The very nature of roof work makes it a dangerous occupation. Any job working from heights puts people at risk of serious harm, especially if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Labor statistics show roofing had the fifth-highest rate of workplace deaths in the nation in a recent year, with a nonfatal injury rate nearly twice as high as other jobs.
Falls are the leading cause of injuries and death in roof accidents. The blunt force of a fall — even from relatively low heights — can result in catastrophic physical trauma. Survivors of roof fall accidents typically incur significant medical expenses and experience financial hardships when their injuries leave them unable to work.
Did you sustain injuries from a roofing accident in Northern California? You could be entitled to compensation to help with your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. A Sacramento roof fall accident lawyer from Demas Law Group can determine whether you have a valid personal injury claim in a free consultation. Contact us today to learn your legal options.
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Causes of Roofing Accidents
Roofing is an active and labor-intensive job. Workers are in constant motion, bending, kneeling, hammering, and cutting materials for installation. This demanding physical work puts roofers in harm’s way, especially if another party fails in their obligations to prevent them from potential accidents.
Roof falls can happen due to:
- Slips and trips – A roof needing repair could have soft spots, loose shingles, and sagging that makes walking precarious. Tools and installation materials can also create obstacles for roofers to work around, increasing the risk of a slip, trip, or fall.
- Undisclosed dangerous conditions – Roofers know to inspect their work areas carefully, but the results could be deadly if a homeowner fails to point out a known hazard.
- Lack of a fall protection system – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets fall protection standards for workers in construction and general industry. Roofers should receive a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) if they are exposed to a fall of six feet or more to a lower level.
- Defective fall arrest system – The harness in a fall arrest system must be designed to fit snugly between a roofer’s shoulder blades and legs. A flaw in the harness could lead to a devastating fall if it breaks while a roofer is wearing it.
- Faulty ladders – Ladders are necessary to access higher elevations during roof work. If an extension ladder or stepladder fails while a roofer uses it, they could sustain catastrophic injuries.
- Heat-related illnesses – Roofers spend hours exposed to the elements during their work. Laboring under the hot sun can cause heat stroke, leading to dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms that could result in a fall.
Types of Injuries in Roofing Accidents
According to OSHA, working at levels of six feet or higher puts roofers at significant risk of severe injuries and death in a fall. Common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Internal bleeding
- Soft tissue injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons
Liability in Roof Accidents
California law says that negligent party(s) can be held liable for any harm their actions cause others. Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care to keep others safe.
When workers are injured in roofing accidents, their employers are usually responsible for paying for their medical costs and certain other losses through the California workers’ compensation program. But employers are not the only ones who could be held liable in a roof fall accident. If someone other than the employer bears responsibility for the accident, victims may be entitled to file a third-party lawsuit against them.
Examples of potentially liable parties in roof accidents include:
- Roofing Company
- Homeowners
- Property owners/managers/landlords
- Neighbors
- Contractors and subcontractors
- Manufacturers of faulty ladders, fall arrest systems, harnesses, power tools, or other defective equipment
- A government agency
Determining whether a third party is at fault for your roofing accident is tricky. An experienced personal injury attorney can review the circumstances of your case to decide whether you have a claim against an outside party.
The Legal Process for Injured Roofers
To win compensation in a roof fall accident case, you must prove four elements:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care – Let’s say your harness broke and you fell off a roof while working. Protective gear companies must place safe products on the market. That is their duty to you.
- The responsible party breached their duty – The company breaches its duty if the evidence shows a design defect or manufacturing flaw caused the harness to break.
- The breach led to the accident and your injuries – You must demonstrate that the harness defect directly caused the fall that hurt you.
- Compensation can remedy your losses – In California, you can receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages after a roof fall accident.
Satisfying the requirements for a negligence claim in California requires compelling evidence, which can be challenging to obtain in the aftermath of a serious roofing injury. A skilled personal injury lawyer can collect the evidence for you and fight for maximum compensation while you heal.
Comprehensive and Compassionate Legal Help for Injured Californians
Demas Law Group provides hard-hitting legal representation to injured people throughout Sacramento and the surrounding areas. We provide comprehensive and strategic legal support so our clients get the results they deserve.
Roof fall accidents can be complicated claims, especially when the injury occurred on the job. However, in some cases, it is possible to file both a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim at the same time. At Demas Law Group, we handle the personal injury side of roof fall accident claims so that liable third parties are held accountable for their wrongdoing.
You deserve full and fair compensation after what you’ve endured. Call or contact us today for a free case evaluation with a Sacramento roof fall accident attorney.
