Insurance adjuster falls through ceiling, lands in family's kitchen during roof inspection

An insurance adjuster checking a roof leak fell through a family's ceiling and landed in their kitchen. Home security cameras at a house in Gilbert, South Carolina, recorded the fall.

The footage is credited to homeowner Joel R. Merritt via Storyful. It went viral in September 2026, and Juice Unlocked posted it on Sept. 10 in a collaboration led by The Injury Firm. FOX 11 Los Angeles reported the same day that the fall had happened three years earlier.

What happened

According to FOX 11, the adjuster was there to inspect the roof after a leak. Walking the roof did not tell him what caused it, so he asked to check the attic. Merritt said he was up in the attic with the adjuster when the man stepped back onto the ceiling and fell through.

Merritt told FOX 11 he was "obviously shocked" when the adjuster disappeared, "but I was concerned for his safety." According to Business Insurance, the video shows the adjuster standing up and dusting himself off. Neither outlet reported any injuries or named the adjuster.

Merritt said he had installed the cameras to keep an eye on dog sitters during a family vacation and then forgot about them. He shared the clip because it "gets us laughing every time," FOX 11 reported.

The legal side

In its caption, The Injury Firm said accidents like this one can lead to injuries, property damage, medical bills and lost income. It said they can also raise the question of who is responsible: a property owner, an employer, a contractor or an insurance company. According to the firm, the answer depends on the facts, and preserving evidence and talking with an attorney can help.

Neither outlet reported whether anyone filed a claim over the fall.

About this post

This is partner content. The post was shared in collaboration with The Injury Firm and is not legal advice.