Crane Accident Attorneys

Crane Accident Attorneys

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 300 crane related deaths between the years 2011 to 2017. Among those crane related deaths, men accounted for the majority of the fatalities, and non-Hispanic workers were most likely the ones involved in crane accident fatalities. The second most common group likely to be involved in a crane accident fatality were Hispanic and Latino male workers.

 The majority of crane accident injuries in the United States occur when a construction worker is struck by an object or equipment while using the crane. Crane accidents could result in very severe injuries, oftentimes even disabilities that will prevent someone from returning to work and resuming normal activity. If you or a loved one have experienced any injuries as a result of a crane accident, contact our top-rated experienced construction accident attorneys for a free no risk consultation.

 Between the years 2011 to 2017, 43% of crane accident fatalities took place within the private construction industry. Crane fatalities occurred while the worker was operating the crane in 22% of the cases. More than 1/4 of crane injuries occurred at the construction site, and the second most common site for crane accident injuries occurred at a factory or a plant.

Top States Where Crane Accidents Occur

The top states that have experienced the most crane accident injuries are:

• Texas
• Florida
• New York
• California
• Illinois

The main reason why the majority of crane accident injuries have occurred in these states are because these states are constantly trying to build new roads and buildings as the cities become more and more populated. Unfortunately, with overpopulation also comes consequences of speedy construction, such as crane accident injuries.

How Common Are Crane Accidents?

Crane accidents are very common according to the Center of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Crane accidents during construction work are one of the most severe and common accidents that could occur to construction workers. On average, there are around 44 people killed in crane accidents every year.

Could I Sue for My Crane Accident Injuries?

If another party was liable for your crane accident injuries, you could sue the negligent party to seek compensation for your injuries. Usually, crane accident injuries result in very severe and catastrophic injuries that may take months, even years to heal from. The injured victim may face thousands of dollars in financial hardship while they seek to recover from their injuries.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Crane Accidents?

There are several different reasons why injured victims could suffer crane accidents. The top common causes of crane accidents are:

• Contact with electric and power lines
• When the crane overturns
• When the crane falls over
• When the crane has a mechanical failure
• When the crane has a defect
• Improper maintenance
• Inexperienced crane operators

How Do Crane Accidents Occur?

According to OSHA violations with crane accidents, the most common reasons for crane accidents were because:

• Construction workers were crushed by a load held by the crane
• The crane dropped the load due to poor rigging practices
• The crane tipped over and fell

What Type of Compensation Could I Receive for My Crane Accident Lawsuit?

The different types of damages you could receive depend on the circumstances of the crane accident. For example, someone who has suffered permanent disability will most likely be able to recover more in compensation compared to someone who has suffered a temporary disability. The most common types of compensation you could receive for your crane accident injuries are:

• Past lost wages
• Future lost wages
• Hospital stays
• Emergency room treatment
• Property damage
• Medical supplies
• In-home medical Care
• Loss of consortium
• Emotional distress
• Prescription medication
• Physical rehab
• Pain and suffering

Wrongful Death and Crane Accidents

Oftentimes, crane accidents lead to fatalities rather than injuries. If your loved one has passed away due to a crane accident, contact our attorneys to see how you could file a wrongful death lawsuit against the liable party responsible for the crane accident. A wrongful death lawsuit is a legal claim brought by the decedent’s family members against the liable party to seek compensation for any financial suffering the decedent experienced, along with other family and funeral expenses. For more information on wrongful death cases, contact our top-rated California personal injury attorneys today.

Who Can I Sue for a Crane Accident?

There are a variety of different parties that could be held liable for a crane accident. For more information, and to determine who the potential liable party is for your specific crane accident injuries, contact our construction accident attorneys today for a free no risk consultation. The at fault party is also known as the defendant in the lawsuit. Examples of potential defendants include:

• Property owners
• Crane operators
• Engineers
• Construction inspectors
• Government entity
• Architect
• Crane manufacturer
• Construction project management company

Negligence In Crane Accidents

Crane accidents will most likely have to be filed under a negligence claim. Negligence is a legal claim that the plaintiff, also known as the injured victim, will have to prove. The plaintiff needs to show:

• The defendants had a duty to the plaintiff to act in a reasonably safe manner
• The defendant breached that duty when they failed to act in a reasonably safe manner
• The defendant’s breach caused plaintiff to suffer injuries
• The plaintiff now has damages due to their injuries

Example of crane accident negligence: the construction Company negligently hired an inexperienced crane operator. While the crane operator was operating the crane, he negligently dropped the load onto another construction worker down below. The construction worker who has sustained injuries could file a claim against the construction company for negligently hiring an inexperienced crane operator.

How could the construction company be held liable for my crane accident?

California and Nevada follow a theory called vicarious liability, which holds the employer liable for any injuries caused by the negligence of their employees. If the employee engaged in negligent behavior during the scope of their employment, then the employer will most likely be held liable for their employee’s negligence. This means that if an employee operated the crane negligently, the injured victim has a claim against the employer who hired the employee.

In order to prove that the employer could be held liable, the plaintiff needs to show that the employee was acting within the scope of their employment. For more information on how to prove the employee was acting within their employment, contact our top rated personal injury attorneys today.

Crane Defects

If you have been injured as a result of a defective crane, you may have a claim against the product manufacturer. There are several different ways a crane could have a defect. Examples include:

• Manufacturing defect: this occurs when a specific crane is defectively created compared to all the others on the factory line
• Design defect: this occurs when all the cranes have been defectively designed
• Warning defect: this occurs when the crane is not supplied with a warning