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Injuries: If you suffered one of the following injuries falling from a recalled ladder, you may have a claim for compensation:
Major ladder manufacturers like Werner and Louisville have had to issue recalls after customers were injured by defective products. If you or a loved one was recently injured in a ladder fall, you may have such questions as:
Our experienced product liability lawyers can help you get financial compensation after a fall from a defective ladder.
Just about every home has at least one ladder which is used for home improvement projects, repairs, and maintenance. Large chain stores and small mom-and-pop operations both primarily stock their businesses with ladders from major manufacturers like Werner and Louisville. Business owners and consumers both trust these companies to provide safe and reliable products. Unfortunately, sometimes this trust is violated when a major, widespread defect leads to customer injuries and a recall for the defective product.
If you’re one of the many consumers who has been injured by a defective ladder, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. Our experienced product liability lawyers help victims of these injuries get financial support for the variety of difficulties they face while recovering from their injuries.
Falls from ladders are some of the most common causes of accidental injuries in the United States. These injuries frequently happen both in the workplace and in non-occupational settings, but a study by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that 97% of ladder injuries happen in residential locations. This study also determined that each year, about 130,000 Americans receive emergency medical treatment for ladder injuries.
Ladder injuries often require long and painful recovery periods. In some cases, victims of these falls may suffer from permanent disabilities or even die. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 646,000 fatal fall accidents occur each year, making falls the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death, after car accidents.
Some common injuries suffered in falls from ladders include:
Many ladder falls could be prevented by following safety rules, including:
Many homeowners may not be aware of how to use a ladder safely. Ladder manufacturers should take this into account by providing thorough safety instructions and warning labels with their products. However, if a ladder contains a manufacturing or design defect, even homeowners who strictly follow all safety rules can fall and suffer serious injuries.
When a ladder manufacturer becomes aware of a widespread defect in one of their products, a recall is often issued. When this happens, the line of defective products will be removed from stores. Customers who have already purchased a defective product are then either offered a refund, a replacement, or instructions on how to repair the defect.
However, not all purchasers of recalled ladders are notified of the recall. The owners of these ladders are at risk of eventually suffering a serious injury related to the defect. When this happens, manufacturers are notorious for offering little to no assistance for the variety of damages suffered as a result of the defect. This is why many victims of defective ladder injuries turn to product liability lawyers for help getting financial support.
Over the years, both large corporations and smaller ladder manufacturers have had to recall products after a hazardous defect was discovered. Werner Co. and Louisville Ladder are the two most prominent examples, as these companies dominate the ladder retail market in the United States and Canada. These are some of the most common ladders on the market, which means their defective products do the most damage.
Werner has had at least two cases of widespread defects in their attic ladders. Both of these models fold into the ceiling and are pulled down when someone needs to access the attic.
The Space Master sliding attic ladders (model number WS2308) were recalled in 1997 because of a manufacturing defect, after being sold in home improvement stores throughout the country for five months. These ladders were designed to be held in place by a metal hook when not in use. However, some of the ladders in this line had their hooks installed incorrectly, which would cause the ladder to randomly drop down from the ceiling. After the recall, people who had already purchased a Space Master ladder were issued instructions for inspection and repair.
Werner also had an issue with the Easy Access Attic Ladder, which was similar in design to the Space Master. Even though the company was receiving up to 80 complaints each week about defects in this ladder, it was never recalled. Eventually, a group of consumers organized and filed a class action lawsuit against Werner in 2013, alleging that the ladder’s hinges were made out of cheap, flimsy metal. However, only the representative named in the claim was awarded compensation for his injuries. Everyone else was only given a similar product as a replacement.
Louisville Ladder has issued recalls for several of their products, although consumers have also suffered injuries due to defects in ladders which were never recalled. Products which have been recalled include:
In 2008, 25,000 units of the Louisville/Davidson and Michigan Brand Fiberglass Extension Ladders were recalled because the extension (or “fly” section) on some units failed to lock, which posed a fall hazard to anyone using the ladder.
In 1999, Louisville Ladder recalled about 10,700 RIGID® stepladders. Some of these ladders had steps which were too short and improperly attached to the rest of the ladder. Steps with this defect could easily detach from the ladder, leading to a serious fall.
In 2005, Louisville Ladder recalled about 3,000 units of their Type IA industrial ladders with fiberglass rails and aluminum rungs. These models were found to have weak rungs, which could easily break and cause the user of the ladder to fall.
In 2008, Louisville issued a recall for about 25,000 of these extension ladders because the extension on some units failed to lock into place.
Yes – in virtually all product liability cases, it’s necessary to have an experienced lawyer by your side. The manufacturers of these ladders are large corporations who have the resources to hire teams of attorneys who specialize in winning these lawsuits. But if you’re represented by a product liability firm with a track record of success, you’ll greatly increase your odds of success.
Our skilled ladder recall lawyers can help you gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you through each aspect of the legal process. In many cases, you may arrive at a settlement without needing to take the matter to court. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how you can take the first steps towards securing the financial support you need following a defective ladder injury.
When someone suffers a serious injury in an accident caused by a defective product, it’s important to demand accountability from the product’s manufacturer. Businesses have a duty to make sure all of their products are safe and free of hazards before they go on the market. When a product manufacturer fails to meet this duty, their customers often suffer severe and debilitating injuries. In some cases, families are forced to grieve after their loved one dies in a preventable accident caused by one of these defective products.
Unfortunately, it’s far too common for these manufacturers to deny liability, or to offer the bare minimum in compensation for the people hurt by their products. A refund, replacement ladder, or instructions on how to repair a defect won’t take back the accident that left you with severe injuries, and they won’t provide the financial support victims of serious injuries need during and after recovery.
Our personal injury lawyers specialize in cases involving accidents caused by defective products. We have experience building cases against manufacturers of all types of defective devices, drugs, and products. When these companies fail to make things right after one of their customers gets injured, we take them to court and make sure the victim gets all the financial support they’ll need for damages like medical expenses, missed time from work, pain, suffering, and more. To find out if you could have a case for a lawsuit against the manufacturer of a defective ladder, contact us today and learn more in a free consultation.
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