Serious Injury and Fatal Death Attributed to Crane Accidents
Crane mechanical or crane operational problems can often lead to serious crane accidents which may cause serious and fatal injuries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), crane accidents accounted for an average of 50 deaths and even more injuries in the United States per year between 1984 and 1999. Since 2000, the numbers have steadily increased with deaths almost doubling.
Crane accidents are a major cause of death and injury in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and in all large cities. In 2004, there were 5,703 work-related crane fatalities and almost 1,250 fatalities occurred within the construction industry. However, crane operators and construction workers are not the only ones at risk of injury. With almost 250,000 crane operators at work every year in all different industries throughout the United States, hundreds of people from workers to unsuspecting bystanders are put in harms way when a crane accident occurs.
Crane Safety
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has outlined a strict set of rules and regulations that must be complied with in order to reduce risks of serious injuries and fatal deaths due to accidents. However, crane accidents often occur due to unsafe working conditions, poor safety procedures, and negligence.
The most common cause of fatal accidents, roughly 40%, is when a crane comes into contact with a power line and causes electrocution. Other major causes of crane accidents include:
- mechanical failures
- rigging failures
- overturned cranes
- dropped loads
- boom collapse
- improper operation of the crane
What to Do if a Crane Accident Occurs
If a crane accident occurs and results in severe injury, contact a crane accident lawyer to learn more about your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering sustained in such accidents. An attorney may be able to assist accident victims in (1) filling out important paperwork, (2) investigating a claim, (3) locating possible defendants, (4) securing valuable evidence, or, (5) obtaining compensation for crane-accident related injuries through settlement or court proceedings.
Legal Help for Crane Accident Victims
If you, a family member or a friend have suffered a serious injury as a result of a crane accident, contact a crane accident lawyer at the Finz firm now toll free at (855) TOP-FIRM or simply fill out the Free Crane Accident Case Evaluation form.
