If you were on someone else’s property or in a rental unit in San Antonio when the roof or ceiling collapsed – leaving you with serious injuries – it is important to speak to a personal injury attorney in San Antonio about your rights. You may be able to hold someone responsible for this disaster. If so, you can recover financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
Common Causes of Roof and Ceiling Collapses in Texas
When a roof or ceiling collapses, it is often a sign of a serious structural problem on the premises. These incidents frequently result from negligence, or the failure of a party to act with an appropriate amount of care.
Common causes include:
- Poor building construction
- Roof or ceiling design flaws
- Structural weaknesses
- Violated building codes
- Low-quality construction materials
- A lack of necessary property maintenance
- Ignored safety issues
- Damage from water or pests
- Misuse of the property
- Natural disasters
Property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their premises with frequent inspections and good-quality repairs. If an owner fails in this regard, and this contributes to a roof or ceiling collapse, he or she could be held liable (legally responsible) for related injuries or deaths.
Injuries From Roof and Ceiling Collapses
When a roof or ceiling caves in, debris can fall onto the people below, causing struck-by injuries such as head and traumatic brain injuries. Victims may get crushed by ceiling beams and building materials, resulting in harm such as broken bones, back and spinal cord injuries, soft-tissue damage, lacerations, and internal injuries.
In addition, these incidents can result in clouds of dust and potential asbestos exposure, creating a risk of respiratory problems and serious illnesses. Sadly, many structural collapse incidents are fatal, resulting in wrongful deaths.
If you get injured because of a roof or ceiling collapse in San Antonio, you may have the right to hold one or more parties liable for your losses. You could be eligible for financial compensation for past and future damages, including your medical expenses and lost wages. You or your personal injury attorney will have to prove that the defendant(s) named caused your injuries.
Potential defendants include:
- Property owner or controller
- Landlord or property manager
- Engineer or architect
- Construction company
- Contractor or supplier
- Product manufacturer
- Building maintenance company
In many roof collapse cases, negligent property owners are held responsible through premises liability claims. This type of case requires the victim to prove that the owner had a duty to maintain a safe property, carelessly failed to meet this duty of care and that this caused the injury in question.
An Attorney Can Help You Seek Fair Financial Compensation
Proving liability in a roof or ceiling collapse case requires compelling evidence. As an injured victim, you have the right to hire an attorney to help you meet this burden of proof. An attorney can investigate the accident, collect evidence, name the defendant(s), hire experts and negotiate a fair settlement from an insurance company for you. An attorney also gives you the opportunity to take your case to court in San Antonio, if necessary, though most cases reach settlements.
If you need to discuss a particular roof or ceiling collapse case with a local attorney, contact Hill Law Firm Accident and Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.