Who is at Fault in My Crane Accident?
Construction sites are dangerous. Even when everyone follows the safety policies and procedures enacted by the management team and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), accidents can still happen. One of the most tragic accidents that can happen on a construction site is a crane accident. These accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries, death and millions of dollars in property damage.
What Causes Crane Accidents?
Crane accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. These include:
- Crane touches a power line
- The crane drops its load
- The crane was constructed or assembled incorrectly
- Failures with rigging
- The boom collapses
- Crane is overloaded and collapses due to too much weight
- The crane operator is not qualified
- Improper maintenance of the crane
- A worker falls from the crane
- The wrong type of crane was selected for the job
Almost 45 percent of all crane accidents happen when cranes come into contact with power lines, according to statistics from OSHA.
What Should I Do as a Victim of a Crane Accident?
If you are ever the victim of recent crane accidents, you need to protect your rights immediately. Inform your supervisor of the accident and then seek medical care. Be sure to document everything that happened during the accident, including your movements and what might have caused the accident.
When injured in a crane accident, make sure you follow all of the instructions issued by your doctor. If you deviate from these instructions or fail to show up for scheduled doctor’s appointments, you could hurt your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries.
It is important that you take pictures of the accident scene so you can show them to your attorney. Pictures can help tell a more descriptive story. You should also speak to your co-workers who might have witnessed the accident and ask them for their contact information.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Crane Accident?
So, who can be held responsible for crane-related accidents? Depending on the size of the project where the crane is operating, there could be multiple people held accountable:
- The crane operator
- The construction company
- The company that assembled the crane
- The project manager
- The site manager or property owner
It could be possible that all of the above could be at fault for a crane accident, which is why it’s important to work with an experienced attorney when injured in a crane accident.
Injured in a Crane Accident on the Job? Call Thomas J. Henry
Suffering an injury on the job because of a crane collapse can change your life in an instant. Your injuries could force you to miss time at work, lead to extensive rehabilitation and cost you a lot of lost income. It is imperative that you speak with a personal injury attorney about the accident, your injuries and how you can recover compensation. Call the office of Thomas J. Henry at 866-517-5659 to schedule a consultation today.
