Fall from Heights Accident Lawyers
If you suffered injuries or your loved one died in a fall from heights accident, workers’ compensation benefits may not be your only source of financial relief. You may be able to recover compensation from a negligent third party by filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
At Ankin Law, our fall from heights accident lawyers are available 24/7, we offer free initial consultations, and if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you.
Contact our Chicago fall from heights accident lawyers at (312) 600-0000 to get started with your recovery.
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Why Hire Our Attorneys After a Fall From Heights?
When you hire our law firm to handle your claim, you and your family are our priority. Our attorneys understand the pain, suffering, and financial burdens that victims and their families face after falling from an elevated height, and we want to help you recover maximum compensation to help pay for your losses.
Although workers’ compensation is designed to help injured employees pay for their medial bills and make ends meet after suffering a work-related fall, benefits are often difficult to obtain. Even when workers receive a settlement, it’s usually not enough to cover all their expenses.
To ensure you recover full and fair compensation, we’ll conduct our own investigation of your accident. Our team may work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to determine how you fell. We will consider all factors that contributed to your accident, and identify all parties who may be able to held liable. If someone other than your employer was negligent, our attorneys will help you file a personal injury lawsuit to hold them accountable.
Who May Be Liable for a Fall from Heights Accident?
You usually can’t sue your employer for a work-related accident in Illinois, but other parties may be able to be held liable if their negligence contributed to your fall.
Determining liability for a fall from heights accident involves assessing various factors. Multiple parties may bear responsibility, and understanding potential liabilities is crucial for pursuing a legal claim. You may be able to sue:
- Property Owners or Managers: They have a duty to maintain safe premises and address hazards, like loose or missing guard rails, that could lead to falls from heights.
- Contractors or Subcontractors: You may be able to sue negligent contractors and subcontractors whose negligence contributed to your fall.
- Manufacturers: Defective equipment, such as ladders or scaffolding, can contribute to falls. Manufacturers may be liable for producing faulty products.
- Third Parties: Entities unrelated to the property, like maintenance companies or delivery services, might share liability if their actions contribute to unsafe conditions.
Call our experienced fall lawyers at (312) 600-0000 to find out how much your claim is worth. Free consultation.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Attorney After a Fall in Illinois?
Hiring an attorney after a fall from an elevated height should not cost you anything out of pocket. In Illinois, accident lawyers who handle injury cases involving falls from heights usually work on a contingency basis. This helps ensure that injured employees and other fall victims have access to quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation.
At Ankin Law, we offer free, no-obligation initial consultations, and we won’t charge you any attorney fees until we obtain a settlement or jury award on your behalf. After your case is successfully resolved, our law firm will subtract a percentage of your award to cover our fees and expenses.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Falls From Heights?
Working at elevated levels is the most common cause of falls from heights. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), falls from heights are the second leading cause of workplace deaths. Understanding what causes these catastrophic accidents and performing risk assessments in factories and on construction sites can help reduce the risk of injury or death for workers.
Some of the most common reasons workers fall from elevated levels include:
2 Using faulty or poorly-maintained safety equipment
3 Missing or failing guardrails and handrails
4 Getting knocked off balance by negligent coworkers or falling objects
At Ankin Law, our attorneys will investigate your accident and consider all factors that may have contributed to your injury to ensure you receive maximum compensation. We may work with safety experts to evaluate compliance with OSHA regulations and inspect safety equipment. We will review available photos and videos of the surrounding area, and interview witnesses. If necessary, our law firm will also work with accident reconstruction specialists to determine how you fell.
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Injured by a medical provider? Check out our medical malpractice knowledge center to learn more about medical malpractice cases.
What Are Common Injuries that Are Caused By Falls?
Falls from heights are a top cause of death in the construction industry. For victims who survive, catastrophic injuries, persistent pain, and physical disability often become a way of life.
The most common fall injuries our accident lawyers see include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can cause fall victims to suffer long term or permanent cognitive and physical disabilities that require ongoing medical care.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Fall victims who suffer spinal cord injuries must deal with mobility issues, may require wheelchairs and other equipment, and might even need in-home nursing care.
Neck Injuries
Similar to spinal cord injuries, severe neck injuries often result in immobility. Victims may need life support equipment and in-home nursing care.
Broken Bones
Although some fall victims heal quickly from broken bone injuries, others suffer lasting effects like persistent pain and problems with mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fall from Heights Lawsuits
What Compensation Can I Receive in a Fall from Heights Injury Claim?
The compensation available to you after falling from a significant height will depend on various factors. If you fell at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that will help pay for your medical bills and lost wages. If another party’s negligence caused your fall, and you have a viable third-party injury claim, however, you can recover compensation for current and future medical bills, lost wages, benefits, and earning opportunities, and pain and suffering.
How Can I Prove Liability for Fall Injuries?
To prove liability for your fall injuries, you’ll need to demonstrate that the defendant owed you a duty of care, that duty was breached, the breach of care caused your injuries, and that you suffered losses (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering). If you fell at work, and you are filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, however, you won’t need to show that negligence occurred. You’ll only need to prove that the injury happened during the course of your work to hold the workers’ comp insurance company liable.
How Long Do I Have to Take Legal Action After a Fall from Heights in Illinois?
The amount of time you have to take legal action after a fall from heights depends on various factors. The type of claim, (wrongful death, workers’ compensation, personal injury, premises liability, or defective product claim) is one factor that’s considered. Exceptions also apply if the victim was under 18 when the accident happened, if the victim is in a coma or otherwise unable to file a lawsuit, or in other circumstances. Your fall accident lawyer can help you determine the timeframe that applies to your case.
What Our Clients Say About Us
They jumped on my case fast and got to work, Karolina K helped me tremendously day by day. Great service indeed. I recommended Ankin law to all my family and friends.
