Norristown Building Collapse Lawyer

Building collapses are terrifying events that can cause severe injuries and death. In most cases, collapsed buildings can be traced back to someone’s careless or negligent actions. When you or a loved one suffers injuries in a severe building accident, reach out to the renowned attorneys at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. A Norristown building collapse lawyer at our firm can find out who is responsible and hold them accountable.

Owner Rich Godshall has a long track record of winning multi-million-dollar catastrophic injury cases. Recently, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers recovered $1,100,000 for a local laborer who suffered severe spinal fractures after a traffic signal pole fell on him at a construction site. Our legal team is not afraid to stand up for what our clients deserve.

Common Causes of Building Collapses

Most building collapses involve negligence somewhere along the line. Using poor-quality construction materials, rushing a job, or performing an incompetent renovation could cause a building to collapse.

Our skilled attorneys can investigate a building collapse in Norristown to learn what caused the incident. Common causes include:

  • Faulty foundation
  • Lack of routine maintenance leading to undiscovered building damage
  • Shoddy building materials
  • Failure to remove heavy snowfall
  • Design flaws that render the building unsafe
  • Dangerous blasting project nearby

Natural events like flooding and earthquakes could weaken a foundation and eventually lead to a collapse. Even if a natural event caused the initial damage, the owner has an obligation to repair the damage and ensure the building is safe.

Identifying the Parties Responsible for a Collapsed Building

Building collapses are not random events. To determine who is responsible for a Norristown building collapse, our experienced lawyers will review the following:

  • Building blueprints and plans to discover whether an architect created a faulty design or a contractor did not follow the plans
  • Contractor bids to identify all the firms involved in the building’s construction
  • Records from Montgomery County, or the Norristown Department of Buildings and Code Enforcement to find out whether the inspectors noted violations at the site
  • Project manager’s records to discover if they replaced any of the contractors during construction
  • Incident reports that might shed light on the contractors’ commitment to safety
  • Purchase orders to track construction materials used in the building
  • Maintenance records to find out if the building’s owners kept the building in good condition

Once our legal team has investigated and determined who might be responsible for the collapsed building, your Norristown attorneys can send a settlement proposal to the parties and their insurance companies. This will demand payment for your medical costs, lost income, and other expenses. We will also fight for compensation for your emotional suffering, physical pain, loss of enjoyment of life, and other impacts of the incident.

Time Limits for Building Collapse Claims

It may be challenging to bring a claim for an older building collapse. The law at 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated §5536 allows people to file lawsuits claiming negligent design or construction led to their injuries up to twelve years after construction was completed. Your local attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can determine the age of the building that collapsed and advise on whether this law might affect your case.

Negotiating a Settlement for a Fallen Building

Insurance companies don’t like to pay big settlements. They often engage in shady behavior after a disaster to avoid paying the injured victims fair compensation.

For example, insurance company representatives sometimes approach injured victims or their family members in the hospital after a building collapse. They offer an immediate payment that might sound generous but is actually a small fraction of what the claim is worth. Confused and worried accident victims often accept these lowball settlements and sign away their rights to sue for more money.

Your Norristown lawyer will not allow an insurance company to take advantage of you after a building collapse. Your skilled attorney will handle the communications and negotiations and collect evidence to use as leverage in demanding maximum compensation. At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we work to obtain a settlement that fairly covers your losses and allows you to rebuild your life.

Call a Norristown Attorney After a Building Collapse

Do not allow greedy property owners or negligent contractors to get away with harming you. If a building collapsed, someone was at fault. We will locate all of the at-fault parties and make them pay.

Let a respected Norristown building collapse lawyer put their skills to work for you. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers to discuss your case today for no initial cost.