Average Value of a Roof Collapse – Falling Ceiling Head Injury Lawsuit

A collapsing roof or ceiling can lead to devastating injuries, whether you’re in a house or a commercial building. These accidents occur with little to no warning, so victims are unable to get out of the way and avoid the onslaught of debris. Professionals, like plumbers and HVAC installers, can also fall through the roof or ceiling and sustain numerous, life-altering injuries. These injuries include fatality, which is sadly a common occurrence with roof or ceiling collapses. But even those who survive have a long and expensive recovery ahead of them, and deserve monetary compensation from the responsible parties.

Unsurprisingly, “How much do these cases settle for?” is the number one question we get from clients who were injured by a collapsing roof or falling ceiling. There are some figures we can give you based on previous cases, but truthfully, there is no universal amount that applies to each case. The value of your lawsuit depends on various factors, mainly the type of injuries you’ve sustained and their impact on your quality of life. We also have to consider losses that are related to your accident, like job loss or time you’ll miss from work as a result of your injuries. However, we want to give you a roundabout idea of what roof collapse settlements look like, as many property owners attempt to trick victims into settling for low payments. You may also be working with a lawyer and feel that the case value they’re quoting you is too low.

We hope you’ll find this information helpful, but please note that this is for general purposes only. For a case value on your specific accident, you’ll need to speak to a lawyer with experience in head injury lawsuits.

For a free case review, contact the personal injury attorneys of Normandie Law Firm.

Common Injuries from a Roof Collapse – Falling Ceiling

As we mentioned, the type and extent of your injuries is the biggest factor in determining what you can receive in compensation. Accidents involving roof collapses and falling ceilings result in extremely serious injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Broken bones/ Fractures
• Spinal cord damage
• Neck fractures
• Facial scarring
• Skull fractures
• Broken nose/ broken facial bones
• Disfigurement of the face and body
• Partial or complete blindness from traumatic eye injury
• Loss of function or paralysis

Fatality is another common injury associated with falling roof or ceiling accidents. Loved ones of the decedent can file for wrongful death compensation, which we will go over in detail later on. For now, let’s talk about why a roof or ceiling may collapse unexpectedly.

What Causes a Roof or Ceiling to Collapse?

There are many conditions that can lead to a roof or ceiling fall injury:

• Failure to remove snow, which puts excess weight and pressure on the roof.
• Water buildup from storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
• High winds from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
• Improper construction/ building code violations.
• Improper maintenance or failure to maintain the property by the owner.
• Water damage from leaking pipes on the roof.
• Roof renovations like sky lights and raised roofs.
• Excess weight from using the roof for storage.
• Using the roof to stabilize/ anchor items on the ground.
• Improper installation of roof-top HVAC systems.
• Fires that weaken the roof’s structure.

Compensation in a Head Injury Lawsuit

The losses resulting from a roof or ceiling collapse are significant, and victims have the right to recover numerous losses, including:

• Medical costs for surgery, hospitalization, medications, etc.
• Lost wages for time off from work or permanent job loss.
• Property damage for items that were broken, lost, or damaged during the accident.
• Pain and suffering for emotional trauma (PTSD, depression, insomnia, etc.)

If the responsible party’s actions were especially outrageous, you may be able to sue for punitive damages. This is a way for courts to punish the at-fault individual and set an example to discourage others from doing the same. It’s an extra form of compensation on top of your award, and in California, there is no limit to how much you can ask for in punitive damages. That also means it’s very hard to recover, and less experienced lawyers will discourage their clients from asking for it.

Our lawyers have the experience to determine if you are eligible for punitive damages. They will fight for every type of damage you’re entitled to and will not back down until you are justly compensated.

Wrongful Death Compensation

A family member or loved one of an injury victim can recover their losses through a wrongful death compensation lawsuit. A wrongful death compensation claim usually includes:

• Funeral expenses
• Medical bills left behind by the decedent
• Lost income that the victim would have earned
• Lost benefits (pension, health insurance, etc.)
• Pain and suffering

Spouses and domestic registered partners may also qualify for loss of consortium. This payment compensates the significant other for the loss of love, companionship, and emotional support they received from the decedent. Loss of consortium typically includes loss of sexual relations and children the claimant would have had with their former partner.

To learn more about your rights as the loved one of an accident victim, please speak with one of our attorneys.

Liability in a Roof Collapse/ Fallen Ceiling Accident

Liability is another huge factor in what your case is worth. In legal terms, liability is defined as the state of being responsible for something, like an accident that led to someone’s injuries. In a roof or ceiling collapse lawsuit, liability varies considerably depending on where you are and your purpose for being there. For example, a roof collapse at a construction site is generally blamed on the contractor, who is responsible for the safety of workers and visitors to the site. But things get more complicated in the case of rentals, like AirBnbs and sublet apartments. In both cases, the property owner would certainly be responsible for collapsing roof or ceiling accidents. But building management and AirBnB may also be responsible under the laws of premise liability.

