A Trusted Ally For The Injured

Case Result Announcement

On Behalf of | Mar 5, 2021 | Firm News |

MARTIN LAW, LLC recently secured a $700,000 settlement on behalf of a client who fell 25 feet from a recreational climbing facility when he was a young teenager. As a result of the fall, he suffered compression fractures in his spine.

The fall was caused by the Defendant’s failure to ensure that the teen properly attached his rope to the proper harness loop.

While traversing between the different platforms, the climber wore a harness provided by the Defendant which had a main weight-bearing loop distinguished by its color and position in the front of the harness and utility loops on the sides. The utility loops were not designed to hold a climber’s weight.

Defendant’s staff members were responsible to man each platform as climbers traversed the course to make sure climbers connected to the weightbearing loop before they disconnected from the previous safety rope. The boy safely transferred between the first and second platforms under the supervision of experienced staff members.

At the third platform, the two staff members failed to ensure the third safety rope was attached to the uniquely colored weightbearing harness loop. When the boy stepped off the platform, the safety rope tore away from the harness utility loop and the boy fell 25 feet to the ground. Our investigation showed that one staff member was color blind and could not distinguish the weightbearing from non-weightbearing loops while the other staffer was a trainee.

As a result of the fall, the boy suffered compression fractures of his lumbar spine at L1 and L3. Although initially taken to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital ER for evaluation and treatment by spinal bracing, he received most of his subsequent care from a neurologic chiropractor who helps patients with problems of the neuromusculoskeletal system.

MARTIN LAW, LLC achieved justice for this young man which enabled him to move forward from this unfortunate event.