New York Crane Accident

A crane is a massive piece of heavy construction equipment that can measure more than 100 feet tall and weight over 4000 tons. Cranes are generally equipped with a hoist rope, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves that can be used both to lift and lower heavy materials and to move them horizontally. A construction accident that involves a crane is one of the more serious types of construction accidents. When work is done at an elevation, underground or with heavy machinery such as a crane there is a substantial risk of injury. Injuries commonly experienced as a result of a crane accident can include a back injury, spinal injury, paraplegia, or quadriplegia and more. If you have experienced a crane injury, speak with a New York Crane Injury Lawyer from Stephen Bilkis and Associates. We can help you receive just compensation for your injuries including reimbursement for medical expenses, pain and suffering and loss of income.

Even though there are state and federal laws as well as industry regulations that require the implementation of safety standards, each year people are hurt in crane accidents. OSHA has established strict regulations that must be complied with to prevent serious injury. 40% of all crane accidents occur when a crane hits power lines. This type of accident causes electrocution and fatalities. Other causes of crane accidents include:

• Rigging failures
• Mechanical failure
• Dropped loads
• Overturning
• Improper operation
• Boom collapse

Generally, a crane accident occurs as a result of lack of communication, lack of proper training, an instable crane or lack of safety precautions. Inadequate safety harnesses and improperly reinforced walls with underground projects can cause a crane injury as well. The federal government reports that there were 632 deaths in the United States from cranes from 1992 to 2006.

Pursuant to OSHA regulations, employees have specific rules and guidelines that must be followed including:

• If a crane cannot maintain a safe visual clearance, a person must be designated to observe the proper clearance;
• Do not use a cage-type boom guards, proximity warning devices, or insulating links as a substitute for grounded and de-energizing lines;
• Electrical and transmission lines must be de-energized;
• If lines are not de-energized, cranes can only be operated in a safe distance can be maintained;
• Insulated barriers that are not part of the crane must be used to prevent contact with power lines.

Injuries often seen with crane accidents include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Shoulder injuries

The recovery from such a serious injury can be expensive and lengthy. A crane injury victim may even learn that he or she is not able to return to work at all because the crane injury has left him or her disabled. While coping with a painful recovery as well as the financial stress of mounting medical bills and lack of income, it may be difficult to determine what your next step should be.

If your injury was caused by the negligence of another person, you are entitled to recover compensation. The manner in which you will receive compensation is determined by who was responsible for the accident. As New York law requires all employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, if your employer was at fault, you will be entitled to benefits from Workers' Compensation insurance. If a sub-contractor, property owner or equipment manufacturer was at fault, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit in court. Through a personal injury lawsuit you may be able to recover past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity and pain and suffering. If your loved one died as a result of a crane accident, you may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.

If you or a loved one was injured in a crane accident, it is important that you are represented by someone with experienced. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates has experience successfully representing clients injured in construction accidents, as well as vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents and other types of accidents caused by negligence. In addition, we have the resources to handle complex construction accident cases. Contact us at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW (1-800-696-9529) to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.