Third-party recovery after a scaffold collapse
L&I covered part of the loss. A missing brace on rented scaffolding explained the rest.
Our client fell nearly twelve feet when a section of rented scaffolding shifted beneath him. He received L&I time-loss payments, but those benefits did not account for his long-term reduced earning capacity or his pain and suffering.
How we built the claim
Because Washington workers generally cannot sue their own employer, we looked for other parties. Inspection photos showed a missing cross brace, and the rental company's setup log had gaps on the day of assembly. We coordinated with L&I on its statutory lien so the recovery would not be eaten away at the end.
$1.2 million recovery (illustrative)
The rental company's insurer resolved the claim after depositions of its setup crew. Our client kept his L&I benefits and received a separate recovery from the third party.
- Third-party liability identified
- Setup logs and inspection photos obtained
- L&I lien negotiated
- Depositions taken before resolution
Case results shown are illustrative examples written for this demo site. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.