Lawsuits filed against businesses usually receive the largest settlements, since they have commercial insurance specifically for this purpose. Individual owners, on the other hand, have less insurance coverage and resources to pay victims, so that limits how much you can ask for. Thus, it’s essential to go after any and all responsible entities in your lawsuit.

Our attorneys have the knowledge to determine exactly who is responsible for your injury and go after them for the full value of your losses.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements

Average Value of a Roof Collapse / Ceiling Fall Injury Case

All the information we’ve talked about so far affects the value of your case in a lawsuit for a collapsing roof or ceiling. To bring it all together in your mind, here are some examples of previous head injury settlements involving roof or ceiling collapses.

Mary is a 35-year-old single mother living in a Los Angeles apartment building. While she was cooking dinner, the kitchen ceiling collapsed over her head, resulting in a herniated disc and severe pain from her neck to down to her lower back. After months of physical therapy, she was forced to undergo spinal fusion surgery, but will suffer from back pain for the rest of her life. During her lawsuit, it was discovered that the building had over 110 code violations, most of which were never resolved. These violations included issues with Mary’s kitchen ceiling, which she was not made aware of prior to renting the apartment.

Medical costs: $150,000

Physical therapy: $12,000

Lifetime prescription costs: $55,000

Loss of income: 12 weeks at $653.85 per week = $7,846.20

Pain and suffering: $500,000

Punitive damages: $250,000

Total approximate value of her case: $975,000.00

Frank, a 28-year-old plumber, was working on the roof of a commercial building when he fell through an opening in the roof. The hole was covered with a set of steel doors, which were inadequate to support Frank’s weight. After sustaining traumatic brain injury, a broken femur, and a shattered kneecap, Frank was no longer able to work as a plumber. On-going health issues, including chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following multiple surgeries, made it difficult for him to find other work.

Medical costs: $250,000

Physical Therapy: $25,000

Future medical expenses: $450,000

Loss of income: $4,500 at 4 months = $18,000

Future Loss of Income: $54,000 for 30 years = $1,620,000

Pain and suffering: $300,000

Total approximate value of his case: $2,663,000.00

We want to stress that these are examples, and your case value will be different based on your own personal circumstances. Please schedule a free consultation for an approximate value of your case, along with any other questions about your head injury lawsuit.

How Long Does it Take to Get Paid on a Collapsing Roof/ Falling Ceiling Injury Case?

The question, “How long do I have to wait before I get paid?” goes hand in hand with case value. Again, there is no universal number that we can quote you when it comes to case timelines. The length of time that passes between your accident and when you get paid depends on the extent of your injuries and the other’s side willingness to negotiate a settlement. To start off with, your recovery period plays a crucial role in when we can ask for compensation. Some injuries take many months to recover from, or require a long waiting period to understand the full range of damages you will deal with throughout your life.

Once a lawyer calculates your losses, they will send a demand letter to the liable party’s insurers. Hopefully, a settlement can be negotiated within a few months, but that all depends on the insurance company’s willingness to accept liability. If not, you will have to file a lawsuit and prepare for the possibility of going to trial. Over 95% of cases are settled by mediation or alternative dispute resolution before the trial date, so chances are, you won’t have to appear in court. But it can be a year or more from the accident date before you are scheduled for mediation, so it’s a long process either way if the other side won’t negotiate in good faith.

Can I Switch Lawyers?

If you already have an attorney, you may be concerned about the lack of progress or feel like you’re being pressured into a low settlement. These are serious concerns, but fortunately, you are allowed to switch lawyers at any point during a lawsuit in California. Still, changing counsel is not a decision you should make on a whim.

One of our attorneys will be happy to review your case and give you an honest assessment of your attorney’s work. If changing over to us is in your best interest, we’ll take care of details like filing a change of counsel with the court and compensating your lawyer for the work they’ve done in your case. We will do all this for free, so there’s no risk to you by coming in for a free consultation.

Contact our office and schedule a free second opinion if you’re unhappy with your current attorney.

How Normandie Can Help

Here at Normandie Law Firm, injury victims are treated like family, not case numbers. We wouldn’t charge our family for legal representation, which is why all our services are free, starting from the initial consultation. With our Zero fee guarantee, you pay us nothing unless we win your case. So if we lose your case, there is no cost to you. Our free services include free second opinions if you’re dissatisfied with your current attorney.

