Pennsylvania Building Collapse Accident Lawyers

We Have Recovered Over $110 Million for Our Clients

Few things are as frightening as when a building collapses without any warning at all, especially when the collapse results in severe injuries and deaths. Sometimes, these accidents injure people who were not even in the building at the time. That is exactly what happened in Berwick when a woman and her 17-year-old daughter were injured when debris from a building partially collapsed onto their vehicle. Luckily, in that instance and when it comes to any building collapse accident in Pennsylvania, the highly skilled lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC are here to provide legal representation and fight for rightful compensation on behalf of victims.

Our Pennsylvania building collapse accident lawyers are here to provide the personalized guidance and aggressive legal representation you need. We can determine how the building collapsed by conducting an exhaustive investigation. Often, these accidents are the result of defective building materials, poor construction, or unsafe building design. Regardless of how the accident occurred, our goal is to secure the full compensation you are owed so you can pay your medical bills, make up for lost wages, and handle other unexpected financial, physical, and emotional damages that resulted from the accident.

In our 20+ years in practice, we have successfully recovered more than $110 million for our clients. Find out how our Pennsylvania building collapse accident lawyers can help you with your case.

Call (877) 989-4878 or contact our office online for a free, confidential consultation. We are available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How Building Collapses Occur

In most instances, building collapses occur when a construction company has not eliminated the potential risk factors of a demolition or when the upkeep of a vacant building or commercial structure is poor. However, building collapses can also result from defective building design, construction, or maintenance, as well as from defective building materials and other factors. In Berwick, the building that had partially collapsed was vacant.

There are multiple parties that could be held accountable for failing to address the risk factors of a structure that has collapsed. These issues typically fall under premises liability or defective product law in Pennsylvania. An injured party may be able to file a suit against the building owner, the manufacturer of building materials, or the construction general contractor who is in charge.

When these accidents happen, is it usually because building codes and industry standards were completely disregarded. It is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure their building—whether it is still being built, is currently in use, or is vacant—is up to code.

There are a variety of factors that can cause a building to collapse, including but not limited to:

• Defective building materials
• Engineering or architectural design defects
• Failure to identify flaws in the building or structure during inspections
• Foundation defects
• Improper maintenance of the building
• Not adhering to design specifications
• Preventable fires
• Water damage

At the very least, there should be an appropriate amount of warning if the building is unsafe or suspected to be unsafe to those inside and pedestrians near the building in order to prevent injuries.

How Bystanders Are Injured

When a building collapses, debris is the main thing bystanders have to worry about. Falling brick, tile, or other materials can strike someone with enough force to break a bone, give them a concussion, or cause a life-threatening injury. If a building collapses in totality, victims may be trapped under rubble for hours or sometimes days until rescue crews can reach them.

Though you may have lived to see another day, victims of building collapse accidents should expect to see a long road to recovery. Medical bills can mount quickly and if you can no longer work, you will need to seek compensation for your lost wages to support yourself and your dependents.

Unfortunately, bystanders do not always survive building collapse accidents. The mother and daughter were lucky enough to survive their ordeal in Berwick. If it wasn’t for their car, the unimaginable might have happened. For those who have lost loved ones in building collapses or due to injuries caused by falling debris, a wrongful death claim can offer a sense of justice and provide much-needed financial relief.

What Should You Do?

People, specifically property owners, may try to place blame on you for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but you are not at fault. According to Pennsylvania premises liability law, it is the property owner's responsibility to make sure the structure on his/her land is sound. This means inspections, regular maintenance, and if something is wrong with the building, the proper measures must be taken.

It's important to document everything you remember about the accident, including what injuries you sustained and the medical bills that you receive following the accident. If you are able to get witness reports of the accident, your case will be stronger. Our Pennsylvania building collapse attorneys can help you in obtaining such reports in some circumstances.

If you are a worker who was working in the building at the time of the accident, you will need to file the proper workers' compensation forms to receive benefits from the accident. While this is often the most appropriate course of action, you may sometimes need to file a third-party injury claim, either in addition to or in place of a workers’ compensation claim. Contact our team to learn more.

When it is time to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit, you will need an experienced legal team behind you, one that has handled all types of construction accident and building collapse claims. When you contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we will get to work on your claim immediately. Our attorneys and legal team will take the time to investigate the scene of the accident, find the cause of the accident, and file the necessary paperwork to help get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC Today

Our attorneys have the knowledge, resources, and experience to litigate accidents and injuries resulting from building collapses in order to protect the rights of anyone who is injured as a result of a negligent property owner. When these property owners fail to take all necessary precaution in maintaining safe structures in Pennsylvania, they can and should be held accountable.

If you or a loved one was an innocent bystander during a sudden building collapse and suffered an injury, the Pennsylvania building collapse accident lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC are on your side. We can fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Contact our offices today to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated attorneys: (877) 989-4878.