In a city with as much high-rise construction activity as New York City, crane accidents pose a serious threat of injury or death to construction workers, and it is important to understand why they occur-both to prevent them from happening and to assist the victims in pursuing fair financial compensation for their injuries. A 2008 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Crane-Related Occupational Fatalities, states that in the year 2006 there were a total of 72 deaths caused by crane accidents. Of these, 42% were the result of being struck by a falling object including the crane load, while 20% were suffered in falls, 11% involved being caught in or compressed by equipment, 10% occurred in incidents involving transportation, and 8% were the result of electrical injuries.
The Center for Construction Research and Training has recommended a number of precautions for preventing crane accidents, factors which may be used to isolate the cause of your accident. These include:
Finding proof of violations of any of the above may serve to establish negligence and fault for your crane accident. Whether you have suffered catastrophic injuries or if you want to sue for the wrongful death of a loved one in a crane collapse, contact us at Greenberg & Stein, P.C. for an initial consultation to discuss the situation and take the first steps toward recovering a settlement.