Long Island Crane Accident Lawyer

When you drive past a construction site in Long Island or elsewhere in New York State, you’ll often spot cranes at work. The machines’ ability to lift heavy loads above ground makes them essential during construction work. Although they make construction work easier, cranes are arguably the most dangerous construction machinery.

The machines are large and heavy, so operating them requires extra caution. A slight error or miscalculation can result in catastrophic accidents. Crane operators and other construction workers who suffer injuries caused by crane accidents may be liable for compensation for their damages and losses.

Injuries sustained in crane accidents are often severe and sometimes life-threatening. When faced with the prospect of financial ruin or permanent disability, you need to get compensated for your losses and injuries.

Table of Contents

• Why You Should Hire Our Long Island Crane Accident Lawyers
• Why Do Crane Accidents Happen?
• The Dangers of Crane Accidents on Long Island
• Who Is Liable for Crane Accidents?
• Recovering Compensation After a Crane Accident

Why You Should Hire Our Long Island Crane Accident Lawyers

Crane accidents often cause catastrophic injuries and losses. As a victim, you’ll probably deal with painful injuries, soaring medical bills, and extended periods out of work. With so much on your plate, the last thing you don’t want is the added stress of a lawsuit or a workers’ compensation claim.

That’s where the experienced crane accident lawyers at Rosenberg & Gluck LLP can help. We work in our clients’ best interests by allowing them to focus on recovering while we pursue compensation on their behalf. For decades, we’ve been the go-to personal injury attorneys in Long Island with an enviable track record.

We’re renowned for leveraging an aggressive approach in the tireless pursuit of compensation for our clients. For this reason, we’ve helped dozens of accident victims to obtain millions in verdicts and settlements; so let’s work for you.

Why Choose Us?

Here’s what our team can do for you when pursuing your compensation after a crane accident in Long Island:

• Investigate the accident with expert help to establish what happened and who might be at fault.
• Work closely with doctors and other experts to identify your past, present, and future damages that we might claim from the at-fault parties. We will also gather and review medical records, tally your treatment bills, and find expert witnesses to ensure you receive full reimbursement.
• Stand up to insurers when they try to pay you less money than you deserve.
• Demand compensation from crane manufacturers, owners, contractors, and anyone else who might have contributed to your losses and injuries.

The last thing you want to do is worry about your lawsuit while still fighting to get back on your feet. At Rosenberg & Gluck LLP, we’re committed to taking the stress out of your life during this challenging period. Do not face insurers on your own when you can count on our team to defend your rights.

Why Do Crane Accidents Happen?

OSHA has outlined rigorous regulations relating to the use and operation of construction machinery such as cranes. The safety standards are meant to minimize the possibility of accidents at construction sites and other places where cranes get deployed.

Nonetheless, crane accidents do happen, and here are some of the contributory factors:

• Cranes collapsing due to overloading.
• Poor maintenance of crane equipment.
• Incorrect crane setup.
• Inexperienced crane operators.
• Crane host failure.
• Crane boom collapse.
• Miscommunication between the crane operators and ground workers.
• Negligent supervision.

Crane accidents are preventable since they primarily happen because someone became negligent. The only way to prevent these accidents is by training crane operators on safety, installing the equipment properly, and operating cranes with the utmost care. If that doesn’t happen, crane accidents are inevitable.

The Dangers of Crane Accidents on Long Island

Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that New York State has witnessed a significant increase in crane accidents over the past decade. Moreover, a recent Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) report indicated that an average of 44 crane-related fatalities get reported annually.

Crane accidents often cause severe and catastrophic injuries and death in some cases.

The dangers of operating cranes include:

• Getting struck by a part of contraction cranes of objects from uncontrolled hoisted loads.
• Electrocution caused by contact between construction cranes and electrical sources such as overhead power lines. Over 40 percent of crane accidents occur this way.
• Falling off the crane or of other elevated parts of the crane structure.
• Getting caught in the moving parts of a crane.

Who Is Liable for Crane Accidents?

Determining liability after a crane accident can be tricky. As a victim, you may not know who to hold liable for the injuries and losses you suffered, but the skilled attorneys at the law offices of Rosenberg and Gluck LLP can help. While handling your claim, we will thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and trace it back to the responsible parties. That could include:

General Contractors

New York Labor Law Section 200 obligates general contractors to keep construction equipment such as cranes safe and ensure that everyone at the site has the necessary protections. You may hold the general contractor in charge of the construction site where you got injured liable if they absconded this duty.

The Property Owner

Property owners are mandated to provide safe conditions to everyone on their site. Their general duty of care entails ensuring the safe operation of cranes on their sites.

The Crane Manufacturer

The company that built the crane can be held liable for mechanical or structural defects that caused the accident. Under New York’s product liability laws, you can also hold manufacturers of defective crane components responsible if those parts contributed to the accident.

Crane Owners

Sometimes, third parties own the cranes used on a site. If that’s the case and an accident occurs, the crane owners can be held liable for defects that led to the accident or for failing to maintain or inspect the crane as required.

