Cranes are an essential piece of equipment on most New York City construction sites. They’re instrumental in helping crews hoist, move, and lower heavy loads and materials on job sites across the city. Unfortunately, cranes are incredibly dangerous pieces of heavy machinery, especially when they’re used improperly or when critical OSHA safety regulations are ignored.
If you’ve been injured in a crane accident in New York City, New York, it’s important to understand that you have rights. The experienced NYC crane accident lawyers at The Platta Law Firm are ready to help you build a legal claim and fight for the monetary compensation you need and deserve.
We’re award-winning New York trial attorneys with 150+ years of combined experience advocating for injured construction workers across the city. As leaders in construction accident litigation, we’ve forced powerful construction companies, insurance carriers, property owners, and other tough adversaries to pay our clients hundreds of millions in life-changing monetary awards. Today, we’re here to fight for your rights and future after a devastating crane accident. Schedule a free consultation by contacting our Manhattan law office now.
The Platta Law Firm Can Help You Fight For Compensation After a Crane Accident in NYC, NY
At The Platta Law Firm, we’ve dedicated our careers to helping injured construction workers assert their legal rights and fight for much-needed compensation after serious job site accidents. Here are just a few of the reasons injured workers continually turn to us for help after crane accidents in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and other areas near New York City:
- Our law firm has successfully obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits packages, settlements, and jury verdicts.
- Members of our legal team have been recognized for their dedication and results by Super Lawyers, the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, and Lawyers of Distinction.
- Collectively, our award-winning New York construction accident attorneys have over 150 years of experience.
- Our case results have helped to shape construction accident regulations in New York and provide greater protections for NYC laborers.
- We provide compassionate, effective legal representation and custom-build strategies to meet each client’s individual needs.
- It costs absolutely nothing to hire our crane accident attorneys in NYC unless we win your case.
You’ll want our top-rated legal team fighting for you as you pursue workers’ compensation benefits and/or damages in a crane accident lawsuit, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Countless positive reviews on Facebook and Google highlight the benefits of working with our award-winning litigators. We offer a free initial case assessment and will represent you on contingency, so contact our NYC law office to set up a time to discuss the details of your crane injury claim today.
Do Crane Accidents Happen Frequently?
According to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 42 people are killed in crane accidents across the country every year. Between 2011 and 2017, there were a total of 297 crane-related deaths nationwide.
The private construction industry accounted for 43 percent of those deaths. New York, specifically, was home to 16 fatal crane accidents during that timeframe.
Of course, not all accidents involving cranes are fatal. Every year, dozens of workers suffer wide-ranging injuries in accidents involving mobile cranes, fixed cranes, and other crane hoist systems.
Is It Safe To Operate A Crane in New York City?
Cranes are complex pieces of equipment, made up of many parts. There’s the boom, the jib, outriggers, counterweights, hooks, cables, and hoists. Operators must be trained in how to use cranes properly to minimize the risk of accidents, injury, and wrongful death. Laborers on job sites in the city must exercise caution when cranes are present and being used to lift and move heavy materials.
Further, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the state of New York have strict rules and regulations in place regarding crane use and operation. Unfortunately, research suggests that OSHA violations are rampant. In a study of 249 crane accidents over a ten-year period, at least 838 OSHA safety violations were identified. Simple mistakes and safety violations result in all different types of crane accidents, including:
- Crushed by load
- Falls from heights
- Dropped loads
- Crushed by crane
- Overturned cranes
- Crushed by counterweight
- Boom contact with power sources/electrical wires
These crane accidents can cause serious, life-threatening injuries including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burns, amputation and lost limbs, crushing injury, and other catastrophic trauma. Report your crane accident immediately and then seek prompt care from a local hospital in New York City. Once your condition has stabilized, contact the NYC crane accident attorneys at The Platta Law Firm to discuss your legal rights and options.
What Causes Most Crane Accidents in New York?
Generally speaking, negligence and violations of important safety regulations are at the root of every crane accident in New York. Specifically, some of the most common causes include:
- Inexperienced crane operators
- Negligent training and supervision
- Crane buckling or collapse
- Mechanical failure
- Rigging failure
- Overloading
- Hoist limitations
- Two-blocking
- Improper crane assembly
- Failure to inspect cranes regularly
- Crane defects
- Improper operation
Our construction accident lawyers in New York will carefully investigate the circumstances of your crane accident to determine exactly why and how it happened. We’ll gather critical pieces of evidence – from company hiring and training policies to video recordings to inspection records – and interview members of the construction team. We’ll consult experts in crane and hoist operations, as well as other individuals with knowledge relevant to the construction industry, as we work to build a compelling legal claim on your behalf.
How Do I Recover Compensation After a Crane Accident in New York?
Whether you’re a crane operator or a laborer who got caught in the crosshairs of a crane accident, you have rights when you get hurt on the job. Pursuant to New York State law, you have primary options for recovering compensation: workers’ compensation and/or a civil lawsuit.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation covers all construction laborers, regardless of immigration status. If you suffer a work-related injury in NYC, you can file a claim with your employer’s insurance company to recover benefits for medical treatment, temporary lost wages, and permanent disability. Family members can seek death benefits if a worker is killed in a crane accident.
Crane Accident Lawsuit
Benefits available through workers’ compensation are limited in time and scope, so many workers opt to take further legal action to recover additional monetary damages. A crane accident lawsuit can be filed against almost anyone whose negligence or wrongful actions contributed to an accident, including property owners, crane and equipment manufacturers, crane rental companies, and contractors. Through a crane accident lawsuit, economic and non-economic damages can be awarded for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Diminished earning capacity
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Reduced quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabilitation
Punitive damages can also be awarded in a lawsuit, but a jury must find compelling evidence of a defendant’s gross negligence or intentionally harmful conduct.
Experienced Crane Accident Lawyers in New York City Ready to Fight For You Today
Do not hesitate to contact The Platta Law Firm if you’ve recently been injured in a crane or hoist accident in New York City, New York. You have a limited time to take action, and our New York personal injury lawyers are prepared to help you assert your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Your future is on the line. As leaders in construction accident litigation, we’re more than ready to help you protect it. Contact our New York law office to arrange a time for a free consultation now.
