San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog
As we learn more details about last week’s tragic balcony collapse in downtown Berkeley, we are reminded how often we rely on the assumption that the buildings in which we live, work, and play are sound. When this proves not to be the case, injuries and fatalities often follow. In addition to premises liability claims against property owners (discussed in last week’s blog post, linked below), these tragedies can give rise to claims against those who built the faulty structure. Today’s blog post from our San Francisco construction defect injury law firm looks at this subset of civil injury litigation.
Waterproofing Problems Eyed in Deadly Balcony Collapse
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the investigation in the balcony collapse appears to be focusing on the company responsible for waterproofing the structure. The paper says Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates has suggested that, while the investigation is still underway, there is a “high probability” that water caused the wood supporting the fourth-floor balcony to weaken. The article also cites experts who have examined photographs of the damage and identified signs of moisture-related rot. Further, these experts suggest the photos show damage to the waterproof membrane intended to protect the wood supports, damage the experts believe dates back to the balcony’s construction that may have allowed moisture to invade the structure and rot the beam.