Aerial Lift or Scissor Lift Accidents
Aerial Lift Accidents Attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Numerous occupations demand individuals to be raised to great heights. In many sectors, including construction, painting, tree trimming, farming, power line maintenance, and warehouse loading and unloading, a variety of aerial lifts are used to conduct operations. Unfortunately, aerial lifts are a major cause of occupational accidents.
Multiple factors make aerial lifts hazardous. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a construction accident involving an aerial lift or other industrial accident involving an aerial lift, you must contact our skilled aerial lift accidents attorney in Philadelphia, PA attorney immediately. The Villari Firm has the experience, resources, and perseverance to effectively represent workers and their families.
Contact our Philadelphia aerial lift accidents attorney for a free consultation now. We serve Philadelphia and the entirety of Pennsylvania.
Why Do You Need an Aerial Lift Accidents Attorney in Pennsylvania?
If you have been injured in an aerial lift accident, you need to contact our experienced aerial lift accidents attorney in Philadelphia, PA as soon as possible. We can help you file a claim for compensation and will work to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
Here are other reasons why you need our legal assistance when it comes to aerial lift accidents:
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Our experienced Philadelphia aerial lift accidents attorney knows the law inside and out. We will be able to guide you through the legal process and make sure that your rights are protected every step of the way.
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Our skilled aerial lift accidents attorney knows how to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and will make sure that you receive a fair settlement offer. If necessary, we will take your case to court and fight for justice.
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It is important to have an experienced advocate on your side who understands what you are going through after an aerial lift accident. We will be there for you every step of the way, providing support and guidance when needed most.
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If you have been injured in an aerial lift accident, you need to focus on your recovery. Let us handle the legal aspects of your case so that you can focus on getting better.
If you have been injured in an aerial lift accident, it is important to contact our qualified Philadelphia aerial lift accidents attorney as soon as possible. Contact us at The Villari Firm today to learn more about your legal rights and options after an aerial lift accident.
What Constitutes an Aerial Lift?
Aerial lifts are mobile machines that hoist people in a bucket or on a railing-equipped platform into the air so they may operate or access objects at medium to great heights. In warehouses and businesses, smaller lifts are used to access things placed on high shelves, but larger lifts may carry humans as high as 46 feet in the air.
What Are the Applicable OSHA Regulations for Lifts and Booms?
The 29 CFR 1926.453 of OSHA regulates aerial lifts. These laws govern every aspect of lift construction, including fall protection measures. In addition, this part mandates that all lifts be constructed in conformity with ANSI A92.2-1969, which regulates vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms. Important regulations include:
- 453 (b)(2)(v), which mandates that a body belt and lanyard be worn at all times and linked to the basket when operating an aerial lift
- 453(b)(2)(vii), which stipulates that brakes must be applied when outriggers are employed and that pads must be placed on a firm surface
- 453(b)(2(viii), which prohibits the movement of an aerial lift truck while the boom is high and personnel are inside unless the truck fulfills certain requirements for this sort of operation
- 453(b)(2)(ix), which requires articulating booms and extendable boom platforms intended as personnel carriers to include both upper and lower controls
In addition to OSHA fines, violations of the foregoing rules may result in legal responsibility for carelessness in failing to follow acknowledged industry standards and procedures. Call The Villari Firm for a free consultation if you have been injured while working in, on, or around an aerial lift.
What Are the Different Types of Aerial Lift Accident Injuries?
Even when aerial lifts are utilized carefully, accidents can still occur. These are the most common types of incidents that result in significant injuries:
- A user falls off an elevated Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP)
- The aerial lift overturns while the operator is using it or when passengers are on the elevated platform
- When the aerial lift tips over, it lands on a person
- An aerial lift passes above a construction site worker
- An aerial lift collides with an item or another vehicle
- A person gets caught between a lift and another object or vehicle in the event of an accident or is crushed by an improperly functioning lift platform.
- An individual is electrocuted while utilizing a MEWP
What to Do Following an Aerial Lift Accident in Pennsylvania?
Aerial lift accidents might cause significant injuries. Your primary objective should be to get medical treatment for your injuries. Do not wait. It is imperative to seek medical care promptly. Frequently, you may be unaware of the severity of your injuries. A knowledgeable physician can aid in the explanation of your injuries. After seeking medical care, discuss your rights with our skilled Philadelphia aerial lift accidents attorney.
Ensure that you do not alter the evidence. You should avoid touching the object in any way.
Frequently, injured parties want to investigate the property to determine what caused the unexpected action that resulted in their injuries. Or they return the item because they do not wish to expose themselves to future danger. Both of these actions should be avoided until the source of the injury has been determined by a certified specialist.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Your Aerial Lift Accident?
The majority of accidents using aerial lifts occur on the job site. Although you may feel that workers’ compensation will cover your injuries, it can be difficult to obtain benefits. What’s more, certain employers lack workers’ compensation coverage.
