Practice Areas Workers’ Compensation Common Work Injuries Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation for Falls From Heights

Falls from heights are among the most serious workplace accidents in Pennsylvania. Workers who fall from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, platforms, or elevated work areas often suffer catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long-term recovery.

At Stern & Cohen, we help injured Pennsylvania workers pursue workers’ compensation benefits after falls from heights and serious workplace accidents. If you were injured in a fall while working, our attorneys are ready to help.

Common Causes of Falls From Heights

Falls from heights can happen in many different work environments, especially in physically demanding industries involving elevated work surfaces or heavy equipment.

Common causes of workplace falls from heights include:

  • Falls from ladders
  • Scaffolding accidents
  • Roof falls
  • Falls from platforms or loading docks
  • Unsafe work surfaces
  • Slippery or unstable conditions
  • Missing guardrails or fall protection
  • Faulty safety equipment
  • Construction site accidents
  • Inadequate training or supervision

Workers in construction, roofing, warehousing, manufacturing, maintenance, and industrial jobs may face an increased risk of serious fall injuries.

Types of Injuries We Commonly See

Falls from heights can cause life-changing injuries involving the head, spine, bones, joints, and internal organs.

Common fall-related injuries include:

Symptoms may include:

  • Chronic pain
  • Limited mobility
  • Weakness or numbness
  • Difficulty walking or lifting
  • Headaches or dizziness
  • Long-term physical limitations

These injuries can interfere with a worker’s ability to safely return to physically demanding work.

Construction Site and Scaffolding Falls

Many falls from heights occur on construction sites involving scaffolding, ladders, roofs, cranes, or elevated work platforms.

Construction workers may suffer serious injuries caused by:

  • Defective scaffolding
  • Unsafe ladders
  • Lack of fall protection systems
  • Falling debris or equipment
  • Unsecured work surfaces
  • OSHA safety violations

These accidents often involve severe orthopedic injuries, spinal damage, or traumatic brain injuries.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Falls From Heights

If you were injured in a fall from heights while working, you may qualify for Pennsylvania workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who caused the accident.

Workers’ compensation benefits may cover:

  • Emergency medical treatment
  • Surgery and hospital bills
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Ongoing medical care
  • Wage-loss benefits during recovery
  • Compensation related to permanent impairment in severe cases

Insurance companies sometimes attempt to minimize injuries or pressure workers to return before they are fully healed. Our attorneys are experienced in handling serious fall injury claims involving catastrophic workplace accidents.

Third-Party Claims After a Fall From Heights

Some workplace falls from heights may involve third-party negligence in addition to a workers’ compensation claim.

For example, third-party claims may arise from:

  • Negligent subcontractors
  • Defective safety equipment
  • Unsafe property conditions
  • OSHA violations
  • Careless equipment operators

While workers’ compensation benefits generally cover medical treatment and wage loss regardless of fault, third-party claims may provide additional compensation in certain cases involving negligence.

Light Duty Work After a Fall Injury

After a serious fall injury, some workers may be released to return on light duty restrictions. These restrictions may limit climbing, lifting, standing, repetitive movement, or physical labor during recovery.

Workers should never feel pressured to return to duties that worsen their condition or violate medical restrictions. If appropriate modified work is unavailable, injured workers may still qualify for wage-loss benefits.

Let Stern & Cohen Help With Your Fall Injury Claim

At Stern & Cohen, we understand how devastating a serious fall from heights can be. Whether you suffered injuries from a ladder accident, scaffolding collapse, roof fall, or another elevated workplace accident, our experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys are ready to protect your rights and fight for the benefits you deserve.

If you were injured in a fall from heights while working, contact Stern & Cohen today for a free consultation.

Schedule a free & confidential consultation

Common Work Injuries

$190,000

FedEx Employee with Work-Related Neck Injury

We secured a $190,000 settlement for a FedEx employee who suffered a serious neck injury on the job. She required ongoing treatment, including injections, and was kept out of work while receiving total disability benefits.

$210,000

Carpenter/Foreman with Rotator Cuff Tear

We recovered $210,000 for a carpenter/foreman who stepped off a ladder, landed on equipment, and fell at work. He suffered a full tear of his dominant right rotator cuff.

$230,000

Union Carpenter – Scaffold Fall & CRPS

We recovered $230,000 for a union carpenter who fell from a six-foot scaffold while installing sheet rock and metal framing. He landed on his left hand and wrist and later developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

$230,000

Electrician with Knee, Hand, Wrist, and Back Injuries

We secured $230,000 for an electrician who tripped over a pipe at a Pennsylvania job site, injuring both knees, hands, wrists, and his back. His employer failed to properly document the incident, and the insurance company initially accepted only part of his injuries.