Roofing accidents often result in serious and life-threatening injuries. The Journal of Safety Research published a 2013 study by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) that indicates one-third of all fatalities related to falls stem from roofing accidents.
In many cases after a workplace accident, roofers think their only option is to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, if you are a victim of someone else’s negligence, you have the legal right to pursue justice for your losses resulting from their negligence.
If you suffered injuries due to a roofing accident, you might want to learn how a Los Angeles roofing accident lawyer can help protect your rights and fight for the compensation you may be entitled to receive. Contact our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 529-9122 for a free consultation.
Determining Liability in Roofing Accidents
Any individual, group, or business that acts negligently can have legal liability and responsibility with respect to injuries suffered from a subsequent roofing accident.
In many cases, construction projects involve several different contractor companies working on a job site. In others, a property owner remains liable for failing to warn a worker about dangerous or hazardous conditions related to the roof. In some situations, an individual can act with negligence, carelessness, or recklessness, leading to an injury.
Some examples of parties responsible for roofing accidents include:
- Other roofing companies
- Property owners
- Property managers
- Renters or tenants
- Individuals acting with negligence, recklessness, or carelessness
- Contractors
- Subcontractors
- Independent contractors
- Government agencies
- Manufacturers of defective parts or components
Types of Lawsuits
Depending on the facts and circumstances of the roofing accident, different types of lawsuits exist to provide justice and financial compensation to victims.
Premises Liability Lawsuits
If a property owner somehow failed to use reasonable care to disclose dangerous or hazardous conditions to a worker who performed repairs, replacements, or other work while on a roof, the property owner may have legal liability and responsibility for any injuries suffered.
Civil Code § 1714 directly addresses premises liability in the state of California. For example, if a property owner knows that a part of their roof has significant damage and fails to warn workers, and workers then fall through the roof, the property owner will remain liable for any of the victim’s injuries or losses.
Premises liability lawsuits after roofing accidents require that:
- A property owner owned, occupied, or controlled the property.
- They were negligent in the maintenance or disclosure of a hazardous condition.
- A roofing worker suffered injuries.
- The property owner’s negligence was a substantial factor for those injuries.
Manufacturing Defects
In some cases, defective or faulty equipment leads to a roofing accident. In these cases, a victim would have a product liability claim against either the manufacturer of the defective part or product or the vendor that sold the product.
California laws and court decisions outline quite clearly that any entity that designs, manufactures, or sells a defective or faulty product is strictly liable for any injuries that result. Strict liability means that a victim does not need to prove negligence on the part of the manufacturer. Examples of manufacturing defects in products resulting in roofing accidents include defective ladders, cranes, cables, roofing materials, harnesses, or ropes intended to secure a worker to the roof.
Other Employers
On many roofing jobs, several different contractors work in the same area on a project. If another worker from a different company causes your injuries, you may have the legal right to pursue a claim against the other employer under the doctrine of respondeat superior. This doctrine gives the victim the right to sue an employer for the actions of their employees.
Making decisions regarding liability and legal responsibility following a roofing accident can prove challenging due to their complexity. Additionally, deciding what type of lawsuit to file and how to proceed can feel overwhelming for a victim of a roofing accident.
If you suffered injuries or losses related to a roofing accident, you might want to learn how a Los Angeles roofing accident lawyer can help you determine your options. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free case review from a team member.
For a free legal consultation with a Roofing Accidents Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 529-9122
Compensation for Roofing Accidents
If you suffered injuries related to someone else’s negligence in a roofing accident, you likely have accrued medical bills, pain and suffering, and a loss of income due to your inability to return to work. Some of the damages for which you can receive compensation following a roofing accident include:
- Medical treatments
- Diagnostic tests
- Hospitalizations
- Doctor’s visits
- Medications
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income, if applicable
- Pain and suffering
Wrongful Death
In some cases, a catastrophic roofing accident ends up causing fatalities. If your loved one died because of someone else’s negligence in a roofing accident, you have the right to seek justice and compensation for damages such as
- Funeral costs
- Medical expenses of your loved one
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
CIV § 335.1 sets a two-year time limit from the date of the death of their loved one for families to file a wrongful death claim.
Los Angeles Roofing Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 529-9122
Consider How a Los Angeles Roofing Accident Lawyer Can Help You
If you or someone you love suffered injuries or died from their injuries related to a roofing accident, a Los Angeles roofing accident lawyer can help you understand your legal rights. They can help you determine which party has liability and responsibility for your injuries and explain your legal options to receive compensation for your losses. Call the legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 529-9122 today for a free case review.
Call or text (800) 529-9122 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form