Architecture Expert Witness Opines on Dangerous Wheelchair Ramp

Case Overview

This case takes place in Texas and involves a wheelchair-bound female who had signed a lease on an apartment after relocating to a new city for work. She requested a handicapped accessible unit, and was advised by the landlord that she’d been placed in one. Accordingly, her apartment was located on the ground floor of the building, and it featured a dedicated entrance with small wheelchair ramp for access. Nevertheless, the ramp had been added to the unit some time after its initial construction, and, as a result, it had been built with a very steep slope. On one occasion, the woman had returned from work and was attempting to use the ramp to access her apartment when her wheelchair lost balance and tipped over. It was alleged that the excessive slope of the ramp had caused the woman to fall from her wheelchair, resulting in severe injuries including broken bones, a concussion, and a scalp laceration.

Questions to the Architect expert and their responses

Please explain your qualifications / experience as it pertains to ADA Building Codes & Standards.

I am highly qualified to review this case and glad to assist. I have 35 years experience as a forensic architect managing highly technical projects. I am a technical expert and I have led a high number of projects that are compliant with ADA and Texas Accessibility Standards.

Have you ever served as an expert witness on a case involving improper ramp design / construction, failing to accommodate ADA restrictions, etc.?

I have extensive expert witness experience and have reviewed similar cases involving sloping floors and stair design.

Have you ever published / lectured on this subject?

From the summary provided, it seems clear that the ramp was not in compliance with the relevant standards. Such an accident should not occur on properly designed and constructed ramps.

About the expert

This expert is currently a registered architect in the state of Texas, having received his Bachelors degree in Architecture at the University of Texas - Austin. He has more than 30 years of experience in the architectural field, and is presently an independent architectural technical consultant providing quality assurance and quality control services to architectural firms, structural engineering firms, building construction contractors, developers, and institutional facilities groups relating to construction documents for building projects.