The personal injury attorneys at Parker Scheer in Boston have extensive experience representing persons injured as a result of the collapse of a porch or deck.

Every year scores of individuals in Massachusetts and throughout the country suffer catastrophic, even fatal injuries due to the collapse of wooden porches and decks. The types of injuries caused by defective wooden structures include brain and spinal cord damage, bone and skull fractures, severe back injuries, and other trauma.

For more than twenty-five years, the attorneys at Parker Scheer have successfully represented victims of porch collapse and defective decks. Determining who is at fault for a collapsed porch or deck can be complicated. Under Massachusetts law, the owner of the porch or deck has a legal duty to maintain their premises in safe condition and to conduct reasonably frequent inspections to identify rot, structural damage, or other defects which could result collapse or other failures. The more common causes of porch and deck collapse include the decay of wooden support timbers caused by excessive moisture or wood-consuming insects; rusting nails or other metal fasteners caused by prolonged exposure to the elements; and errors in structural design or fabrication. In addition to defective conditions, collapse can also occur in situations where an owner has allowed excessive weight to be exerted on the porch or deck, such as a hot tub, heavy outdoor furnishings, or appliances, which exceed the load capacity of the porch or deck. The over-loading of guests on an already compromised porch or deck is another common cause of collapse.

"Do-it-yourselfers" and lesser quality "professional" builders frequently fail to construct porches and decks in conformity with state and local building codes.

In some instances the materials used in constructing the porch or deck are inappropriate for their intended application, such as the use of non-pressure treated lumber, which resists rot to a far greater extent than non pressure treated lumber.

For more information about your potential case, or to speak directly to one of our highly experienced attorneys, contact us, toll free, seven days a week, at 866-414-0400. There is never a charge for an initial consultation and all information supplied is maintained in strict confidence. If you need a lawyer outside of Massachusetts, contact us for a convenient referral.