When a building collapses in Philadelphia, PA, it can result in catastrophic injuries or even death. If you or a close family member have suffered due to a building collapse, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The majority of building collapses are preventable and are often due to defects in the design of the building itself. If you are a victim of a building collapse injury, the negligent parties should pay.
At Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers, our Philadelphia construction accident lawyers have the experience and skill to handle personal injury cases such as these. We understand this is a tough time and you are dealing with a great deal of pain and suffering, as well as hefty financial obligations. Trying to determine how to bring a lawsuit against those responsible for your injury should be the least of your worries.
Luckily, you do not have to figure that out on your own. Contact our office or call (215) 875-7030 for your free consultation.
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How a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After a Building Collapse Accident
If you are a victim of a building collapse in Philadelphia, Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers, is prepared to help you manage this difficult situation. Our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys have decades of combined experience fighting on behalf of injured workers across the city. We know what to expect and how to bring you the best result possible.
Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers is a well-established and well-respected law firm in the Philadelphia area. We have years of experience dealing with a multitude of personal injury cases. When you hire us, you get a skilled team fighting aggressively on your behalf. Here are just a few of the services you can expect from us:
- Your initial consultation with us is completely free; in fact, you pay nothing unless we win
- Your case is always reviewed and negotiated by a qualified attorney
- We study your case thoroughly to understand the nuances and identify options
- You have access to our staff at any time, 24/7
- We can assist with medical arrangements and doctor recommendations
- We contact the other parties involved within 24 hours
Contact us today to speak with an attorney at no charge to you. We can get started on your case immediately.
Building Collapse in the United States
Building collapse injuries can be devastating, causing brain injuries, paralysis, and in some cases, death. There are a number of factors that can contribute to the collapse of a structure. Some of these include:
- Improper building materials
- Defects in the engineering or architectural design of the building
- Defects in the foundation
- Inadequate maintenance of the structure
- Improperly performed building inspections
- Water or fire damage
If you were inside a building that collapsed for any of the above reasons, you may be entitled to compensation if there was negligence on the part of the owner of the structure, the architect, or the engineer.
Failure to maintain a sound and well-designed building that keeps occupants and visitors safe is unacceptable and puts everyone at risk. When you contact our Philadelphia law firm for your free consultation, we will investigate your case thoroughly to determine exactly what caused the structure to fail so we know exactly who should pay for your suffering.
Types of Building Collapses
There are three main kinds of building collapses. The first is a collapse that occurs during the actual construction of the building. In this case, the most at-risk people for injury are the construction workers inside the building or on scaffolding surrounding the structure.
The second kind of building collapse is a collapse of an already existing structure. In the case of a collapse like this, the most at-risk people for injury are of course the people inside the building. These could be office workers, customers, or residents in the case of a residential building collapse.
The third type of building collapse is the collapse of a secondary structure adjacent to a building that has already collapsed. In this case, the most at-risk people for injury are those inside the main building that has collapsed, as well as anyone inside the secondary structure.
Understanding the type of building collapse you experienced can help in gathering evidence of negligence for your case.
What Are The Indicators Of A Building Collapse?
There are several building collapse indicators that can help us to better determine the exact nature of the collapse. By understanding these indicators, we can more accurately determine whether or not negligence was involved in the structure’s failure. Some of the most common indicators include:
- Prior fire damage
- Large amounts of snow/water on the roof
- Cracking noises coming from inside the building
- Sagging or sunken wooden floors
- Floors and stairs that are off-level
- Large sheets of plaster falling off the wall
If you were in a structure that collapsed, and any of the above indicators were present, it is important to share those indicators with us so we are well-informed as we proceed with your case.
If you have any documentation regarding these indicators, please bring them with you to your initial consultation so we can review them thoroughly. The documents and industry jargon can be complicated and confusing. Remember you are not in this alone, and that we are here to go through all this with you.
Building Collapse Injuries
The personal injury lawyers at Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers are familiar with the typical bodily injuries that occur due to negligence. We can help you fight to recover compensation for any of the following injuries:
- Loss of limbs
- Bone fractures
- Back injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Burns
- Compression of chest
- Suffocation
- Skull fractures
- Spinal and neck injury
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
Going through such a disastrous event can be life-changing and incredibly traumatic in ways that are unimaginable. Those whose negligence caused this to happen to you should be held accountable for the pain inflicted on victims like you. In addition to physical injuries like the above, you may undergo emotional and mental anguish for the rest of your life.
You should not have to live with all this pain and suffering because of a preventable building collapse caused by recklessness and negligence.
What Compensation Can I Expect After A Building Collapse Injury In Philadelphia?
Just as the facts surrounding different building collapses are different, so too are the compensation packages you may be able to get from a successful lawsuit. Because of this, it can be difficult to accurately determine what compensation you can expect without thoroughly reviewing the details of your case. Much of your compensation is going to depend on the severity and impact of your injury, as well as the magnitude of the negligence involved in the collapse of the building.
You may be entitled to economic damages, which pertains to financial losses associated with your personal injury:
- Wages lost due to inability to work
- Medical bills
- Disability or other medical equipment
- Damage to personal property
You may also be entitled to non-economic damages, which relate to the impact the injury has had on your life in general. These impacts are usually difficult to assign a dollar value:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional and mental anguish
- Physical deformity
- Loss of consortium
Another factor that could affect the amount of compensation you could receive is the issue of who was more negligent. Pennsylvania has adopted modified comparative negligence rules that bar you from recovering compensation if you were greater than 50% liable for your injury. Apportionment of the blame can be complicated. Having a highly capable lawyer to help prove who was more negligent can make all the difference in the amount of financial recovery you may be awarded.
Statute of Limitations For Philadelphia Building Collapse Cases
If you have experienced a personal injury in Philadelphia due to a building collapse, it is highly important that you move quickly in hiring an attorney. You only have a limited amount of time in which to file a lawsuit against the negligent parties. The reasoning is that you should bring a claim while evidence is relatively preserved, including the memories of witnesses and other parties involved.
For personal injury cases in the state of Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations is two years from the time of the accident. After this period of time, it is no longer possible to file a personal injury claim. This is all the more reason you should call our law offices as soon as possible to get your claim started.
Contact Our Construction Accident Lawyers in Philadelphia Today
Our team of personal injury lawyers at Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to provide you with world-class representation. When you hire our Philadelphia law firm, you know that you will be in good hands. Give our office a call today or reach out to us online. As always, your initial consultation will always be free.
