Balcony and deck collapses can be devastating. Victims suffer severe injuries or can die, depending on the height from which they fell. Who might be liable for injuries sustained after a balcony or deck collapse? Generally, property owners have an obligation to make sure that decks and balconies are well-built, maintained and hazard-free, but other entities may also be responsible. Here are some of the potential parties who can be held responsible:
- Property owner: The property owner is often responsible for injuries sustained on the property, if they knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn others. This includes landlords, private owners and commercial property owners, among others.
- Contractors or builders: If the collapse is due to faulty construction or improper installation, the contractors and builders involved may be held liable.
- Design professionals: If an architect or engineer failed to adhere to building codes or industry standards, they may share liability if their negligence contributed to a collapse.
- Maintenance companies: If the collapse occurred due to poor maintenance or failure to address known issues, the company responsible for maintaining the deck or balcony may be held liable.
- Manufacturers and suppliers: If the collapse resulted from a defect in any materials or components used in the construction, the manufacturers or suppliers may be held responsible.
Liability is determined based on the individual circumstances of each case, and may involve multiple parties. If you’ve been injured in a balcony or deck collapse, or a loved one was killed, it’s important to seek a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Call the experienced Sarasota, FL personal injury lawyers at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh today to explore your legal options.