Give us a call and let us fight for the injury compensation you deserve.

A collapsing roof or ceiling can lead to devastating injuries, whether you’re in a house or a commercial building. These accidents occur with little to no warning, so victims are unable to get out of the way and avoid the onslaught of debris. Professionals, like plumbers and HVAC installers, can also fall through the roof or ceiling and sustain numerous, life-altering injuries. These injuries include fatality, which is sadly a common occurrence with roof or ceiling collapses. But even those who survive have a long and expensive recovery ahead of them, and deserve monetary compensation from the responsible parties.

Unsurprisingly, “How much do these cases settle for?” is the number one question we get from clients who were injured by a collapsing roof or falling ceiling. There are some figures we can give you based on previous cases, but truthfully, there is no universal amount that applies to each case. The value of your lawsuit depends on various factors, mainly the type of injuries you’ve sustained and their impact on your quality of life. We also have to consider losses that are related to your accident, like job loss or time you’ll miss from work as a result of your injuries. However, we want to give you a roundabout idea of what roof collapse settlements look like, as many property owners attempt to trick victims into settling for low payments. You may also be working with a lawyer and feel that the case value they’re quoting you is too low.

We hope you’ll find this information helpful, but please note that this is for general purposes only. For a case value on your specific accident, you’ll need to speak to a lawyer with experience in head injury lawsuits.

For a free case review, contact the personal injury attorneys of Normandie Law Firm.

Common Injuries from a Roof Collapse – Falling Ceiling

As we mentioned, the type and extent of your injuries is the biggest factor in determining what you can receive in compensation. Accidents involving roof collapses and falling ceilings result in extremely serious injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Broken bones/ Fractures
• Spinal cord damage
• Neck fractures
• Facial scarring
• Skull fractures
• Broken nose/ broken facial bones
• Disfigurement of the face and body
• Partial or complete blindness from traumatic eye injury
• Loss of function or paralysis

Fatality is another common injury associated with falling roof or ceiling accidents. Loved ones of the decedent can file for wrongful death compensation, which we will go over in detail later on. For now, let’s talk about why a roof or ceiling may collapse unexpectedly.

What Causes a Roof or Ceiling to Collapse?

There are many conditions that can lead to a roof or ceiling fall injury:

• Failure to remove snow, which puts excess weight and pressure on the roof.
• Water buildup from storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
• High winds from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
• Improper construction/ building code violations.
• Improper maintenance or failure to maintain the property by the owner.
• Water damage from leaking pipes on the roof.
• Roof renovations like sky lights and raised roofs.
• Excess weight from using the roof for storage.
• Using the roof to stabilize/ anchor items on the ground.
• Improper installation of roof-top HVAC systems.
• Fires that weaken the roof’s structure.

Compensation in a Head Injury Lawsuit

The losses resulting from a roof or ceiling collapse are significant, and victims have the right to recover numerous losses, including:

• Medical costs for surgery, hospitalization, medications, etc.
• Lost wages for time off from work or permanent job loss.
• Property damage for items that were broken, lost, or damaged during the accident.
• Pain and suffering for emotional trauma (PTSD, depression, insomnia, etc.)

If the responsible party’s actions were especially outrageous, you may be able to sue for punitive damages. This is a way for courts to punish the at-fault individual and set an example to discourage others from doing the same. It’s an extra form of compensation on top of your award, and in California, there is no limit to how much you can ask for in punitive damages. That also means it’s very hard to recover, and less experienced lawyers will discourage their clients from asking for it.

Our lawyers have the experience to determine if you are eligible for punitive damages. They will fight for every type of damage you’re entitled to and will not back down until you are justly compensated.

Wrongful Death Compensation

A family member or loved one of an injury victim can recover their losses through a wrongful death compensation lawsuit. A wrongful death compensation claim usually includes:

• Funeral expenses
• Medical bills left behind by the decedent
• Lost income that the victim would have earned
• Lost benefits (pension, health insurance, etc.)
• Pain and suffering

Spouses and domestic registered partners may also qualify for loss of consortium. This payment compensates the significant other for the loss of love, companionship, and emotional support they received from the decedent. Loss of consortium typically includes loss of sexual relations and children the claimant would have had with their former partner.

To learn more about your rights as the loved one of an accident victim, please speak with one of our attorneys.

Liability in a Roof Collapse/ Fallen Ceiling Accident

Liability is another huge factor in what your case is worth. In legal terms, liability is defined as the state of being responsible for something, like an accident that led to someone’s injuries. In a roof or ceiling collapse lawsuit, liability varies considerably depending on where you are and your purpose for being there. For example, a roof collapse at a construction site is generally blamed on the contractor, who is responsible for the safety of workers and visitors to the site. But things get more complicated in the case of rentals, like AirBnbs and sublet apartments. In both cases, the property owner would certainly be responsible for collapsing roof or ceiling accidents. But building management and AirBnB may also be responsible under the laws of premise liability.

