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Crane Accident Lawyer NY

Serious Injury and Fatal Death Attributed to Crane Accidents

Crane mechanical or crane operational problems can often lead to serious crane accidents which may cause serious and fatal injuries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), crane accidents accounted for an average of 50 deaths and even more injuries in the United States per year between 1984 and 1999. Since 2000, the numbers have steadily increased with deaths almost doubling.

Crane accidents are a major cause of death and injury in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and in all large cities. In 2004, there were 5,703 work-related crane fatalities and almost 1,250 fatalities occurred within the construction industry. However, crane operators and construction workers are not the only ones at risk of injury. With almost 250,000 crane operators at work every year in all different industries throughout the United States, hundreds of people from workers to unsuspecting bystanders are put in harms way when a crane accident occurs.

Crane Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has outlined a strict set of rules and regulations that must be complied with in order to reduce risks of serious injuries and fatal deaths due to accidents. However, crane accidents often occur due to unsafe working conditions, poor safety procedures, and negligence.

The most common cause of fatal accidents, roughly 40%, is when a crane comes into contact with a power line and causes electrocution. Other major causes of crane accidents include:

  • mechanical failures
  • rigging failures
  • overturned cranes
  • dropped loads
  • boom collapse
  • improper operation of the crane

What to Do if a Crane Accident Occurs

If a crane accident occurs and results in severe injury, contact a crane accident lawyer to learn more about your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering sustained in such accidents. An attorney may be able to assist accident victims in (1) filling out important paperwork, (2) investigating a claim, (3) locating possible defendants, (4) securing valuable evidence, or, (5) obtaining compensation for crane-accident related injuries through settlement or court proceedings.

Legal Help for Crane Accident Victims

If you, a family member or a friend have suffered a serious injury as a result of a crane accident, contact a crane accident lawyer at the Finz firm now toll free at (855) TOP-FIRM or simply fill out the Free Crane Accident Case Evaluation form.

Related News for Crane Accidents

Crane Accidents: More Common Than You Think

May 13, 2013 | Finz & Finz, P.C.

You don’t have to be a construction worker to encounter a crane accident.  Crane accidents can affect pedestrians around a construction zone, as well as workers on or near the site, or someone in a home or building at the time of impact when a crane collapses straight down or off to the side.  A crane accident can happen in an instant.  One minute you see the neck of the crane, the next minute—nothing.  Construction workers generally know about the hazards of working at a construction site and should follow the rules and regulations for dealing with heavy equipment they use on a daily basis.  But, what about the average pedestrian walking in the area, or someone watching television inside their home? 

Continue Reading: Crane Accidents: More Common Than You Think

Crane Accidents - The need to protect the Construction Worker and the Public

October 24, 2012 | Former Judge NYC Civil Court Housing Part George M. Heymann

Crane accidents can cause serious injury and/or death not only for the operator[s] of the crane, but for unsuspecting individuals in neighboring buildings that get struck or those on the ground who have debris raining down upon them. This is especially so in a large metropolis such as New York City. For example, on the east side of Manhattan the collapse of a crane at a construction site killed the crane operator, injured a fellow worker and the owner of the crane company was indicted for manslaughter. More recently, while work was being done to extend the #7 train on the west side of Manhattan,  a 120 foot crane snapped into two sections: one 80 feet in length and the other 40 feet in length. This resulted in the death of one construction worker, leaving another with serious injuries and three others with minor injuries.

Continue Reading: Crane Accidents - The need to protect the Construction Worker and the Public

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