Maison Law helps workers in Porterville through the workers’ compensation process when they’re injured in scaffolding accidents. Working on scaffolding can feel routine if you do it every day—but even the smallest mistake, faulty equipment, or missing safety measure can lead to serious injuries. That’s why workers’ comp benefits are there, but getting them isn’t always straightforward. WIth our team’s help, it can be easier. Set up a free consultation today to learn more.
Should You Get a Lawyer For a Workers’ Comp Claim After a Scaffolding Injury?
You don’t have to get a lawyer to file a workers’ comp claim, but having someone on your side can make a big difference—especially with scaffolding injuries. Falls from height are serious, often involving broken bones, head trauma, or long-term mobility issues. Insurance companies know these claims can be costly, and they may look for reasons to delay or deny your benefits. That’s when you should think about getting legal help, and our Porterville workers’ compensation lawyers will:
- Make sure your claim is filed correctly and on time. Missing deadlines can cost you benefits.
- Push back if your claim is delayed or denied. We know how insurance companies operate and how to advocate for you.
- Connect you with doctors who understand scaffolding injuries and can document them properly.
- Help negotiate fair benefits, whether that’s temporary pay while you recover or permanent disability if you’re left with lasting injuries.
- Handle the stress of the process so you can focus on healing.
Having someone who understands scaffolding injuries and California’s workers’ comp system can make the process smoother and faster, and help prevent mistakes that might reduce your benefits.
What Evidence Really Matters After a Scaffolding Injury?
After a fall from scaffolding, it’s natural to think that your injuries speak for themselves. And even though you don’t have to prove fault for workers’ comp, the stronger your evidence, the smoother your claim is likely to go. Here’s what evidence really matters:
- Medical records – Your doctor’s notes from ER visits, X-rays, MRIs, or therapy show exactly what’s wrong and link it straight to the fall. When they write down that it happened on the job, it makes your claim much stronger.
- Accident and maintenance records – Any logs showing repairs, inspections, or past problems with the scaffolding can prove this wasn’t just a fluke accident. They show the risks were there all along.
- Witness accounts and personal notes – Coworkers who saw the fall—or even just noticed unsafe conditions—can back up your story. Your own notes about what happened help make sure nothing gets forgotten.
- Photos, videos, and expert insights – Pictures of the scaffolding, the site, or your injuries speak volumes. And if an expert explains how the fall could have been prevented, it makes your claim that much clearer.
The more complete your evidence, the faster and stronger your claim will be. It doesn’t just protect your benefits—it also makes sure your story is clear and convincing.
What Can Workers’ Comp Cover After a Scaffolding Injury?
There’s no exact timeline for workers’ comp, and scaffolding injuries can be complicated. Because falls can result in multiple injuries or long-term issues, the insurance company may take time to review your medical records and other evidence.
But that doesn’t change the actual process–or the benefits you can get. Once your claim is filed, it opens the door to things like:
- Medical expenses. This includes visits to doctors and specialists, imaging, surgeries, physical therapy, and medications that are directly related to your fall.
- Temporary disability. You may receive partial pay while you’re off work recovering from your injury.
- Permanent disability. If your injury leaves lasting effects that limit your ability to work, you could be entitled to ongoing support.
- Job retraining. Workers’ comp can provide assistance in finding a new role if returning to your previous job isn’t safe.
Workers’ comp covers what’s necessary to get you healthy and back to work, but it doesn’t cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, or long-term financial losses. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
What Other Options Do I Have After a Scaffolding Injury?
Sometimes workers’ comp isn’t enough to cover everything you’ve lost—especially in the event of serious injuries in a scaffolding accident. With that said, going further than workers’ comp requires one very important concept: negligence.
Basically, you have to show that your injuries were the result of someone else’s carelessness. In a typical scaffolding injury, that liability can fall on:
- The company that built or maintained the scaffolding.
- Contractors or subcontractors who left unsafe conditions behind.
- Your employer, in rare cases involving extreme negligence.
- Property owners or site managers who failed to maintain a safe work environment.
What negligence provides you is the opportunity to file a civil claim. You do this through an insurance settlement or lawsuit—but it can help you recover damages workers’ comp doesn’t cover, like:
- Ongoing and future medical costs.
- Lost income or reduced earning potential.
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property damage or personal items lost in the accident.
- Wrongful death expenses, if the fall is fatal.
In California, you usually have about two years from the date of your injury to file a civil claim. Often, the best way to protect yourself—both for your health and your finances—is to use workers’ comp while also exploring any potential civil recovery. Knowing how these injuries happen can help you understand what evidence matters and how to make your case as strong as possible.
How Do Scaffolding Injuries Happen?
Scaffolding accidents are some of the most serious risks on any worksite, and they don’t all happen the same way. Sometimes, they have to do with the scaffold itself, but other times, it’s about the environment you’re in. Here’s a look at what can leave you injured:
- Unstable scaffolding. If the platform isn’t put together right, has missing braces, or isn’t sitting on even footing, it can give way under you.
- Missing safety rails or harnesses. When the equipment that’s supposed to keep you safe isn’t there—or isn’t used properly—the chance of a fall shoots up.
- Slippery or cluttered surfaces. Wet platforms, leftover tools, or debris lying around can make slipping feel almost inevitable.
- Overreaching, rushing, or being tired. Tight deadlines, long hours, or simple fatigue can make it easy to misstep—or even lose your balance completely.
- Faulty ladders or supports. Even a small problem with a ladder or scaffold part can turn into a serious accident.
- Falling objects or debris. Sometimes it’s not the fall itself—it’s a tool, piece of equipment, or part of the scaffolding hitting you that causes injury.
- Electrical or structural hazards. Working near power lines, damaged wiring, or unstable structures can put you at risk of electrocution or a collapse.
These kinds of injuries can have a serious impact on your life—broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries, or lasting mobility issues aren’t easy to deal with. That’s why keeping track of exactly what happened and collecting any evidence is so important. The clearer the story, the stronger your claim will be—and that’s where having someone who understands scaffolding injuries and workers’ comp can make all the difference.
Get Help After a Scaffolding Injury in Porterville
Working on or around scaffolding in Porterville can unfortunately result in a lot of different injuries. And while you don’t want to ever be injured on the job, the workers’ comp system is there to help you. At Maison Law, our Porterville workers’ compensation lawyers understand how the system works and can help you get the benefits you need to get better. Set up a free consultation today to get your claim started.
