A collapsed building can cause devastating injuries in an instant. If you or a loved one has been injured during this type of accident, working with a Mankato building collapse lawyer can help ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Our legal team is highly trained in handling all types of cases related to hazardous property, and our tenacious premises liability attorneys are equipped to guide you through the legal system during this time. Reach out to the legal team at Maschka, Riedy, Ries & Frentz Law Firm to understand your legal options today.
Buildings can collapse for multiple reasons, including design flaws, construction issues, poor maintenance, fires, low-quality materials, and improper usage, like bringing too much weight into the building. Natural disasters can also lead to building collapses. In many cases, a flood, tornado, or other natural disaster can be the immediate cause of a collapse, while maintenance or structural issues can also be factors.
Water damage, like from a leaking pipe, can be a factor in partial collapses. These accidents, where a ceiling caves in or a single floor collapses, are less dramatic than a full building collapse but can still cause serious injuries. As a Mankato attorney can explain, building collapses can also cause injuries during construction or a planned demolition. In these cases, the people injured are often construction workers, who will usually need to file workers’ compensation claims. Even if a construction worker has filed a workers’ compensation claim, they may still be able to pursue a third-party claim against the at-fault party.
Depending on exactly what caused the building to collapse, several individuals or companies could be legally responsible. These include the property owner, condo association, construction managers and contractors, architects, and structural engineers. Proving liability can be more difficult for some of these parties than others. For example, Minnesota law protects certain entities from liability when more than ten years have passed since the construction was completed.
In a building collapse case, more than one person or group may have been negligent and potentially responsible. For example, the builders of a multi-family property could have made significant mistakes during construction, and the problem could have worsened over time because the condo association did not maintain the property correctly. Both the builders and the condo association could be liable in this case.
Determining who is liable for a building collapse usually involves an investigation, which can last months or years. In Minnesota, people injured by a building collapse generally have two years from the date of their injury to file a claim. A Mankato lawyer can help navigate this timeline for a person who was injured in a building collapse so they can focus on healing.
Most building collapse situations will fall under personal injury law. This means that to receive damages, the injured person will need to prove that someone else had a duty to act a certain way, that the other party breached their duty of care, and that the breach caused the injury. After a successful building collapse claim, injured parties can receive both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover financial costs like medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages provide compensation for things like pain and suffering or emotional distress. If the building collapse caused a death, close family members may be able to recover wrongful death compensation.
Compensation can look different for construction workers who were injured on the job. In this case, the injured person may need to go through the workers’ compensation process before filing a lawsuit against a third-party for a building collapse injury. A Mankato attorney can help with this process.
When you need a building collapse lawyer in Mankato, Maschka, Riedy, Ries & Frentz is here to help. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Contact us to discuss your case today. Our legal team would be happy to schedule a free consultation at your convenience.
