Common Severe Injuries from Scaffolding and Ladder Accidents
Construction workers regularly work on scaffolding and ladders, which comes with the risk of serious accidents. Ladder and scaffolding accidents can lead to serious and life-changing injuries, and the following are only four of the many injuries that may result from this type of construction accident.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
When a worker falls from a high place, they can often suffer head trauma. Similarly, if scaffolding collapses, equipment and other items may crash down onto a worker’s head below. Head trauma often results in a traumatic brain injury, which always requires immediate medical attention.
There are different degrees of TBIs, and the symptoms and effects of this type of injury can vary significantly from patient to patient. Some possible long-term effects of a brain injury include:
● Cognitive processing impairments
● Communication issues
● Slurred speech
● Sensory problems
● Trouble with balance and coordination
● Difficulty with emotional control and judgment
A TBI can keep someone out of work for an extended period of time and can require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
When you fall, it is common to suffer trauma to the neck or back. Sometimes, such trauma will damage the spinal cord, which is essential for movement and other functioning. A spinal cord injury can cut off the communication between your brain and body, which can result in permanent paralysis. People with spinal cord injuries often need ongoing medical care, prosthetics, other types of medical equipment, home assistance, and more. Further, paralysis can prevent you from returning to work in construction or other physical jobs. The lifetime costs of a paralyzing spinal cord injury can easily rise into the multi-millions.
Crush Injuries
Often, a scaffolding collapse can cause large boards and other materials to land on workers below. People can become trapped and might have a limb crushed by the weight of the fall. When the bones in an arm or leg are completely crushed or shattered, there may be little a doctor can do to repair the damage. Sometimes, a crush injury will require surgical amputation.
Losing the use of a limb is life-altering. Amputated limbs require ongoing medical care and rehabilitation, and victims will need to relearn how to complete even basic tasks. Though there have been extraordinary advancements with prosthetics, they are costly and need to be regularly replaced. A crush injury can result in devastating financial and intangible losses.
Broken Bones
Many of us have fractured bones in our lives and, sometimes, the recovery process is straightforward. A minor broken bone will require you to refrain from using that body part for weeks or months, which can mean you will be out of work. You will also still need diagnostic tests, a cast or a brace, follow up appointments, and other medical treatment.
Broken bones can also be more complex and severe. For example, if a bone has multiple fractures, a surgeon will need to piece the fragments together and insert hardware, such as plates, screws, or pins. There may need to be a later surgery to remove the hardware, or you may need to live with it for the rest of your life. A compound fracture, in which the broken bone pierces the skin, always requires surgery to prevent infection and properly set the bone. In short, a broken bone from a fall can require costly treatment and long recovery time.
Contact a New York City Construction and Scaffolding Accident Lawyer
After a ladder or scaffolding accident, workers with severe injuries have important rights. You should always get the treatment you need and then, consult with a New York scaffolding accident attorney as soon as possible. Call Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman, P.C. at 917-268-0344 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