Subcontractors

If another company gets hired to provide or operate the crane and an accident occurs due to their negligence, those who suffer losses and injuries can hold the subcontractor liable.

Engineers

In most sites where cranes get deployed, site engineers are responsible for directing the placement and operation of the equipment. They can be held liable for their negligence if they fail to discharge their duties as required or ask you to perform an unreasonably dangerous task that causes an accident.

As with most personal injury claims, a thorough investigation is critical to pinpoint the parties responsible for the crane accident that led to your injuries and losses. The parties involved will conduct their investigation to establish what happened. Nonetheless, you also need an attorney to look out for your interests and establish what transpired before and during the crane accident.

Damages and Injuries Caused by Crane Accidents

Cranes are heavy equipment. Moreover, they work when hoisted above ground. When they malfunction or collapse, the resultant damages and injuries are often catastrophic.

The most common crane accident-related injuries and damages that the attorneys at Rosenberg & Gluck LLP handle include:

• Crushing injuries caused by falling objects or crane components.
• Traumatic injuries, including brain injury.
• Spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis.
• Fractures.
• Internal bleeding and damage to internal organs.
• Electrocution and similar forms of electrical injuries.
• Amputations.
• Wrongful death.

Recovering Compensation After a Crane Accident

You may be eligible for multiple damages after getting hurt in a crane accident. However, recovering damages after accidents of this nature is always daunting. At Rosenberg & Gluck LLP, we’re committed to ensuring you get fully compensated.

We have years of experience handling claims related to crane accidents in Long Island. Our team also leverages leading legal technology and the inside knowledge of respected industry experts such as investigators, accident deconstructionists, quality-of-life analysts, and doctors. In doing so, we build strong claims that ensure the possible trial verdict or settlement offer.

Concerns regarding a financial settlement after a crane accident are common. When you fall victim to a crane collapse or a similar incident, you’ll undoubtedly be worried about supporting your family and paying your medical bills. The damages you can recover can either be economic or non-economic.

Economic Damages

These are the tangible losses you incur or expect to incur due to the crane accident and are concrete because they’re easy to document and calculate. Most crane accident victims seek to recover medical expenses, and it’s no surprise they’re the most common type of economic damage awards. Medical expenses include the initial cost of treatment and the follow-up treatment.

Lost wages are also a common economic damage the crane accident victims seek to recover. After the accident, you may spend time out of work or be unable to return to work altogether due to a disability. Recovering lost wages can help alleviate your financial burden when out of work or working for fewer hours.

In other crane accidents, victims may want to recover property damage. For instance, if a crane falls on your vehicle, you may seek to have it repaired or replaced.

Non-Economic Damages

These damages are more subjective and intangible compared to economic damages. Non-economic damages primarily relate to types of harm that don’t come with objective documentation or a receipt. They include pain and suffering, permanent or partial disability, loss of companionship, and emotional stress.

Legal Claims You Can Make After a Long Island Crane Accident

There are three main ways to seek compensation after getting injured in a Long Island crane accident; personal injury lawsuits, workers’ compensation benefits, or wrongful death claims.

Personal Injury Lawsuits

Under New York’s state labor law, you can have a legitimate claim for your injuries and losses against a property owner, engineer, contractor, or crane manufacturer. When the attorneys at the law firm of Rosenberg & Gluck LLP file a personal injury lawsuit, they can work to ensure you get compensated promptly and maximally.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Construction workers in New York State may seek workers’ compensation benefits if they get injured on the job. Because you have access to workers’ compensation, you generally have no right to sue your employer.

Despite this, you may still have a third-party claim against another at-fault party.  For this reason, it’s best to let an experienced Long Island crane accident attorney handle your claim. This way, you’ll have the best shot at recovering the damages you’re entitled to.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit

You can pursue compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit if you lose a loved one in a crane accident. This lawsuit is primarily meant to help you recover your lost financial support and funeral costs.

When to File Your Claim

After suffering losses and injuries in a crane accident, you should assert your right to compensation. The longer you wait to file your claim, the higher the risk of losing out on valuable money. For this reason, you need to know when to file your compensation claim.

If you want to recover damages from a workers’ compensation program, you must notify your employer within thirty days of the crane accident. After that, you have one year to submit a request for benefits under workers’ compensation.

The statute of limitations is generally three years if you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a municipal component, you could have as little as 90 days to act.  You won’t be allowed to file a claim outside  these timeframes. When the attorneys at Rosenberg & Gluck LLP take care of your case, we’ll file it within the statute of limitations.

Contact a Long Island Crane Accident Lawyer

You deserve to receive compensation for injuries and damages resulting from a crane accident in Long Island. However, getting compensated isn’t always easy, especially when the at-fault parties try to avoid liability. Reach out to a construction accident attorney.

The Rosenberg & Gluck LLP attorneys can fight to protect your rights at this difficult moment. If you or a loved one suffers injuries and losses in a Long Island crane accident, contact Rosenberg & Gluck LLP today at (631) 451-7900 for your free case evaluation.

Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP

1176 Portion Road
Holtsville, NY 11742