Ladder Accident Claim

Introduction

Ladder accident claims are among the most common workplace injury cases we handle. Falls from height remain the most likely cause of death in the workplace and a leading cause of serious injury and fatal injury claims. If you fell from a ladder at work and your employer failed in their duty to keep you safe, you may be entitled to compensation. Recent ladder fall compensation we have recovered for clients includes settlements from £30,000 to over £75,000.

Use of ladders in the workplace

Ladders are a common piece of equipment at work with employers because they are a cheap means of access – they do not cost much and can be used by one person without assistance. This means they can be used in situations where they are not up to the job.

They should only be used for jobs and on sites where an assessment has been carried out to make sure that scaffolding, a mobile platform or rope access should not be used instead. They should be ‘footed’ by a second person and safely tied and secured at the top. But these safety measures make them more expensive and less flexible, so workers are often sent out on jobs with just a job sheet and a standard-sized ladder.

Unsurprisingly the ladder will sometimes slip away from beneath because it is not secured at the bottom, or it may fall sideways because it was not secured at the top.

Another particular risk involves working on roofs. Sometimes the surface of the roof is fragile and unsafe. There may be a skylight window that is easy to step through. In these cases, the injuries are almost always severe and can involve head and spinal injuries as well as multiple fractures, but they are also usually preventable: a proper risk assessment will ensure that the strength of the roof is tested and weak areas cordoned off with barriers. Skylights should always have barriers around them which are marked.

Common ladder fall injuries

Falls from ladders rarely cause minor injuries. The combination of height, hard landing surfaces and the ladder coming down on top of the worker produces a recognisable set of serious injury patterns.

Wrist, arm and shoulder fractures. Workers who instinctively put out a hand to break a fall suffer Colles’ and scaphoid wrist fractures, elbow dislocations and torn rotator cuffs. Recovery is rarely complete; many clients lose long-term grip strength or shoulder mobility.

Hip fractures from sideways falls. Ladders that fall sideways tip the worker onto one side, fracturing the hip on impact. In older workers these fractures often need hip replacement and can end a manual career.

Ankle and foot injuries from feet-first landings. Workers who land feet-first on hard surfaces suffer trimalleolar ankle fractures, calcaneal heel fractures and foot crush injuries. These commonly lead to osteoarthritis and the need for ankle fusion years later.

Spinal and back injuries. Compression fractures of the lumbar and thoracic spine are typical of vertical falls. Worse falls onto the back cause spinal cord injury with permanent paralysis. Even where the spinal cord is intact, soft tissue back injury can be career-ending for manual workers.

Head and brain injuries. Falls onto the head or where the head hits the ladder or scaffolding on the way down cause head injuries and brain injury, from concussion through to permanent cognitive impairment. Hard hats reduce but do not eliminate the risk.

Falls through fragile roofs and skylights. Workers using ladders to access fragile asbestos cement roofs, plastic skylights or rotten timber regularly fall through, sometimes several storeys. The combination of edge contact, internal structures on the way down and a hard floor landing produces some of the most catastrophic spinal, head and multiple-trauma injuries we deal with.

Crush injuries when the ladder falls. Aluminium and timber ladders weigh enough to cause serious injury when they fall onto the worker on the ground below. Heads, shoulders and necks take the impact.

Electrocution from metal ladders. Metal ladders raised near overhead power lines or contacting live circuits during electrical work cause electrocution, deep tissue burns, cardiac complications and falls from height as a secondary injury. Fibreglass ladders are required for any electrical work.

The law relating to ladder accident claims

Work at Height Regulations

The Work at Height (amended) Regulations 2007 apply to all work where there is a risk of a person at work falling from a height, not just on construction sites but also in offices shops and other workplaces.

The regulations are widely drawn so that any work at height has to be assessed and if possible avoided; if it cannot be avoided then efforts must be put in place to minimise the risk. These efforts may include the use of safety equipment to prevent a fall or minimise the distance involved, or a properly documented procedure and proper training so that workers understand and can deal with any particular risks from the task they are carrying out. That safety equipment has to be inspected, maintained and repaired and the workers have to be trained in its proper use.

Practical measures may include grab and guard rails, toe holds, harnesses and netting, working platforms and hard hats.

