Ladder accidents are surprisingly common, with many of them happening on the job. They can also be severe. Over 100 people die from ladder accidents every year. Many more are hurt. If you were not responsible for the accident, you can recover compensation. You may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if it happened on the job.
Ways a ladder accident can happen
Ladder accidents can happen in a variety of ways. The personal injury lawyers at our law firm have found that 6 of the most common are:
- not setting up the ladder on firm and level ground,
- missing the bottom rung,
- overreaching from the top of the ladder,
- using the wrong type of ladder for the job,
- the ladder was worn, damaged, or broken, and
- setting an extension ladder up at the incorrect angle.
1. Not on firm, level ground
Probably the leading cause of ladder-related injuries is putting the ladder on ground that is not level or steady. If the ground supporting the ladder is uneven or can shift under your weight on the ladder, the ladder can tilt and you can lose your balance and fall.
These accidents are often the result of hurrying to complete a job. Properly setting up a ladder on an incline or soft or rocky ground can take time. Many people want to get the job done quickly and take risks in setting up their ladder.
2. Missing the bottom rung
Missing the bottom rung while descending the ladder is a surprisingly common cause of a ladder accident. If you expect to step back onto the ground, but there is still a rung to go, you will likely lose your balance and fall backwards.
These falls can be startlingly severe. You can hit your head hard enough that you suffer a brain injury. If there are objects on the ground behind you, you can trip on them. If you are still holding on to the ladder as you fall backwards, you could pull the ladder down on top of you.
3. Overreaching
Overreaching from the top of the ladder can quickly cause a ladder accident. This often happens if you decide to reach for an area rather than move the ladder underneath it.
These accidents can be severe if you are at the top of a tall ladder. The fall can be from 20 feet or more.
4. Using the wrong type of ladder
Many ladder accidents are the result of using the wrong type of ladder. The 2 most common ways this can happen is when you use a ladder that:
- is too short for your job, or
- has weight limitations.
Using a ladder that is too short often leads to you overreaching from the top. For example, this can happen if you use a step ladder for a job that calls for an extension ladder. This ladder selection can put you at risk. It can also make the job more difficult.
Before using a ladder, always checks its weight limitations. Exceeding them can put you at risk of breaking the ladder.
5. Damaged ladder
A worn, damaged, broken, or defective ladder can break while you are on it. You should always inspect a ladder before using it. Some defects can be impossible to notice, though. In these cases, you may have a products liability claim.
6. Incorrect angle on an extension ladder
Extension ladders do not support themselves, like a step ladder does. Instead, extension ladders lean up against something, usually a building. They are safest when they lean at an angle of about 70 degrees. Leaning it at a higher angle can lead to you losing your balance and falling backward. Leaning it at a lower angle can lead to you losing your balance and falling forward.
Common injuries from a ladder fall
The personal injury attorneys at our law firm have found that some of the most common and serious injuries from ladder accidents are:
- broken or fractured feet,
- broken leg,
- broken or fractured hip,
- head injuries, including a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI),
- whiplash,
- neck injuries,
- back injuries, including serious spinal cord injuries,
- hand, wrist, or arm injuries, typically from trying to break the fall,
- other broken bones,
- bruises,
- strains or sprains, and
- lacerations or cuts.
Many of these ladder-related injuries require an emergency room visit and extensive medical treatment. If you were not responsible for the accident, you can file a personal injury lawsuit and recover compensation for your losses. Some ladder accidents are fatalities, which can lead to a wrongful death claim.
Many of these are workplace injuries, particularly on construction sites. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
“In 2020, there were 161 fatal work injuries from which ladders were the primary source… There were 22,710 injuries where the primary source of the injury was a ladder in 2020.”[1]
If your ladder accident happened on the job, you can file for workers’ compensation.
14 ladder safety tips
Preventing a ladder accident is very important. 14 safety tips for using a ladder are:
- always follow user instructions and safe use training guidelines,
- do not put a ladder in front of a door that is not locked or guarded,
- test the stability of a ladder by rocking your weight from side to side while on the bottom rung,
- do not use a ladder in windy conditions,
- note where any power lines are in order to avoid an electrocution,
- do not sit on any of the rungs,
- your ladder use should only be for its intended purpose, as other uses, like as a shelf or bridge, can compromise the ladder’s strength,
- do not stand on the top rung of a step ladder,
- when setting up an extension ladder, find the right angle using either the stand and reach method (with your toes against the side rails, you should be able to put your palm on the rung closest to your shoulder level) or the 4-to-1 rule (the height you will climb should be 4 times the distance between the bottom of the ladder and the wall that it will lean on),
- always follow the “3 points of contact” rule, which requires you to have 3 of your hands or feet touching the ladder or the wall it leans on, in order to avoid overreaching,
- keep your weight centered between the rails of the ladder,
- do not paint a wooden ladder, as this can cover cracks or other damage that could compromise its strength,
- always inspect the ladder rungs before use, and
- when assessing a ladder’s weight limits and duty ratings, be sure to add the weight of anything you will be carrying to your own weight.
By following these and other safety practices, you can reduce the odds that you suffer any ladder fall injuries.
Legal Citations:
[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Fatal injuries from ladders down in 2020; nonfatal ladder injuries were essentially unchanged,” The Economics Daily (April 25, 2022).