If this is the case, the only option to get compensation for your injuries or the tragic death of a loved one is to establish that one or more parties are at blame for the aerial lift accident that caused them. A variety of parties may share responsibility for an aerial lift accident, including:
The Employer
Typically, state workers’ compensation programs forbid employees from suing their employers. However, if your company is uninsured, you have the right to file a lawsuit. To claim compensation, you must demonstrate that your employer’s carelessness (such as neglecting to maintain the lift or provide fall protection, etc.) contributed to the aerial lift accident.
Depending on the circumstances, your company may potentially be responsible for a coworker’s carelessness. Typically, these claims result from aerial lift incidents caused by a worker with inadequate training or who disregards safety standards.
The Contractor
Construction is a complex industry. A project may have many general contractors, each of whom is responsible for employing labor, obtaining equipment, etc. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that the aerial lift is in excellent working order, that person knows how to operate it safely, and that workers operating the lift have the necessary fall protection equipment.
The Aerial Lift’s Manufacturer
One or more companies may be sued in a product liability claim if an aerial lift fails due to poor design, manufacturing flaws, or other problems. In the majority of cases involving defective products, significant investigation, and expert testimony are required to determine what caused the accident and who is accountable.
Rental Business
A rental firm may be held accountable if they rent a customer a damaged unit. Generally, rental firms are required to check the unit before renting it to another customer. However, they frequently neglect to check the product. If the rental firm does not have the required repair or maintenance records proving they maintained the product, they are accountable.
What Are the Potential Claims Following an Aerial Lift Accident?
If you or a loved one has been severely injured or killed in an accident using an aerial lift, you may have many claims. It is in your best advantage to explore your alternatives with our trained aerial lift accidents attorney in Philadelphia, PA as soon as possible. Possible claims following an accident with an aerial lift include:
Product Liability Claims
The manufacturer and any parties involved in the production, distribution, and sale of a faulty product may be held accountable for injuries caused by the defect. Defective booms, turntables, and other parts can result in disastrous accidents. Expert analysis of the lift is vital to winning a claim for a defective product.
Third-Party Injury and Wrongful Death Claims
Inadequate maintenance of equipment and machinery is a frequent cause of occupational injuries and fatalities. Accidents caused by the failure to repair and maintain lifts might result in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the property owner or the general contractor responsible for the construction site.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers who are injured on the job may seek compensation from their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance for medical expenses, lost earnings, and other losses. Families of workers who died on the job may be eligible for death benefits.
Numerous employers, particularly in the construction business, save money by taking advantage of lenient restrictions. However, in the case of an accident, this puts the uninsured employer in civil liability. Our seasoned Philadelphia aerial accidents attorney can evaluate the details of your lift accident and advise you on your choices for pursuing just compensation. You may have various claim filing alternatives.
How to Build Your Aerial Lift Accident Claim?
Until you retain our skilled Philadelphia aerial lift accidents attorney, no one is looking out for your best interests. Protecting your legal rights and maintaining your claim requires prompt action. The Villari Firm collaborates with an industry-leading specialist in aerial lifts to construct a strong claim on your behalf.
Expert testimony can assist in establishing essential information regarding the cause and manner of the aerial lift accident, such as:
- The status of the aerial lift
- Whether or not the aerial lift had problems
- Errors in operations that may have contributed to the aerial lift accident
We use private investigators to collect evidence, take pictures, interview witnesses, and more. Our firm also collaborates with other expert witnesses, including medical professionals, economists, and others, to precisely assess the total amount of damages in your claim. The Villari Firm has extensive experience litigating claims involving aerial accidents, agricultural equipment injuries, and other industrial incidents in which defective or negligent aerial lifts played a role.
What Are the Compensations Can You Recover Following an Aerial Lift Accident?
Various factors might affect the potential compensation for your aerial lift accident claim. Whether your company has workers’ compensation insurance is one of the key considerations. If your company has workers’ compensation insurance, you will get medical benefits and a portion of your typical weekly earnings if you are unable to work due to an injury.
Although proving blame for an aerial lift accident might be difficult, the benefit of filing a personal injury or product liability claim is that you can seek recovery of all losses. Potential damages in an aerial lift accident suit include:
- Medical expenditures (both current and future)
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and Emotional distress
- Impairment
- Loss of consortium
In a wrongful death claim, you and your family can seek compensation for all of your losses if your loved one died in an accident involving an aerial lift.
It might be difficult to assess just compensation for workplace accidents. You may not be restricted to receiving only workers’ compensation payments. Our skilled aerial lift accidents attorney in Philadelphia, PA, will conduct a thorough investigation to identify liability and will aggressively demand compensation for whatever losses you and your family have suffered.
Reach Out to Our Aerial Lift Accidents Attorney Today
Similarly to how an aerial lift may climb again, you can overcome the financial stress and problems caused by your accident. We recognize that regaining your health is a top priority for you. And as you make your journey back to health, we can safeguard your financial stability.
Let us help your family. If you have been injured in an accident involving an aerial lift, please do not hesitate to contact us. Contact our aerial lift accidents attorney in Philadelphia immediately. Fill out the online form or contact our office’s number for a complimentary case review. Learn about the personal injury recovery options offered by our experienced aerial lift accidents attorney. Do not compromise your rights.