The regulations also cover the use of ladders at work. Ladders are the cause of many accidents at work, and of the 6000 significant and major accidents reported to the Health & Safety Executive every year over 1000 involve the use of a ladder.

Ladder fall compensation case studies

£75,000 payout for labourer

Mr M, a 30-year-old labourer, fell through a glass atrium on the roof of the building where he was working, and landed on his feet, sustaining serious (‘trimalleolar’) fractures of the ankle. Because the fractures extended through the joints of the ankle it caused osteoarthritis and M was disabled by pain so he was unable to work for many months. As the arthritic disease progressed his mobility deteriorated so that after two years he required surgery to fuse the ankle joint. This improved the pain but did nothing for his mobility. He was then unable to work in heavy manual work that involved standing for long periods on walking along uneven ground, so he retrained for less physical, but less well-paid work.

Mr M was self-employed and had a patchy work history so there was a negotiation over his level of earnings and his future earnings differential. The case was settled after court proceedings for £75,000, to reflect the seriousness of the injury and the effect it had in the claimant’s employment prospects.

£30,000 to settle claim for labourer and handyman

Mr O was a labourer and handyman. His job involved some painting and decorating and maintenance work onsite for a client. His employer assessed the job and priced it on-site, before giving Mr O a job sheet. Mr O had access to the client’s tools and materials and needed to use one of his ladders to access an elevated pedestrian walkway from the ground below. He had nobody to hold the ladder at the bottom, even though the ground surface was smooth, and no means of fixing it at the top.

His employer knew that the job required Mr O to work at height but provided no equipment at all and failed to come up with any safe way of doing the job.

Mr O was working near the top of the ladder when, as he adjusted position slightly, it suddenly slipped away at the bottom and he fell about 8 feet to the ground. He broke his hip and wrist and suffered a lot of soft tissue damage which took many months to heal.

The employer’s insurers defended the claim initially but finally gave in to prevent the case going to court, and they paid over £30,000 to settle the claim for Mr O’s injuries, loss of earnings care and expenses, together with all the legal costs.

Ladder accident claim FAQs

Can I claim if I fell off a ladder at work? Yes, if the fall happened because your employer failed to provide a safe ladder, suitable footing, training or a proper risk assessment. Most ladder accident at work claims are run on a no-win, no-fee basis.

How much compensation can I claim for a ladder fall? It depends on the injury and its impact on your life and earnings. Recent ladder accident compensation we have recovered ranges from £30,000 for a hip and wrist injury up to £75,000 for a serious ankle fracture. Catastrophic spinal or brain injuries can reach six or seven figures.

How long do I have to claim after a ladder accident? Usually three years from the date of the accident. Different rules apply for under-18s and protected parties.

Who is responsible if I fell off a defective ladder? Your employer is responsible for inspecting and maintaining work equipment under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). If they failed to do so, they are likely liable for your injury.

What if I am self-employed or a contractor? You can still claim. The site occupier or main contractor owes you safety duties even where you are not directly employed by them, and you can claim against any third party whose negligence caused you harm.

Specialist advice for Ladder Accident Claims

At Osbornes Solicitors we have dealt with many cases of workers falling from or through the roof of buildings because their employers did not take the elementary steps necessary to prevent accidents at work.

By choosing Osbornes Law for your claim, you will benefit from:

• Support in every aspect of your claim – our service goes beyond just handling the legal aspects of your claim. We work with a network of healthcare professionals, charities and support groups to ensure that you are connected to the best possible services while we fight for your right to compensation.
• Expertise – our accident solicitors have extensive experience in handling claims involving all types of injuries. We understand the complexities involved and know how to build strong, evidence-based cases that maximise your chances of success.
• Personalised service – Our team is always available to answer any questions you may have and provide support every step of the way.
• No-win no-fee – injury claims can usually be funded through a no-win no-fee agreement. This means that you will not have to pay any upfront fees or legal costs unless we win your case.

If you work or worked in construction and experienced an injury after falling from a ladder or from a height, contact our specialist team of lawyers who can advise you on whether or not you are eligible to claim accident compensation. We have over 50 years experience in helping our clients bring and win claims for compensation. Our lawyers focus on achieving the best medical, care and financial award.