The deck collapse injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC realize that most people take deck safety for granted. They assume when they step out onto a friend’s deck at a BBQ, their own deck attached to their home, or the deck of a popular sports bar, that the deck will safely hold their weight. But that’s not always true.
Decks that look strong and sturdy could contain hidden weaknesses like rot, corrosion, split timbers, design flaws, poor materials, or construction defects. And given the right concentration of weight load and movement, that deck could come tumbling down with everything and everyone that’s on it at the time. People could receive serious or even fatal injuries in the collapse or trapped in the debris.
Our deck collapse injury attorneys emphasize that outdoor structures like decks, balconies, and porches receive continuous exposure to all extremes of weather. And some climates, like the hot, humid environment of the southern U.S. coastline, take a greater toll on these structures and age them much faster than more temperate climates.
The Average SAFE Lifespan of an Outdoor Deck is not as Long as You Might Think
Wooden decks on average have a safe, useful lifespan of 15 to 20 years. That’s if they were well built using proper materials, hardware, connections, and construction techniques. And more than half of the millions of decks in the United States have already reached or exceeded that 15 to 20 year lifespan.
Estimates indicate that fewer than half of these existing U.S. decks comply with applicable building codes and standards. Our deck collapse injury attorneys note that these building codes and standards are only minimal safety standards. They do not by any means represent the highest standards of safety that could be achieved.
In a recent 7-year period, the rate of reported deck collapses in the United States increased by over 20% each year. The current year has already seen a number of startling deck collapses with serious injuries. The summer season, one of the peak periods for deck collapses, was barely underway before the deck of a popular Miami area sports bar, Shuckers, collapsed with about 100 people on it cheering a Miami Heat game. The heat on the deck was quickly quenched as the collapse sent 100 sports bar guests tumbling into the waters of Biscayne Bay nearly 10 feet below. Click the link to learn more about the horrific injuries in the Shuckers deck collapse.
Learn Your Rights to Financial Compensation if You or Your Loved One are Injured by a Deck Collapse
If property owners or operators have been negligent in maintaining deck safety and the deck collapses, injured guests who have been needlessly harmed as a result of their lack of care could have rights to financial compensation. If you or a loved one were harmed by a deck collapse and you have questions about how neglected deck safety might affect your claim for fair financial compensation, contact the experienced deck collapse injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC for a free and confidential initial legal consultation.
You have no obligation to hire an attorney, and our deck collapse injury attorneys could help you understand your legal options and evaluate your potential for a full financial recovery for your injuries. We have more than 12 years of experience successfully helping injured clients and their family members achieve fair financial recoveries after accidents similar to yours. Call us at 281-369-4363 or by fill out our online contact form to obtain your FREE legal consultation.