Injured when a step ladder failed or kicked out? Call Attorney Michael Siddons for a FREE consultation: (610) 255-7500. No fee unless we win.
Step Ladder Accident Attorney
Step ladders — the self-supporting A-frame design with a hinge at the top and a spreader bar between the front and rear legs — are the most common ladders in American homes, warehouses, and retail stores. They are also the most common source of ladder injuries. A step ladder is supposed to hold a user’s full weight in the open position without tipping, racking, or kicking out. When it does fail, the cause is usually identifiable: a defective spreader bar, a worn or missing rubber foot, a cracked weld at a rail-to-hinge joint, or a manufacturing defect in a specific unit.
How Step Ladders Fail
- Spreader bar failure. The spreader bar is the horizontal bar or pair of bars between the front and rear legs that locks the ladder in the open A-frame configuration. If the spreader bar fails to lock, breaks, or disengages under load, the ladder collapses flat.
- Base kick-out. The bottom of the ladder slides out from under the user. Common causes: worn or missing slip-resistant feet, unstable surface under the legs, side-loading that exceeds the ladder’s intended loading.
- Rung or step fracture. A step cracks or breaks under load — usually a manufacturing defect or a fatigue failure from repeated use.
- Hinge failure. The top hinge connecting the two halves of the A-frame pulls apart under load.
- Rail buckle. The side rail collapses inward under compressive load — often traceable to a design that did not meet the ANSI A14 duty rating the product was sold under.
- Side-loading failure. The user reaches too far to one side and the ladder tips — sometimes the user’s fault, but sometimes a design that does not provide adequate lateral stability.
Step Ladder Design Standards
Step ladders sold in the United States must meet ANSI A14 standards (A14.1 wood, A14.2 metal, A14.5 reinforced plastic). These standards specify duty ratings (Type IAA 375 lb, Type IA 300 lb, Type I 250 lb, Type II 225 lb, Type III 200 lb), spreader-bar design, rung and step attachment, and slip-resistant foot requirements. A step ladder that fails under a load within its rated duty is strong evidence of a manufacturing or design defect.
Common Step Ladder Injuries
Step ladder falls — usually from 2 to 12 feet — produce a distinct injury pattern: calcaneal (heel) fractures from feet-first landings, wrist and elbow fractures from bracing, rotator cuff tears from instinctive grabs at rungs, spinal compression fractures from vertical loading, traumatic brain injury from head strikes, and femur and hip fractures in falls onto hard surfaces.
Preserve the Ladder
After a step ladder failure, keep the ladder exactly as it is. Do not straighten bent legs. Do not re-attach separated pieces. Do not repair or discard the ladder. Photograph it from multiple angles and store it in a dry location. The physical ladder is the most important evidence in a step ladder product liability case.
Frequently Asked Questions
My step ladder’s spreader bar wouldn’t lock and the ladder collapsed. Is that a product defect?
Usually yes. A properly designed and manufactured spreader bar should lock reliably in the open position under any foreseeable load. A spreader bar that fails to lock or that releases under load is typically a manufacturing or design defect.
The feet of my step ladder slipped on the floor. Was that my fault?
Not necessarily. Step ladders must have slip-resistant feet adequate for the surfaces they are marketed to be used on. Feet that are worn, missing, or that fail on a smooth indoor floor can be a design or maintenance defect. Context matters — the firm investigates.
Does the weight rating on the ladder matter?
Yes. ANSI A14 duty ratings (Type IAA, IA, I, II, III) specify the maximum load the ladder is certified to hold. A ladder that fails under a load below its rating is strong evidence of a defect.
I was using the ladder on a soft lawn. Does that bar my claim?
Not automatically. The ladder’s warnings and instructions may or may not have addressed soft surfaces adequately. Many step ladders are marketed for use in circumstances where soft surfaces are foreseeable. This is a facts-specific inquiry.
How long do I have to file a step ladder product liability case?
Two years in PA, NJ, and NY; three years in MD.
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.