Injured when an extension ladder slid out, broke, or collapsed? Call Attorney Michael Siddons for a FREE consultation: (610) 255-7500. No fee unless we win.
Extension Ladder Accident Attorney
Extension ladders — the two- or three-section telescoping ladders used to reach roofs, gutters, siding, upper-story windows, and commercial signage — are responsible for some of the most severe ladder injuries we handle. Extension ladder falls are often from 10 to 30 feet and produce catastrophic injuries: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, pelvic fractures, and death. The usual failure modes — base slide-out, rung fracture, locking-dog disengagement, overreach tip — are often traceable to a defect, a failure to maintain, or an unsafe set-up by a third party.
How Extension Ladders Fail
- Base slide-out. The bottom of the ladder slides away from the building, dropping the user backward or sideways. Common causes: worn slip-resistant feet, unstable surface, inadequate friction on a wet or polished floor, a ladder set at too shallow an angle (less than the 75.5-degree 4-to-1 rule).
- Locking-dog failure. The locking dogs (pawls) that hold the extending section at height fail to engage or release under load. The fly section drops, taking the user with it.
- Rung fracture. A rung cracks or separates from the side rail. Usually a manufacturing, design, or maintenance defect.
- Side rail buckle. The rail collapses under compressive load — often traceable to a rail design that does not meet the ANSI duty rating.
- Overreach fall. The user reaches too far to one side and the ladder tips. Sometimes a user error, sometimes a design that does not provide adequate lateral stability or sufficient warnings about lateral load.
- Rope and pulley failure. On rope-raised extension ladders, the hauling rope or pulley mechanism fails during extension or retraction.
- Top contact failure. The ladder top is not properly supported against a stable structure — resting on a gutter that gives way, against glass that breaks, or against a surface that shifts.
Setup and Safety Standards
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1053 (construction) and 1910.23 (general industry) require extension ladders to be set at a 4-to-1 angle (the base one foot out from the building for every four feet of working height), to extend three feet above the landing, to be secured at the top or held at the base, and to have slip-resistant feet in contact with a stable surface. A general contractor or property owner that directs extension-ladder work under conditions that violate these standards is typically negligent, and on a New York construction site, strictly liable under Labor Law §240.
Extension Ladder Recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued multiple recalls of extension ladders for defective locking mechanisms, telescoping-joint failures, and side-rail failures. The firm runs a recall history check on the specific model and manufacturer in every product liability case.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bottom of my extension ladder slid out. Is that my fault or a defect?
It depends on the full set of circumstances. Worn or defective slip-resistant feet, inadequate angle, unstable surface, or lack of tie-off are all potential contributors — some of which may be attributable to a manufacturer, employer, or property owner. Call with the facts.
A rung on my extension ladder broke. What do I do?
Keep the ladder. Keep the broken piece. Photograph both. Get medical care. Call the firm. Rung fractures in extension ladders are often product defects.
The locking dogs didn’t hold and the top section dropped. Is that a defect?
Almost certainly. Locking dogs that do not hold are the single most recognized failure mode in extension-ladder product liability. Preserve the ladder.
I was using the extension ladder with no tie-off and no one holding the base. Does that bar my claim?
Not necessarily. Tie-off and base-holding are OSHA requirements that run to the employer and general contractor. A worker directed onto an extension ladder without proper set-up may have third-party claims even if the worker accepted the set-up as it was.
How long do I have to file?
Two years in PA, NJ, and NY; three years in MD. Do not delay — extension ladder cases often involve product preservation and engineering analysis that take time.
Ready to Fight for Your Rights?
Contact Siddons Law Firm today for your FREE consultation. Call (610) 255-7500. We serve injured clients across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. No fee unless we win.