Our Casselberry Skylight Fall Accidents Lawyers are Effective Negotiators

Skylights are popular in homes, office buildings, retail stores and other buildings because they add a feeling of spaciousness and provide natural sunlight. Unfortunately, however, they can also be potentially dangerous if they are not installed properly with adherence to standard safety procedures. When not properly installed and easily visible, they can lead to serious injury or even death for homeowners, anyone visiting a commercial establishment or construction workers.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a skylight fall, you may be entitled to recover monetary damages for your physical injuries and your pain, suffering, and other related losses. The Casselberry skylight fall attorneys at Warner & Warner are highly qualified, experienced personal injury attorneys committed to putting our knowledge, skills and resources to work for you. We will fight for your right to recover a fair monetary award for the injuries you suffered as well as to ensure that those responsible for your losses are held accountable.

Skylight Fall Injuries

While skylights can add ambiance and value to a residential home or commercial building, they also pose an inherent risk to anyone that is in the vicinity. In fact, a survey conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) covering seven states revealed that approximately 22 percent (14 of 64) of the fatal falls reported to state occupational safety and health officials occurred when workers fell through skylight openings or smoke-vent skylights (translucent plastic domes that serve as both skylights and automatic smoke vents in case of fire).

Moreover, statistics from the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate that in a single year (2010), 30 workers lost their lives falling through a skylight or opening in a roof. These figures only provide a small glimpse into the number of people who are injured each year in a skylight fall which makes the risks posed by skylights even more important to recognize.

Skylight Safety Rules and Regulations

Given the very real risk of life-threatening injury to workers and property owners posed by skylights, implementing safety measures is crucial. The good news is that there are several simple things employers and property owners can do to protect their vendors, visitors, and maintenance personnel to dramatically reduce the risk of a potentially deadly fall. In fact, the U.S. federal government considers the risks posed by skylights to be serious enough that specific rules and regulations have been enacted that are aimed at preventing skylight fall injuries.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has concluded that “a skylight should be regarded as a hatchway, i.e., an opening in the roof of a building through which persons may fall.” With that in mind, there are several important safety rules and regulations that apply to skylights, such as:

• Skylights in the roof of buildings through which persons may fall while walking or working must be guarded by a standard skylight screen or a fixed standard railing on all exposed sides, and all of this kind of guarding has to be installed before roofing work begins and remain in place until construction is completed (29 CFR 1910.23(a)(4).
• Various fall protection measures must be taken to prevent falls (29 CFR 1926.28(a).
• If guardrails or safety belts/harnesses are not practical, employers must provide alternative forms of protection against falls such as fixed covers, catch platforms, or safety nets, as described in 29 CFR 1926.105.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health also stresses the importance of training to help construction and maintenance workers identify potential skylight hazards, including the risk inherent in sitting or stepping on a skylight. In addition, those involved in the manufacture of skylights also have a legal obligation to adequately warn the public of dangers a skylight might pose.

Unfortunately, employers and property owners frequently ignore government rules and recommendations that apply to skylight safety and manufacturers fail to provide adequate warnings. Consequently, serious injuries and deaths have occurred because of skylight falls through improperly installed or maintained skylights and/or skylights that were not adequately marked.

What Financial Compensation Can People Injured in Casselberry Skylight Fall Accidents Receive?

The financial compensation available for victims of Casselberry skylight fall depends on the specific details of each case. However, Florida law provides for both economic and non-economic damages for people injured due to others’ negligence. These potential damages include:

• Medical and other healthcare expenses, both current and future
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Lost support and services
• Other damages recoverable under Florida law

Experienced Casselberry Skylight Fall Attorneys Are Committed to Helping You Achieve Justice

The Casselberry skylight falls lawyers at Warner & Warner have the experience, skills, and resources necessary to successfully represent victims of skylight falls, including the surviving family members of those who were killed in a skylight fall.

We are dedicated to zealously advocating for the rights of those who have suffered physical and psychological injuries due to someone else’s negligence. We will fight to ensure that the responsible party (or parties) is held accountable and that you are fully and fairly compensated for all the injuries you suffered.

The Casselberry skylight falls attorneys at Warner & Warner have the specialized experience and knowledge required to successfully prove and litigate lawsuits that stem from injuries caused by skylights that were improperly installed and/or not maintained safely according to federal rules and regulations. Call us at 321-972-1889 or contact us online to schedule a free case review.