Attorney Tony Kalka Obtains $180 Settlement for Victim Injured in Deck Collapse

ATLANTA - Sept. 9, 2013 - PRLog -- With the help of Atlanta Attorney Tony Kalka, a woman who was injured from the collapse of a deck in a rented home was able to reach a $180,000 settlement with the property owner’s insurance company. The settlement occurred after Mr. Kalka and another attorney requested the settlement in a demand letter—a letter to the insurance company that explained the details of the accident, the extent of the victim’s injuries and the damages that occurred as a result. The settlement allowed the woman to recover financial compensation for foot and ankle injuries and other injuries that left her in continual pain and in need of ongoing medical attention.

According to the details outlined in the demand letter, the incident occurred on the evening of Sept. 8, 2012 at a house in Powder Springs, which is in Cobb County, Georgia. The client was with several friends on the rear deck of the rented home, getting ready to play cards, when the deck suddenly dropped to the ground below. In a expert inspection of the deck ordered by Kalka & Baer, it was determined that the deck collapsed because of the deck ledger’s improper attachment to the house’s adjacent wall. The inspector concluded that there were only three lag screws and a handful of nails connecting the ledger, whereas about 12 lag screws would have been needed for proper attachment. He also concluded that the insufficient number of lag screws would have been clearly noticeable in an visual inspection occurring before the deck collapse.

As a result of the accident, the plaintiff suffered from injuries to various parts of her body, spanning from head to toe, as noted in the demand letter. In the event of the deck collapsing, she struck her head, which caused her to suffer from headaches for a number of months following the accident. She suffered from neck and back pain, which she continues to experience in periodic exacerbations. The most serious problem she suffered, however, was a fracture in her left foot and a severe sprain in her right ankle that caused her severe pain for several months, leading to many doctor’s visits. The woman had to use a wheelchair and crutches, and she was eventually told that there was a possibility that she would have to undergo surgery in the future. To this day, carrying out activities such as walking, bending or standing for long periods of time cause her pain. The woman’s injuries led to extensive medical bills, as well as the inability to carry out her regular activities for several months.

In Attorney Kalka’s demand for his client’s settlement, he cited the Official Code of Georgia Annotated §51-3-1 and case law that shows that property owners are liable when invitees are injured on their property due to the owner’s failure to exercise an ordinary level of care in keeping the premises free from safety hazards. The lawyer argued that his client’s landlord did not exercise such care due to the failure to conduct a reasonable inspection of the deck before renting out the home. The letter also stated that such an inspection would have clearly shown that the deck was not correctly and safely attached to the house. The demand letter resulted in the client reaching a $180,000 settlement. Anyone else who has been injured in a deck collapse accident in or around the Powder Springs area is advised to contact Kalka & Baer, LLC.

Attorney Kalka is an accomplished legal professional, as he has been included in the Georgia Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™ list on several occasions, and he has also been included in The National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40.” Kalka & Baer LLC provides highly skilled legal representation for a full range of personal injury matters. In addition to deck collapse cases and other cases related to premises liability, the firm also handles claims and lawsuits related to car accidents, injuries from defective products, nursing home abuse and much more. Additional information is available at http://www.the-atlanta-injury-lawyer.com/.