Roofers have the second-highest death rate among all civilian occupations, with 124 fatal injuries occurring in the industry in 2022. Unsurprisingly, working at high elevations and unprotected from the elements will inevitably carry a greater risk of fatalities or serious injuries.
If you or your loved one is among the many victims of a roofing accident, you should understand your rights and take steps to pursue a claim for compensation. Anderson Blanda & Saltzman can help.
Our compassionate and knowledgeable legal team of Lafayette personal injury attorneys have represented over 10,000 injured clients. We know the ins and outs of both workplace accident claims and personal injury claims.
Give us a call today at (337) 233-3366 to schedule a free consultation with a Lafayette roofing accident attorney to learn more about how we can fight for you.
Types of Roofing Accidents
Much can go wrong while working on a roof. Roofers face serious risks while working, including:
- Falls from high elevations
- Falling objects
- Accidents with tools and equipment
- Heat exposure
- Electrocution
In many cases, these accidents can be prevented if proper safety protocol is followed. Unfortunately, this isn’t always what occurs, and workers harmed by a roofing accident are the ones who pay the price. Louisiana law protects roofers who are harmed, often making it possible for them to receive compensation or benefits.
Compensation for Roofing Accidents
Many roofing accidents occur while on the job. In these situations, workers are typically not allowed to pursue a personal injury claim against an employer. Instead, they must make a claim under Louisiana workers’ compensation law.
Under workers’ compensation laws, injured roofers may be eligible for:
- Coverage for their medical bills
- Temporary partial or total disability benefits
- Permanent partial or total disability benefits
If a roofer is killed because of a workplace incident, surviving family members may also be able to make a wrongful death claim through workers’ compensation.
Unfortunately, certain types of compensation normally available in a personal injury claim—including payment for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship—are not available when an injured worker or their loved ones recover for their losses through a workers’ compensation claim.
The good news is that there is no requirement that an injured roofer or their surviving family members prove the negligence of their employer caused the harm they endured. While most personal injury claims require a victim to show the defendant was unreasonably careless, this is not true of work injury claims. Workers’ compensation benefits are available as long as the injury or fatality was job-related, even if an employer did nothing wrong.
Anderson Blanda & Saltzman can provide help to injured roofers in making a work injury claim and getting these benefits. Employers and insurers sometimes deny claims without justification or try to pay less benefits than they should. An experienced attorney can help ensure that insurance companies pay all the benefits you deserve.
Our firm will also help you to identify whether there are any defendants against whom you could pursue a personal injury claim. If faulty equipment played a role, for example, we can help you to hold the manufacturer responsible so you can recover additional damages.
Get Compassionate Legal Support for Roofing Accident Injuries in Lafayette
When you need a Lafayette roofing accident attorney you can trust, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (337) 233-3366. Your consultation is free, and we won’t charge legal fees if we don’t recover compensation for you, so you have nothing to lose by getting a trusted advocate to fight for you.