, if ever, venture into a courtroom, we are not afraid to proceed to trial if we do not get an offer that accurately reflects what your claim is worth.

Spending more money might be the last thing you can afford to do at this moment, so you may be pleased to learn that our firm works on a contingency basis. This means that you will not have to pay us anything until our Indiana scaffolding accident attorneys win your case.

Hensley is willing to shoulder every burden involved in making you and your family whole again.

Talk to an Indiana Scaffolding Accident Lawyer Today

Hensley Legal Group has been getting justice for the seriously injured since 1998. If you have been hurt because of somebody else’s recklessness, talk to an Indiana scaffolding accident lawyer today to discover your legal options.

You can schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our dedicated Indiana scaffolding accident attorneys by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.