The United States Department of Labor, Occupations Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has very specific guidelines for workers who handle roofing projects in the guidelines articulated in OSHA Publication 3755-05 2015 “Protecting Roofing Workers.”
However, many contractors and employees fail to follow these OSHA guidelines resulting in fatalities and injuries, according to a Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) Data Center study published in the Journal of Safety Research.
If you suffered injuries due to a roofing accident, and someone did not follow OSHA’s guidelines, contact our team to learn how a Los Angeles failure to follow OSHA guidelines lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 529-9122 can help you understand how you can ensure your legal rights remain protected.
OSHA Guidelines
Any contractor or company that works on roofs has a responsibility to follow OSHA Guidelines. These guidelines cover everything regarding work on a roofing project, including the following:
- Fall protection requirements
- Warning lines and safety monitors
- Scaffolding
- Lifts
- Debris disposal
- Electrical safety
- Older buildings
- Hazardous substances
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Emergency services
- Weather conditions
- Ladder safety standards
All workers and contractors must follow these OSHA guidelines or face penalties or responsibility if an accident occurs.
Determining Liability in Roofing Accidents
The most important aspect regarding receiving compensation for a victim’s injuries and losses is making the determination of who is actually liable and responsible for those injuries. While many workers believe that their only option is to file a workers’ compensation claim, in many cases, that may limit the worker’s ability to get the amount of compensation they deserve, depending on the facts and circumstances of their accident in the workplace.
If you fell off of a roof or had an injury in an accident on a roof, you likely suffered serious injuries related to that accident which resulted in substantial medical bills, pain and suffering, and the inability to return to work due to your serious medical issues resulting from that accident.
Consider whether or not any other party, any other employee from another company, or a property owner behaved in any negligent, reckless, or careless way that led to your injuries. In some cases, a product such as a harness or a strap breaks, causing a worker to fall. These cases could be considered product liability cases, and a victim has the legal right to pursue compensation from the manufacturer of the defective or flawed product placed in the stream of commerce.
Again, while every case is different, consider whether any of the following entities may have a legal responsibility and legal liability with respect to your injuries resulting from your roofing accident:
- Roofing companies (separate and independent from your employer)
- Property owner
- Renter or tenants
- Any individual party that acts with negligence, recklessness, or carelessness
- Contractor and subcontractors
- Independent contractors
- Government agency
- Manufacturer of defective parts or components
For a free legal consultation with a Failure to Follow OSHA Guidelines Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 529-9122
Obtaining Compensation for Roofing Accidents
If you suffered injuries after any kind of accident on a roof, or from a fall from a roof, you likely experienced substantial medical bills, pain and suffering, and perhaps the inability to return to work due to those injuries, resulting in lost wages. Some of the types of compensation a victim of a roofing accident may receive in a personal injury, premises liability, or product liability case, may include the following:
Medical Expenses
If you are a victim of someone else’s negligence, you may have the legal right to receive compensation for all your medical expenses related to your injuries. Some of these medical expenses may include emergency room visits, ambulance transportation, medical treatments, surgeries, hospitalizations, medications, doctor visits, physical or emotional therapy, or even medical devices such as wheelchairs or walkers.
Lost Wages
If you are unable to return to work, you may have lost wages, which you can claim as part of your compensation in your case. Lost wages are not only the actual salary or wages you earn but also any employee benefits, employer contributions to pension or retirement plans, possible loss of promotional opportunities, bonuses, overtime wages, or even transportation costs.
If you took any vacation or sick leave as a result of your injury, you have the legal right to pursue compensation for that as well.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering can create challenges because it is not an actual tangible amount of money that can have documentation from bills or receipts.
However, there are calculations available to attempt to determine the value of the pain and suffering any person endured due to injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. You may feel overwhelmed at the prospect of attempting to negotiate with adversarial and manipulative insurance companies in order to attempt to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Consider calling a member of our team to learn how a Los Angeles failure to follow OSHA guidelines lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you calculate what amount of pain and suffering damages you may have the legal right to receive in your unique case.
Los Angeles Failure to Follow OSHA Guidelines Lawyer Near Me (800) 529-9122
Consider How We Can Help You Today
If you or someone you love suffered injuries or died as a result of their roofing accident, learn how a Los Angeles failure to follow OSHA guidelines lawyer can help you understand your legal rights, and also help you with your next steps.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss how to determine which party has liability and responsibility for your injuries, and how you may have the legal right to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Consider contacting calling Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 529-9122 today.
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