As the responsibility of Austin property owners, the premises of Austin homes, businesses, and apartment complexes must be properly maintained in order to protect the safety of individuals. However, without regular upkeep of structural integrity, structures like porches are particularly susceptible to dangerous collapse. If a porch collapses while an individual is occupying the space, any sustained injuries have the potential to be severe and require substantial medical rehabilitation.
Reasons Porches Collapse
While older buildings in Austin are more prone to porch collapse, especially when their owners do not regularly maintain them, a poorly constructed porch on a newer building may also have the potential to collapse. Among the most commonly reported causes of porch collapse include the following:
- Deck material that is rotted (wood)
- Nails, screws, and fasteners that are rusted
- Porch construction that failed to adhere to building codes
- Extensive deterioration of foundational integrity
However, when porches become burdened beyond what they were designed such as for one of the following reasons, they are at a markedly higher risk of collapsing:
- Over-occupancy
- Over abundance of deck furniture
- An embedded pool or hot tub
- Heavy appliances
- Air conditioner compressors that are too heavy
Many Austin property owners hold a special obligation to ensure that their premises are safe for their guests; however, when Austin property owners are negligent in their duties, they may be held financially liable for any injuries that result.
Consult an Austin Porch Collapse Attorney Today
At the Law Offices of Vic Feazell, P.C., our Austin porch collapse injury lawyers can help you hold property owners liable for any injuries you sustained as the result of their negligence. To discuss the particulars of your case with one of our lawyers, please call our Austin offices at (512) 710-0931 today.