Injuries From Falling Objects
Overview
Just like a slip and fall, falling object accidents are part of the larger area of law called premises liability. In West Virginia, property owners are required to keep their premises safe for everyone who visits, whether they’re customers, vendors, or employees. Homeowners are also required to keep their premises safe for visitors, including family members.
WHERE THEY CAN HAPPEN
These accidents can happen anywhere but frequently on job sites. The higher the point of drop, the more velocity of the fall, and the higher the chance of serious injuries. Even small objects can seriously injure and even kill a person if dropped high enough.
Some examples of how these kinds of accidents happen include:
- Light fixtures that fall from the ceiling
- Pictures, shelves, or other fixtures that fall from a wall
- Broken branches and other storm-related debris
- Incorrectly stacked objects falling from high shelves in stores, especially in places like Sam’s Club and Home Depot
- Falling ice from buildings in winter
- Improperly stacked or loaded cargo in a big truck, trailer, or inside a shipping container that can fall and injure a worker
- Other items that fall or are dropped or tossed from a building, balcony, or freeway overpass
- Spaces underneath lifting operations
- Tools, supplies, and other items falling at a construction or demolition site
Property owners in West Virginia are responsible for all maintenance and cleanup that would prevent injury of someone on their property by something falling. They have a duty of care to inspect their property, remedy any hazards, or post warnings so they can be seen and avoided.
Property owners are required to provide a reasonably safe place for employees to work and maintain safe conditions in a workplace. A worker injured on the job by a falling object may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation and should notify their company to file a claim. However, workers are not the only ones who can experience injuries from falling objects.
RESULTING INJURIES FROM FALLING OBJECTS
Even with hazard warnings, it may still be difficult to duck out of the way of something. Falling objects can cause a variety of serious injuries. The most common injuries are:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) including concussions
- Other head injuries, such as skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crush injuries, including extremities and limbs
Depending on where the accident happened, there could be multiple parties responsible for your injuries. Besides the property owner, the responsibility could also be from:
- Employers or employees on the premises
- Renters
- Other visitors on the premises
- A construction company or its workers and subcontractors
- Anyone responsible for securing objects and preventing them from falling or otherwise injuring a person on the premises
Multiple parties may be responsible for your injuries instead of just one.
West Virginia’s statute of limitations is just two years from the date of the accident. That’s why it’s vital to begin working with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
The Love Law Firm Can Help With Your Personal Injury Case
We’ve been helping West Virginians for over 25 years with all types of personal injuries. Auto accidents, slip and falls, and other personal injury cases like falling objects can be handled by our firm for you.
If you’ve been injured in a Charleston accident and need help, contact us at The Love Law Firm or call us at (304) 344 5683. Your consultation is free, and we only collect if we win your case.
Phone:
(304) 344-5683
