Crane Collapse

There are more than 100,000 mobile cranes, tower cranes, floating/barge cranes and overhead cranes operating in the United States at any given time. According to the most recent United States Department of Labor statistics, approximately 70 crane-related fatalities occur each year. More than 90% of crane accidents that result in permanent disability and/or wrongful death affect construction workers. Innocent bystanders are involved in less than 10% of crane accidents.

Most of the time, crane injuries and fatalities stem from a partial or complete collapse of a crane tower, loss of a section of crane, or when an entire crane falls over. Other common crane-related injuries and deaths involve:

crane contact with overhead power lines;
people struck by a crane load; and
people struck by crane booms or jibs.

In the case of crane-related electrocutions, approximately 50% involve power lines knocked-down by a crane boom, 25% involve crane operators, and 15% involve a worker touching an electrified crane. In the case of falling crane loads, approximately 30% of injuries involve workers loading/unloading a crane, 30% involve workers not involved in crane-related activities, and 15% involve workers directing a crane. Nealy 60% of crane boom injuries occur when a boom is being dismantled.

According to regulators:

crane operators should be appropriately certified;
crane riggers and signal-persons should be appropriately trained;
crane inspectors should be appropriately qualified;
cranes should be inspected before and after assembly; and
crane loads should not pass over street traffic.

At Bottar Law, PLLC, our team of New York crane collapse lawyers have decades of experience investigating, prosecuting and trying to verdict cases involving cranes and construction site accident cases. If you or a loved have been injured while working at a jobsite, you and your family may be entitled to compensation for lifelong health care, medical expenses, medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering.

To discuss your case or concerns with an experienced Syracuse crane accident attorney, contact us now at (315) 422-3466, (800) 336-LAWS, or by e-mail at info@bottarleone.com.