Settlements & Verdicts In Defective Ladder Product Liability Lawsuits

Settlements For Defective Ladders

Recovering from injuries sustained in a ladder fall can be a long and stressful process. Falls from heights cause some of the most serious injuries in both the home and the workplace. If you’re in this situation, you may be struggling with economic difficulties from medical bills and lost time from work, not to mention noneconomic struggles like pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life.

While some ladder falls occur due to unsafe use, many others only occur because of a manufacturing or design defect. In these cases, it’s important to hold the manufacturer liable for both economic and noneconomic damages related to the injury. As ladder recalls and defective product accidents have become more common, injury victims have begun to file personal injury product liability lawsuits against these companies.

Learn more: Louisville Ladder Recall: Customers File Product Liability Lawsuits

How Much Can I Recover In A Ladder Defect Settlement?

In order to determine how much financial compensation you could recover in a defective ladder injury lawsuit, you’ll need to have the details of your case carefully reviewed by an experienced product liability lawyer.

The amount of compensation you can recover depends on a variety of specific factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• The costs of your medical treatment
• The value of your lost wages and lost earning potential if you’re unable to work
• Pain, suffering, and other subjective damages
• Loss of consortium if your injuries have affected your relationship with your spouse

These and other factors will all be taken into account when your lawyer is negotiating a settlement or when the jury is deciding how much to award in a court verdict.

Recent Examples Of Ladder Injury Settlements & Verdicts

While the value of each case varies depending on circumstances, you may still be curious about how much financial compensation others have recovered in similar cases. Major manufacturers like Louisville Ladder, Werner Co, and others have all faced lawsuits for injuries caused by defective products. We’ve summarized some of these verdicts and settlements below:

Fort Lauderdale Man Awarded $4.7 Million After Fall From Defective Ladder

In 2017, a Fort Lauderdale man was severely injured after he fell from the eighth rung of a 12-foot ladder. The step he was standing on collapsed without warning, sending him tumbling to the ground below. He suffered injuries to the entire right side of his body, a herniated disk in his neck, an elbow injury, had to undergo two surgeries for a complex shoulder injury, as well as the replacement of a joint in his big toe.

The man filed a lawsuit against both ladder manufacturer Tricam Industries Inc. and retailer Home Depot USA Inc. His lawyers argued that a manufacturing defect involving misplaced rivets caused the ladder to fracture – even though the 170-pound man was far lighter than the suggested 250-pound limit.

The jury ruled in the plaintiff’s favor – awarding $1.8 million for loss of future earning capacity, $517,000 for lost earnings, $223,000 for future medical care, and $200,799 for past medical expenses. They also awarded $367,000 in past noneconomic damages and $1.6 million for future noneconomic damages (i.e. pain, suffering, disability, etc.).

Staten Island Man Settles For $750K In Construction Ladder Fall Case

In 2017, a Staten Island construction laborer was injured when his ladder collapsed during a work project. The man suffered a chip fracture and facet fracture of his lumbar spine, which required surgery.

He filed a lawsuit against the owner of the construction site, claiming that the ladder was defective because it was missing a locking mechanism. He also claimed that the ladder was the wrong type for the job he was doing and that the accident could have been prevented if he’d been provided a scaffold or scissor lift.

The case was recently settled out of court for $750,000.

Philadelphia Woman Paralyzed In Ladder Fall Settles For $7 Million

In November 2009, a Philadelphia woman was using a Saf-T-Master Type II Household ladder in an attempt to save a cat from a tree, when the ladder collapsed and sent her falling to the ground. She suffered spinal injuries which left her partially quadriplegic, had to undergo several neck surgeries, and was unable to return to work as a professional cleaner.

The woman and her husband sued ladder manufacturer Old Ladder, Werner Co (the company which acquired Old Ladder), and Gay’s True Value. The complaint claimed that the manufacturer knew this ladder was dangerous and had a defective locking mechanism.

In February 2013, the couple reached a settlement for over $7 million.

Taking Legal Action Against The Manufacturer Of A Defective Ladder

In order to build a successful court case and ensure you recover the full financial compensation you’re entitled to, it’s important to find an experienced product liability lawyer. These manufacturers have financial resources at their disposal and can afford to hire teams of highly skilled defense lawyers. You’ll need a lawyer who has a track record of securing settlements and court verdicts in similar cases.

If you believe your ladder fall was caused by a defective product, we recommend legal action as soon as possible. This gives you the best chance of winning your case and also ensures you get the financial support you need in a timely manner. Our experienced product liability lawyers can help you determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit in a free consultation.