Porch, Deck, Balcony & Roof Collapses

The experienced Boston personal injury lawyers at Bellotti Law Group, P.C. know that even well-built and designed porches can become susceptible to collapse. After years of use and exposure to New England’s harsh weather conditions, decks, porches and banisters can eventually weaken, as screws and nails loosen and wood deteriorates. Nonetheless, it is a homeowner's responsibility to ensure structures they build on their property is safe and structurally sound before allowing others on the deck. If you or a loved one has been serious hurt or wrongfully killed in a porch or roof collapse, call one of our attorneys today at 617-225-2100.

Every year in Boston, there are news reports of deck, porch, and balcony collapses. For any individual caught on or underneath a collapsing structure, these catastrophic events can often cause serious personal injury or wrongful death. Many of our college campuses and residential neighborhoods in Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, Brookline, Newton, Somerville, Charlestown, and Allston feature houses and apartment buildings with porches and decks. Sadly, these outdoor structures are often poorly designed, improperly constructed, and over-crowded, leading to collapses and falls. These accidents can lead to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, and even fatalities.

It is the homeowners’ responsibility to ensure that their roofs and additional structures to their homes, such as porches, decks, and balconies, are well built and frequently maintained. If a serious injury or wrongful death occurs from the collapse of one of these structures, homeowners face a premises liability claim for failing to guarantee the safety of their property. In the same vein, any other third parties that may have contributed to the construction, design, or upkeep of the structure may also be found to be negligible. Common third parties who may be liable include construction companies or individual carpenters

When bringing premises liability claims against insurance companies, our experienced Boston personal injury attorneys know the tactics that insurance companies will use to try to deny the claims. For example, insurance companies often argue that, based on the circumstances, a collapsing structure is not covered under the homeowner’s policy. However, our determined lawyers refuse to accept any denial of a claim before a thorough investigation into the incident has been conducted with experts.

Premises liability claims are not exclusive to porch, deck, or balcony collapses. Any situation in which a homeowner has a known or reasonably apparent hazard on his or her property is a potential premises liability suit. These include slip and fall cases, dog bites, absence of guardrails on balconies or raised decks, toxic fumes or chemicals, and swimming pool accidents, among other events. Such hazards are not to be taken lightly and deserve full and fair compensation. At Bellotti Law Group, P.C., our skill, experience, and reputation with insurance companies often leads to a full and fair settlement offer. When this is not the case, we are prepared to fight for your rightful compensation in court.

If you or a loved one has been injured or wrongfully killed in a porch collapse, roof collapse, balcony collapse, a fall from a roof, fall from a balcony, or and injury due to nonexistent or faulty guardrails, contact Bellotti Law Group, P.C. today at 617-225-2100 for a free consultation.