Lawsuits filed against businesses usually receive the largest settlements, since they have commercial insurance specifically for this purpose. Individual owners, on the other hand, have less insurance coverage and resources to pay victims, so that limits how much you can ask for. Thus, it’s essential to go after any and all responsible entities in your lawsuit.

Our attorneys have the knowledge to determine exactly who is responsible for your injury and go after them for the full value of your losses.

Average Value of a Roof Collapse / Ceiling Fall Injury Case

All the information we’ve talked about so far affects the value of your case in a lawsuit for a collapsing roof or ceiling. To bring it all together in your mind, here are some examples of previous head injury settlements involving roof or ceiling collapses.

Mary is a 35-year-old single mother living in a Los Angeles apartment building. While she was cooking dinner, the kitchen ceiling collapsed over her head, resulting in a herniated disc and severe pain from her neck to down to her lower back. After months of physical therapy, she was forced to undergo spinal fusion surgery, but will suffer from back pain for the rest of her life. During her lawsuit, it was discovered that the building had over 110 code violations, most of which were never resolved. These violations included issues with Mary’s kitchen ceiling, which she was not made aware of prior to renting the apartment.

Medical costs: $150,000

Physical therapy: $12,000

Lifetime prescription costs: $55,000

Loss of income: 12 weeks at $653.85 per week = $7,846.20

Pain and suffering: $500,000

Punitive damages: $250,000

Total approximate value of her case: $975,000.00

Frank, a 28-year-old plumber, was working on the roof of a commercial building when he fell through an opening in the roof. The hole was covered with a set of steel doors, which were inadequate to support Frank’s weight. After sustaining traumatic brain injury, a broken femur, and a shattered kneecap, Frank was no longer able to work as a plumber. On-going health issues, including chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following multiple surgeries, made it difficult for him to find other work.

Medical costs: $250,000

Physical Therapy: $25,000

Future medical expenses: $450,000

Loss of income: $4,500 at 4 months = $18,000

Future Loss of Income: $54,000 for 30 years = $1,620,000

Pain and suffering: $300,000

Total approximate value of his case: $2,663,000.00

We want to stress that these are examples, and your case value will be different based on your own personal circumstances. Please schedule a free consultation for an approximate value of your case, along with any other questions about your head injury lawsuit.

How Long Does it Take to Get Paid on a Collapsing Roof/ Falling Ceiling Injury Case?

The question, “How long do I have to wait before I get paid?” goes hand in hand with case value. Again, there is no universal number that we can quote you when it comes to case timelines. The length of time that passes between your accident and when you get paid depends on the extent of your injuries and the other’s side willingness to negotiate a settlement. To start off with, your recovery period plays a crucial role in when we can ask for compensation. Some injuries take many months to recover from, or require a long waiting period to understand the full range of damages you will deal with throughout your life.

Once a lawyer calculates your losses, they will send a demand letter to the liable party’s insurers. Hopefully, a settlement can be negotiated within a few months, but that all depends on the insurance company’s willingness to accept liability. If not, you will have to file a lawsuit and prepare for the possibility of going to trial. Over 95% of cases are settled by mediation or alternative dispute resolution before the trial date, so chances are, you won’t have to appear in court. But it can be a year or more from the accident date before you are scheduled for mediation, so it’s a long process either way if the other side won’t negotiate in good faith.

Can I Switch Lawyers?

If you already have an attorney, you may be concerned about the lack of progress or feel like you’re being pressured into a low settlement. These are serious concerns, but fortunately, you are allowed to switch lawyers at any point during a lawsuit in California. Still, changing counsel is not a decision you should make on a whim.

One of our attorneys will be happy to review your case and give you an honest assessment of your attorney’s work. If changing over to us is in your best interest, we’ll take care of details like filing a change of counsel with the court and compensating your lawyer for the work they’ve done in your case. We will do all this for free, so there’s no risk to you by coming in for a free consultation.

Contact our office and schedule a free second opinion if you’re unhappy with your current attorney.

How Normandie Can Help

Here at Normandie Law Firm, injury victims are treated like family, not case numbers. We wouldn’t charge our family for legal representation, which is why all our services are free, starting from the initial consultation. With our Zero fee guarantee, you pay us nothing unless we win your case. So if we lose your case, there is no cost to you. Our free services include free second opinions if you’re dissatisfied with your current attorney.

Give us a call and let us fight for the injury compensation you deserve.