If You Were Injured in A Crane Accident Call Us
Our New York construction accident attorneys have decades of experience in representing people who were injured because of unsafe construction practices. Our lawyers know that cranes are incredibly heavy pieces of machinery, that transport loads that often weigh thousands of pounds. The sheer weight and force that these machines are capable of exerting, requires that accepted safety practices be followed and that the crane operator, as well as those who load the crane’s materials, be diligent and follow the applicable safety regulations. If you were injured in a crane accident, it is probably because of negligence in the operation or the maintenance of the crane. Call our New York City crane accident attorneys for a free consultation.
New York Crane Accident Attorneys
New York Personal Injury Lawyers Who Handle Crane Accident Cases
If you were injured in a crane accident, then you are probably entitled to be financially compensated for your personal injuries. Whether you were a pedestrian passing by a construction site or were a construction worker that was injured on the job, it doesn’t matter. Those who set up, maintain and operate cranes are required to do so safely. When appropriate safety procedures are not followed and people get hurt, the crane companies are responsible to provide compensation.
Just before Halloween, 2020, New Yorkers experienced an unpleasant surprise, when an unsecured crane began swinging and dropping debris at a jobsite located at West 57th Street in Manhattan, above Central Park West.
Crane Accidents In New York Have Become Too Common
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 200 crane accident-related deaths from 2011 to 2015. While some injured workers were operating the cranes themselves, others were simply bystanders on the construction site when something fell from the crane and struck them.
The Statistics Are Sobering
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), forty five percent of all crane accidents occur when the boom or crane comes into contact with an energized power line.
Cranes Are Dangerous- There Is No Room for Carelessness
What Are the Most Common Types of Crane Accidents
Counterweight Failures
Counterweight Failure Cause Crushing Injuries and Death
Counterweight failures are a leading cause of construction accidents. A counterweight failure can occur because the counterweight is too heavy and the crane tips over, or because of a mechanical failure of a chain or clamping assembly which is securing the counterweight, also known as a counterweight separation. A counterweight separation occurs when the counterweight brakes free and falls, which will injure anyone who is in the way.
Contact with Powerlines
Negligent Operation
Our New York City construction accident lawyers who handle crane accident cases, know that the crane operator must be careful when they are in control of a crane, because a single wrong move can have catastrophic results. If a crane or its load hits a powerline, tree, building or structure, the likelihood of a serious personal injury or fatality is almost certain. Therefore, our Manhattan construction accident attorneys know that if a crane hits something, the most likely cause is crane operator negligence.
Dropped Loads
If you were injured because materials or structural components which were being hoisted fell, then you have a case. Both New York’s regulations and accepted construction practices require that loads being lifted be property chained or secured, so that they don’t shift under movement and that the load is not dropped.
Outrigger Failures
What Is an Outrigger Failure
The outrigger on a crane is a beam that distributes weight to the ground, to ensure that the crane is stable. If the outrigger is not properly set up, the crane can become unstable and tip over. If you were injured in an accident because a crane tipped over, there is a strong likelihood that the outrigger was not properly set up which caused the crane to be unstable.
Recent New York City Tragedies Involving Cranes
2021 Was a Deadly Start for Construction Workers With a String of Crane Collapse Accidents
December 2016 - Manhattan Wrongful Death in Crane Accident
The operator of a crane that collapsed and killed one person in Lower Manhattan failed to properly lower the boom and was responsible for the accident, and had his crane operator’s license suspended.
Halloween, 2020 - Manhattan - Crane Accident Falling Debris
Just before Halloween, 2020, an unsecured crane at a West 57th Street jobsite, was swinging wildly and dropping debris, which caused New Yorkers in Central Park to run for their lives.
On June 24, 2021, another crane accident in the Tribeca section of Manhattan killed one person and injured three others. Also in June, 2021, a crane’s boom broke free and fell from a 31 story building in Brooklyn.
Meet with Our NYC Crane Accident Lawyers
Our Manhattan Law Office:
18 West 33rd Street
Suite 400
New York, NY 10001
Phone (212) 858-0503
Email Michael@newyorktriallawyers.org
Law Office of Michael H. Joseph, PLLC
The Law Office of Michael H. Joseph, PLLC, has been helping injured victims recover compensation for their injuries for over 25 years. Our attorneys are members of several prestigious organizations, including:
- New York State Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association for Justice
- New York County Bar Association
- Westchester County Bar Association
To request your free initial consultation with our team, call our New York City office at (212) 858-0503 or our White Plains office at (914) 354-3809. You can also request a case review online
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Personal Injury Lawyers
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