 Construction crane accidents are a towering problem
In less than three months in 2008, two cases of catastrophic crane collapse killed a total of nine people at New York City construction sites. As such crane fatalities show, towering cranes can be extremely hazardous, as can other construction equipment and tasks.
Construction workers have some of the highest rates for injury and death on the job of any profession. More than 200 people annually die from construction-site falls alone. Towering construction cranes have proven to be exceptionally hazardous, being prone to breaking or coming loose from their moorings and toppling onto workers and bystanders. In such cases, the manufacturer of the equipment may be liable for wrongful death damages, as can be the owner of the construction company or the property on which the job was done, provided such owners had supervision of the process. Wrongful death lawsuit may be an option Workers compensation alone may be insufficient to assist the survivors of someone who has died in a construction accident. A wrongful death lawsuit, however, can provide legal recourse. Contact an experienced lawyer in wrongful deaths from construction accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set standards for construction groups to protect their employees’ safety. But that doesn’t mean OSHA’s rules always are followed. In the case of crane accidents, faulty equipment or unsafe dispensation of equipment may be to blame. In a May 2008 crane collapse in New York City, the top part of a crane snapped off and fell. Two people died and more were injured. In a March 2008 crane collapse in New York City, a crane which was 22 stories tall broke away from its anchors, fell apart and smashed to the street. Seven people died and more were injured, including bystanders. Residents nearby reportedly had expressed concern about the looming crane for weeks before the accident. In each case, the crane was owned by the same equipment company. A building boom in the city has reportedly led to an 83 per cent increase in construction accidents, and the demand for crane operators has shot up. In the process, New York’s Department of Buildings reports, the city had eight crane-related accidents and 10 crane-related injuries in 2007 alone. Overall, more than 26 New York City construction workers have died within a year. As New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says, without condoning the accidents, “Construction is a dangerous business.” But crane collapses and other construction accidents can happen anywhere. Other recent crane collapses have occurred in Wyoming, Washington, Nevada, Kansas and Missouri. When someone dies in a crane collapse or other construction accident, their survivors can file a wrongful death suit to collect damages independently of workers compensation. Such damages may include compensation for loss of services, guidance, affection, support and companionship. A skilled wrongful death lawyer can help you seek such compensation from a fatal construction site accident. Jim S. Adler & Associates can offer expert legal help in cases of fatal construction accidents. The firm offers a free case review. |