5 Types of Crane Accidents

1. Boom failure or boom collapse: When the boom is overextended, it can fail under heavier loads. Increasing pressure on a crane’s hydraulic, mechanical, and structural components with extreme weight at full extension may cause the boom to collapse.

2. Crane collapse: Most crane collapses involve the failure of smaller equipment, such as truck-mounted cranes. No matter a crane’s size, a collapse is almost always the result of negligence.

3. Crane overturns: Overloading a crane beyond its capacity or positioning a crane on uneven ground can make it tip over. To alleviate safety concerns, workers should adhere to weight guidelines and inspect the ground before working with a crane.

4. Dropped load: If a load is overweight, improperly secured, or unbalanced, it can cause a crane accident. These accidents are avoidable if proper safety protocols are enforced, and workers are properly trained in handling heavy equipment.

5. Electrical contact: Operating cranes near power lines risks contact with the lines that can lead to electrocution. OSHA estimates 45 percent of crane accidents involve the boom or crane contacting energized power lines. All workers and crane operators should monitor where power lines are located.

Recent crane collapses in large cities in Texas have been attributed to operator and employee errors. Despite technological advances in cranes, crane accidents still occur routinely. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), 44 crane-related deaths occur every year in the United States.

Texas is home to the largest number of fatal crane incidents. 

Causes of Crane Accidents

Cranes are usually the largest piece of equipment on a worksite. Crane accidents are often caused by the following factors:

• Inadequate training or lack of training

• Improper crane selection

• Overloaded crane

• Crane operator inexperience

• Failure to inspect the crane

• Incorrect assembly

• Crane is not on a stable, level surface

• Moving loads over workers or pedestrians. Crane operators should not create unnecessary risk by moving loads over other people.

• Poor weather. Weather conditions matter with regard to safe crane operation.

• Not following proper safety measures. Federal safety agencies, state safety regulators, and employers themselves all have rules to operate a crane safely. These rules and regulations should be followed at all times.

Crane Accident Injuries

Crane accidents are almost always life-changing for those impacted. Crane accident injuries are generally some of the most severe work-related injuries due to the size and force of a crane, along with the weight of the potential load it can carry. Catastrophic injuries are common and include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Whether struck by part of the crane or part of the load falling on someone, blows to the head can cause severe damage. Victims can suffer concussions, brain damage, penetrating wounds, or cranial trauma.

• Spinal cord injury: Falling from the cab or a caught-between accident involving moving parts of the crane can cause spinal cord injuries.

• Electrocution: When a crane contacts a live power source, the metal boom often conducts the electricity to anyone on or near the crane.

• Amputation: Being caught under, between, or in crane mechanisms can accidentally amputate a victim’s limbs. Injuries may also be so severe from a crane accident that the worker requires surgical amputation to save their life.

• Death at work: In the worst scenarios, someone can be killed by a crane or dies of their injuries later on. Families have the option of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against those responsible.

Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has sustained serious injuries because of a crane accident, you have certain injured employee rights in Texas. Trying to file an insurance claim or pursue a personal injury lawsuit can be overwhelming. The experienced Houston crane accident lawyer can handle the legal complexities.

While many workplace accidents will be referred to workers’ compensation for reimbursement, comp is generally not the only option.

If the crane operators or other individuals on site are contractors, the injury may not be subject to a workers’ comp bar. Victims may still be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to secure compensation. These lawsuits can be filed against third parties. Third parties are general contractors, property owners, maintenance companies, and/or visitors to the site.

It is even possible to pursue a personal injury claim against a third party while also receiving workers’ comp benefits if the circumstances are right. Determining if this is a viable option for a crane accident victim requires an evaluation by a competent personal injury attorney.

Seeking Compensation for a Crane Accident

Suffering injuries after a crane accident is often expensive. Hospital bills, lost wages, can bankrupt someone who is not prepared for a disastrous injury. Fortunately, you do not have to face these medical bills alone. You can seek financial compensation for the damages you have experienced.

Victims have the right to seek full financial restitution. This includes every expense you have incurred because of the other party’s negligence. Compensation can be awarded both for damages with a fixed monetary value and for those that are more subjective.

For example, the victim of a crane accident can pursue:

• Compensation for a reduced quality of life

• Full reimbursement of all medical costs, including travel, co-pays, and assistive devices

• Repayment for lost wages, employee benefits, and potential future earnings due to the accident

• Full payment to cover estimated future medical and income needs

• Compensation for loss of society, loss of consortium with a partner or spouse, and difficulty maintaining relationships

• Financial restitution for emotional distress, anxiety, depression, or PTSD

• Compensation for the stress of enduring scarring, disfigurement, or amputation

Developing the full list of damages and gathering evidence to support a claim takes time and experience. Texas allows just two years from the date of a crane accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Victims should act quickly to consult with legal counsel. After this timeframe passes, plaintiffs can no longer seek compensation through the courts.

Seek Help From a Qualified Legal Team

Crane accidents are legally complex. When numerous parties may be liable, trying to untangle the percentage of responsibility for party is challenging. If federal workplace safety regulations have been violated, the case becomes even more confusing. Victims should not try to obtain an insurance settlement or go to trial on their own.

Many crane accidents result in serious injuries or in wrongful death. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a crane accident, consult with our work accident attorneys. We can explain your legal rights. You do not have to face the financial burden alone when someone else is to blame.

To ensure the best outcome for your needs, do not wait to speak with an experienced construction accident attorney. They will dedicate their professional legal team to protecting your rights and your financial future, no matter what type of crane accident injury you have suffered.