Person Injured in Oakley Balcony Collapse
I’m Ed Smith, an Oakley personal injury lawyer. Two people narrowly escaped injury while another was hospitalized when a balcony collapsed at a home in Oakley.
About the Balcony Collapse
On 23 May, three people were barbequeing on a balcony in Oakley when the balcony suddenly collapsed. Two of the people were able to maintain their footing and avoid serious injury in the collapse, but the third person sustained unknown injuries.
The East Contra Costa County Fire Department responded to the two-story home in southeastern Oakley. Upon arrival, they found the one victim on the ground, still surrounded by the wreckage. Crews were able to extricate the victim and then transport him to a local hospital.
Dispatchers initially called for a medical helicopter to transport the victim, but responding crews cancelled that request after assessing the patient.
About the Hospitalized Victim
Police and family members have not released any information on the condition of the injured victim. As Oakley personal injury lawyers, in accidents like these, we commonly see victims sustain back injuries, broken legs, and damage to the rib cage.
Potential Injuries Suffered by the Other Two People
The two other people on the balcony at the time of its collapse reported to the 911 dispatchers that they did not need medical attention. They reiterated this information to responding paramedics. However, just because these people did not suffer injuries requiring immediate treatment, they may have sustained injuries requiring treatment in the coming weeks.
In other accidents we have worked as balcony collapse lawyers, some victims do not notice their injuries immediately. Then, over the coming days, these people sometimes experience back pain and stiffness in the neck and joints. Victims also often sustain serious bruising in balcony collapses.
Cause of the Collapse
The cause of the collapse is unknown at this time. The age of the home may have played a role as public records show the home was constructed in 1979. Like many homes in Oakley, the older wood may have been weakened by the weather. As Oakley sits on the edge of the California Delta at the confluence of the San Joaquin and Sacramento River, it often has heavy winds and high moisture in the air. This can weaken the wood.
The weight on the balcony may have also played a role, especially if it was already weakened by age and the weather. There were three people and a barbeque of unknown size. The cumulative weight may have been enough to cause the balcony to collapse.
Two other common factors in balcony collapses, we have seen as balcony collapse lawyers, are faulty construction and poor materials.
Balcony Collapses Due to Construction Errors
Balconies that were added to homes after construction sometimes collapse due to errors in construction. Poor design or shoddy workmanship can create an unstable structure likely to fail. In these cases, the construction company or architectural firm would be responsible for damages.
Balcony Collapses Due to Materials
Also in the case of recently built balconies, sometimes the materials cause the balcony to collapse. Defective materials used to construct a building weaken the overall structure, increasing the risk of collapse. Defective materials can include improperly rated metals and flawed concrete, among other things.
In these cases, the company that manufactured the supplies may be liable for damages. The construction firm may also be liable in these cases if they were aware that the materials were defective.
Oakley Balcony Collapse & Personal Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, an Oakley personal injury lawyer. If you, or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please call me at (925) 428-5220 for free, friendly advice. You may also call toll free at (800) 404-5400.
I have practiced personal injury law exclusively for 34 years.
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Please view my Past Verdicts and Settlements to see my long history of representing people in their time of need.
Sources:
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/05/23/1-person-hospitalized-after-balcony-collapse-at-oakley-home/
Imae Attribution: Wikimedia Commons
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