Deck Collapse in Harrisonburg: A Reminder of Legal & Structural Responsibility

This Monday, a deck at a private residence in Harrisonburg collapsed, injuring at least five people, including college students. Emergency crews responded quickly, triaging and transporting victims to Sentara RMH, and fortunately, none of the injuries are reported to be life-threatening.

These incidents are sobering reminders of the high stakes when structural failure occurs. Decks, by design, bear significant weight—especially during social gatherings. When a deck collapses, legal questions arise around maintenance, construction standards, and negligence.

Some key factors commonly involved include:

• Faulty or inadequate ledger board attachment, particularly when nails are used instead of lag screws or bolts;
• Rot, corrosion, or deterioration of fasteners, joists, posts, or supporting hardware;
• Overloading—often during social events—surpassing the intended weight capacity of a structure.

Establishing liability in these cases generally hinges on whether the property owner (or builder) breached their duty to maintain a safe structure. That may include failing to inspect or repair deteriorating components, ignoring code violations, or allowing unsafe overcrowding.

These cases require prompt investigation that requires expert structural evaluations to demonstrating the standards at play and whether they were breached. When preventable harm occurs due to negligence, the law provides avenues for accountability.

This situation stands as a reminder: safety depends on vigilance and proper care.