A woman was rushed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on Monday after she fell at least 15 feet from a second-floor balcony while watching the Boston Marathon. Authorities say that the railing broke, which caused the Newton, Massachusetts balcony fall accident.
Massachusetts Balcony Falls
Unfortunately, falls from balconies are not uncommon-especially in urban areas in the United States. According to data analyzed in 2009 from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 1990 through 2006 there were about 86,500 balcony fall injuries that required hospital attention. Fall heights varied from as low as 5 feet to up to nearly 88 feet. Structural failure was a factor in about 5,600 cases.
At Altman & Altman, LLP, Boston balcony accident lawyers represent victims and their families with Massachusetts premises liability claims against property owners, as well as against other parties that may have played a role in allowing the balcony incident to happen.
Balcony falls can lead to serious injuries and death. Common causes may include structural issues, rail defects, undetected rot (if the balconies are made of wood), rusted or weakened bolts, inadequate railing (for example: a rail that isn’t high enough to protect children from falling), and building code violations.
Balcony falls can also happen if the structure becomes overcrowded or if drinking is involved and the host or premise owner failed to provide proper supervision. A physical altercations on balconies may also lead to a fall, which could be grounds not just for a Boston personal injury case but also criminal charges (even if the accident was caused unintentionally).
Examples of common balcony injuries: head trauma, traumatic brain injury, broken bones, and spinal cord injury. Recovery may take a long time and there may be permanent injuries and disabilities requiring not only costly medical attention but also long-term professional care.
Spectator injured when balcony railing gives way, The Boston Globe, April 21, 2014
Epidemiology of balcony fall-related injuries, United States, 1990-2006., PubMed.gov, February 9, 2011
More Blog Posts:
Experts Warn Many Backyard Decks can Collapse, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 4, 2014
OSHA Announces National Events for Fall Prevention in Construction, Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Blog, March 31, 2014
Harsh Winters Up the Risks of Massachusetts Slip and Fall Accidents, Fractures, and Not Just For The Elderly, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, February 18, 2014
You want to make sure that your Boston Balcony and deck accident lawyer is someone who knows how to recover damages from all liable parties on your behalf. Do NOT agree to settle without talking to a Massachusetts premises liability law firm first.