Decks, porches, and patios are a big part of Florida life. In Hollywood and surrounding areas, many private homes, public spaces, restaurants, and businesses have these structures to better enjoy the warm weather.
The problem is that when these structures collapse, they can cause people to fall from heights and sustain serious, even life-threatening injuries. If you are injured because of an unsafe deck, patio, porch, or balcony, call Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626 to talk to a Hollywood premises liability attorney to find out whether you may have a claim.
What Causes Hollywood Deck Collapses?
Deck collapses can happen for many reasons:
- The deck may be poorly constructed, without adequate supports.
- Unsafe deck management can cause people to fall or be pushed from the deck.
- People and businesses may fail to obey weight limits, leading to collapse.
- Handrails and railings may be incorrectly installed, leading to falls.
- Decks may be incorrectly maintained, leading to wood rot and other issues that contribute to collapse.
- Children may be incorrectly supervised, causing them to take risks that lead to falls.
What Kind of Injuries Are Common?
No matter why a deck collapses, the injuries can be serious. Common injuries can include:
- Fractures
- Paralysis and spinal cord injury
- Head trauma
- Soft tissue injury
- Fatalities
- Facial injuries
Getting Compensation
If you have been injured by a deck collapsing under you, the event can be lifechanging. One issue that happens in these situations is that everything and everyone on the deck collapses with you, meaning you can be further injured on the way down as you crash into people, objects, and building materials. The fall from heights alone can also cause catastrophic injuries.
After this type of incident, you may not be able to return to work and you may have serious hospital and rehabilitation bills to contemplate. The recovery process can be long and can be costly. A permanent head injury or spinal cord injury, for example, can cost millions of dollars in care over a lifetime.
Not having enough resources after this type of injury may be devastating. You may struggle to pay living costs without a job, and you may struggle to pay for the care you need.
Fortunately, Florida law does have a provision to allow you to seek financial recovery. Under Florida law, you can seek compensation from any liable party. For example, if a homeowner or restaurant failed to properly install or maintain a porch and you are injured, you may have a claim. If a railing was broken but no sign was posted and you were injured, you may have a claim. In these and other situations, you may be able to seek compensation for your lost wages, your current and expected future medical costs, and other losses.
Seeking fair compensation after a porch or deck injury is often the difference between having the resources to care for your injuries and being left in a very difficult situation. For this reason, if you have been injured, call Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626. We can schedule a free accident consultation with a premises liability attorney so you can find out whether you’re covered by a homeowners’ policy, business insurance, or whether you have a claim you can pursue.