It’s summer time so the weather is conducive to yard work and general home improvement. Many people plan to utilize a ladder to clean gutters, roofs, etc. but be cautious – ladder defects are not unusual.
A recent report found roughly 225,000 accidents happen each year that are directly related to ladder use, according to greathomeimprovements.com.
As an injury lawyer who’s represented clients injured by ladder defects I understand the dangers of ladder use and what can go wrong.
Before you dust off the ladder in the garage and start using it, follow these basic guidelines – from scif.com – to help ensure the ladder is fit for use…
· Look for loose steps and rungs. The rungs should be sturdy, clean, and not slippery from grease or oil.
· The upright ladder legs should be strong and devoid of cracks, splits, and bent edges.
· The ladder’s braces should be sturdy.
· Nails, screws, bolts or other fasteners should be tight.
· The ladder feet should be examined and the non-slip base should be in good repair.
Here’s a video talking about ladder safety…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdqL0AMM8Zw
However, many ladder injuries aren’t due to misuse but defect. For example, the Werner Ladder 356 series was the subject to controversy, and numerous lawsuits, due to the left front leg buckling and falling down.
If you’ve used a ladder and been injured, I strongly recommend you speak with an attorney. The companies which produce these ladders have a responsibility to make sure they’re manufactured properly.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.
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