Crane Accident Lawyers

Mobile cranes are the backbone of the U.S. construction industry. MacCollum, a recognized authority on crane hazards, has estimated that cranes are involved in 25 to 33% of fatal injuries in construction and maintenance (MacCollum 1993). Crane safety has been in the forefront of the news due to the recent crane accidents in Houston, New York City, Miami, and Las Vegas. The type and number of injuries related to cranes are difficult to quantify, because reported statistics on work-related injuries usually group cranes in larger categories such as "industrial vehicles and equipment" or "equipment and machinery."  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the category "industrial vehicles and equipment" accounts for 17% of fatal injuries in U.S. construction (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1993). The most recent data are for 2006; in that year, there were 72 crane-related fatal occupational injuries, down from an average of 78 fatalities per year from 2003 to 2005.

In 2006 there were no multiple fatality incidents involving cranes; however 6 fatalities in 2005 and 8 fatalities in 2004 were the result of multiple fatality incidents involving cranes.

In 2006, 30 crane-related fatalities were caused by being struck by falling objects. Only 9 of these fatalities were due to the crane striking them. The other workers were killed when an object the crane was transporting fell from the crane onto them. Of the cranes that were specified in the fatality, mobile, truck, and rail mounted cranes, and overhead cranes represented the type of crane involved for the majority of fatalities. Overhead cranes typically have a hook-and-line mechanism on a horizontal beam that runs along two widely separated rails, whereas mobile cranes are usually cranes that are mounted and travel on top of mobile devices such as trucks or rail cars. In 2006, 26 fatalities involved mobile, truck or rail mounted cranes. Nineteen involved overhead cranes.

Every year many crane operators are killed or seriously injured on the job. This occurs even though many state and federal regulations, as well as industry standards, require owners, general contractors and sub-contractors to implement a wide variety of safety measures.  Although workers' compensation benefits aide employees while injured on the job, they are usually not sufficient to fully compensate injured workers for all damages sustained as a result of their work-related accident.

In some States, employees cannot sue their employers for damages sustained as a result of a work-related accident. In order to receive reasonable compensation for their injuries, workers must commence lawsuits against parties other than their employer, such as property owners, general contractors, sub-contractors, architects, and equipment manufactures who may be held responsible when a construction site accident occurs. In addition to workers' compensation benefits, additional damages that can be recovered in these lawsuits include pain and suffering, additional wage loss benefits, additional medical benefits and loss of services for the spouse.

The majority of crane related accidents involved mobile cranes and many "non-crane" workers have also suffered serious injuries. These non-crane operators include occupations such as mechanics, oil workers, ironworkers, rigger, and stevedores. Statistics point to crane instability, lack of communication and lack of training as the three most common reasons for crane related accident injuries and deaths.  MacCollum (1980) lists 13 common failure modes of cranes:

 

1. Overloading

2. Side pull

3. Outrigger failure

4. Hoist limitations

5. Two-blocking

6. Killer hooks [without a throat latch]

7. Boom buckling 8. Upset/Overturn 9. Unintentional turntable turning

8. Oversteer/crabbing

9. Control confusion

10. Access/egress

11. Power-line contact

In addition, serious injuries involving cranes can occur as a result of:

12. Improper assembly or dismantling

13. Rigging failure and fall of load or lifting tackle

14. Being struck by a moving load

15. Accidents related to manlifts

16. Working or standing within the swing radius of a cab or counterweight.

There are engineering controls for prevention of crane accidents. Anti two-blocking devices, outrigger extension sensing systems, overload sensors, and limit switches can eliminate or reduce certain failure modes (Jarasunas 1987). Warning devices and limit switches increase safety by providing more information to the operator and reducing the need for guesswork. However, it is unlikely that engineering controls will make crane operation a simple matter.

In the immediate aftermath of a serious accident or injury, hiring a lawyer may be the last thing on your mind.  If you are reading this however, you probably recognize that a personal injury lawyer may be to assist you in (1) filling out important paperwork, (2) investigating your claim, (3) locating possible defendants, (4) securing valuable evidence, or, (5) obtaining just compensation for your injuries through settlement or court proceedings.  If you would like your case to be reviewed by an experienced personal injury lawyer, contact Kelley | Witherspoon.

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