Decks are part of summer’s ambience — morning coffee, parties, barbecues. On occasion, however, decks collapse, leaving injuries and fatalities in their wake.
Deck collapses might not be frequent, but they’re not rare either. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in a recent four-year span, 2,900+ injuries were associated with collapses. The North American Deck and Railing Association notes that there are approximately 60 million decks in the U.S. — residential and commercial. Over 30 million are believed to be beyond their “useful life” and need immediate repair or replacement.
The worst deck collapse occurred in Chicago in 2003. Approximately 50 people were gathered on a deck three stories up. Upon its collapse, decks on the first and second floors below were wiped out, too. All told, 57 people sustained serious injuries; 13 died. At first, the city blamed overcrowding. However, the collapse was determined to be due to poor construction and building code violations. In addition, permits had never been issued for deck construction.
Some causes of deck collapses include:
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Improper deck design and construction. A common collapse occurs when the deck pulls away from a house or building.
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Lack of safety inspections.
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Overcrowding/too much weight. Not just people but equipment and appliances, too.
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Deterioration of materials. Wood begins to rot (e.g., water exposure, termites); nails and metal fasteners begin to rust, diminishing their integrity.
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Age. Some decks were built prior to modern-day building codes.
Potential liable parties for a deck collapse include the property owner (a friend or relative will not pay damages; their insurance will); property manager; maintenance firm; designer/builder; manufacturer/ seller of a defective part; and/or a municipality charged with inspecting the structure. If you are harmed by someone’s negligence, contact our firm to protect your rights.
