Property Owners Claim Werner's Attic Ladders Can Suddenly Break or Shear

It has been alleged that the S2200 series of Werner Co.’s “Easy Access Attic Ladders” can unexpectedly break, putting the person climbing the ladder at risk for serious injuries. While the ladders are mostly composed of steel, it is believed that the hinges on these ladders are made from zinc aluminum, an inferior type of metal that is prone to bending, breaking or shearing. As a result, property owners have complained that they suffered back, neck, wrist and elbow injuries after their Werner attic ladders broke during use.

Did your Werner attic ladder break or shear, causing you to suffer serious injuries? If so, you may have legal recourse. At ClassAction.org, we may be able to help property owners who suffered a fall seek compensation for their injuries by getting them in touch with an attorney.

Which Werner Ladders Are Causing These Problems?

The ladders in question are Werner’s “Easy Access Attic Ladders.” Specifically, they are the S2208 and S2210 models, which are eight- and ten-foot steel ladders, respectively. The allegedly faulty models are marked Mk 1, Mk 2, Mk 3 or Mk 4 on their labels.

Is This a Class Action?

While Werner did face a class action lawsuit over these ladders, the company has since settledthat suit and provided property owners with replacement ladders under the agreement; however, those who were injured after falling off one of these ladders were not compensated for their injuries under this agreement, and attorneys believe these victims may be able to file lawsuits separate from the class action. These lawsuits may be able to provide compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering.

What Did the Class Action Lawsuit Say About Werner’s Attic Ladders?

In the class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged the following:

• The S2208 and S2210 models of Werner’s Easy Access Attic Ladders are defective and dangerous
• These ladders are not fit for normal use because they are made with low-grade zinc aluminum hinges, which makes the ladders prone to bending, breaking, shearing, cracking and shattering
• These ladders can break regardless of how much weight is put on them, despite the company’s claims that they can hold up to 300 pounds
• Werner admitted to receiving at least 80 complaints about these ladders in one week, but the company never issued a recall for these dangerous ladders and continued to sell them until 2008
• When a former Werner employee submitted an anonymous tip regarding the defective nature of these ladders to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the company downplayed the significance of these risks and misled the government agency about Werner’s legal responsibility for these ladders
• While Werner agreed to be legally responsible for any claims concerning the S2200 series ladders when it purchased the assets of its predecessor Old Ladder Co. in 2007, the company succeeded in convincing customers and the CPSC that it was no longer liable for any problems with the ladders

Consumers Post Complaints About Werner Ladder Injuries Online

Consumers have voiced their complaints about their Werner ladder-related injuries on websites including ComplaintsBoard.com, SaferProducts.gov and Amazon.com. Some of these complaints can be read below.

• “These ladders are dangerous, my wife, less than 140lbs and an arm full of Christmas decorations, took a nasty fall when the cheap pot metal hinge broke on our 4-year-old S2210 Werner attic ladder.”
• “I was using my Werner Aluminum (attic) ladder when they snapped, causing me to fall to the concrete floor. I was later found unconscious. I received a shattered wrist that required extensive surgery. The steps were less than 3 years old!”
• “Werner ladder broke, seven staples in head, multiple contusions. Spent lots of [money] on therapy.”
• “As my husband was climbing our garage attic ladder (Werner S2210), he was halfway up when it snapped at the hinge and broke. He fell to the garage floor injuring his head, neck, back, and arms… I am very upset that this ladder has not been recalled already, it could have prevented my husband's injuries.”

In light of these complaints, attorneys believe that many others may have suffered unnecessary injuries after their Werner attic ladders broke and may be able to file lawsuits holding Werner accountable for selling a defective product. 

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