A balcony collapse over the summer during a birthday party at a rented house in Ruidoso, NM sent about 20 – 25 people tumbling about 25 feet to the ground and through a lower balcony in between. Some victims managed to cling to dangling pieces of the structure. 1 victim was in the hospital on a respirator fighting for life. Another victim had severe back and pelvic injuries. Several other adult victims had broken bones and concussions. Witnesses say the outcome of the birthday party balcony collapse could have been much worse if anyone had been on the lower balcony when the collapse occurred. First responders said pieces of the balcony were still falling when they arrived at the scene.
So the question is: what turned a cheerful Ruidoso, NM birthday party get together into a balcony collapse disaster that changed the venue to hospital waiting rooms? Some of the more obvious possibilities include:
* The advanced age of the structure,
* Un-braced 4×4 posts holding a balcony up more than 25 feet in the air,
* Improper fasteners holding parts of the structure together and to the house, and
* More weight on the balcony than the structure could safely support.
The news reports quote local inspectors mentioning an obvious lesson among the fallen debris of the birthday party balcony collapse. The inspectors specifically indicate “warped wood” and “signs that the balcony are pulling away from the home” in addition to the age of the structure. They say that the weather is “real tough on wood” in Ruidoso, NM.
The height of that balcony made it especially imperative to adequately brace and fasten all structural supports. Given the obvious height of the balcony, even extremely well-fastened joists could pull away from the house if the balcony experienced an excessive weight load. A highly technical, but interesting, discussion of the difficulties involved in adequately securing a balcony to its house, stemming from this very Ruidoso, NM balcony collapse, can be read at this builders’ website.
1. From my read, it sounds like an initial design flaw (inadequate bracing of very tall supporting posts) might have a role in the balcony collapse disaster.
2. Then, weathering of the wood and other building materials over time took its toll on the structure.
3. The home’s owner may have neglected to put any effort forth to maintain or repair the balcony (since the news report indicates warped wood and signs that the balcony was already tearing away from the home).
4. Finally, a birthday party sent a large number of people out onto the balcony, possibly with additional furniture and coolers full of drinks. The heavy weight load provided the final catalyst to pull the balcony off its moorings to the house.
The Ruidoso, NM balcony collapse bears some similarities to a deck collapse near Golden, CO that injured about a dozen victims. The sad fact is that injuries, even fatalities, from balcony and deck collapse accidents occur frequently. These collapses can range in size from an apartment balcony collapse that injures a single individual to the collapse of a structure hosting a large celebration.
A balcony collapse can lead to serious head traumas, spinal injuries, broken bones, organ damage, and deep lacerations. Injured victims may need help to meet their medical expenses from the accident. If you’ve been injured, our experienced balcony collapse lawyers could help you recover the financial compensation you need to meet the burdens of your medical expenses and get on with life. Call now.