Monmouth County Crane Accident Lawyers

Crane Accident Attorneys Providing Assistance to Those Injured in Freehold, Holmdel, Tinton Falls, Middletown, Howell, and Southern New Jersey

Few of us envision being hurt in a crane accident unless we work in construction.  It is true that construction workers are those most frequently affected by crane mishaps, but bystanders or neighborhood residents are at more risk than one would surmise.  Cranes lift and move large, heavy objects like other machines, materials, and goods like shipping containers.  They can be found at ports, construction sites, or in your neighborhood.

Cranes come in all sizes.  Smaller cranes, such as the ones you may see in your neighborhood, are used by tree-cutting companies and electricity and cable companies.  They typically use mobile cranes to lift workers or heavy materials.  Mobile cranes are sometimes used for roofing or house-building projects. Tower cranes are fitted into the ground with cement.  Their concrete base must be built a month before the crane is in place.  The tower crane is built on-site in a series of additions or removals of its structure to increase or decrease its height.  The tower crane is constructed of several parts, including counterweights, to prevent its heavy loads from toppling the crane.  Building, maintaining, and using a tower crane is so dangerous that those who work on the crane receive hazard pay.  Rough terrain cranes are more compact than other cranes, with a more extensive base and a shorter center of gravity.  They are used on uneven ground or in rural places.

It’s critical to understand your legal options if a crane was involved in an accident that injured you or a loved one. To assist you in exploring the different scenarios to recover compensation for your injuries, our seasoned personal injury attorneys at Chamlin, Uliano, & Walsh provide free consultations and diligent legal representation to clients in and surrounding Monmouth County, including Freehold, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Asbury Park, Belmar, Wall, and Hazlet. Call our West Long Branch office at (732) 440-3950 to request a free review of your case, talk with an experienced lawyer, and discover what you may be entitled to for crane-related injuries.

Most Common Dangers When Working with Cranes

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, most crane accidents occur with mobile or tower cranes.  OSHA estimates that nearly half of the injuries and fatalities in crane accidents are when the crane comes in contact with live power lines.  The hoist line carries a charge down to those on the ground. Tower cranes can collapse if they aren’t loaded or operated correctly.  Inaccurate weight and radius calculations can cause a boom to swing uncontrollably, and the load or the falling crane can hit workers.

Construction workers on the crane, either for repairs or to adjust, don’t always use the necessary safety harness, and if the crane moves, even in the slightest, they can fall. Cranes weigh several tons, but despite their weight, they can overturn when their load is too heavy or attached properly.  If they fall to the ground, even partially, they can cause irreparable harm.

Additionally, worksites must be safe.  Site managers, engineers, and workers must all be on the same page.  They are responsible for checking and double-checking the site’s tools, materials, and machines.  If the weather is questionable, they should halt any work with the crane until it is safe again.  Lightning, sleet, and high winds can make what is normally a dangerous scene possibly fatal.

Improper maintenance or missed inspections can lead to accidents because cranes are like any other machine in that they need to be checked regularly for missing parts, bent pieces, or faulty wires.  Before a crane can be used, OSHA requires that it undergo a full inspection before it can be used.

The Devastating Consequences of Crane Accidents

An injury in a crane accident, 9 times out of 10, is serious or, unfortunately, fatal.  Broken bones, organ damage, crush injuries leading to amputations, electrocution, TBI or other head injuries, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, full or partial paralysis, and death can all result from a crane accident.

Relevant Information on the Laws and Rules Governing Crane Accidents

All crane accidents that cause injury to a person or damage to property must be reported to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development in writing.  The crane operator or their employer must submit the report to the Department if they cannot submit it within 24 hours of the incident.  The report must include all of the personal information of the operator, the location, date, and time of the accident, the type and model of crane used, the nature of the victim’s injuries or damages to property, the name and address of all affected persons, and the name and phone number of the employer.  If the accident results in in-patient treatment or death, the crane operator must report the incident immediately to the Department’s Hotline.

The construction company will pay penalties such as fines upwards of $100,000.  The penalties are based on how compliant the company has been in the past, how cooperative they were during the recent incident, whether the violation was “willful in nature,” or if it resulted in bodily harm.

Building sites can be shut down for as many days as are necessary to make corrections to prevent another accident.  Sites that open when they have been shut down will receive a separate charge for every day they operate under the shutdown order.  If found guilty or partially guilty of the accident, crane operators can have their license suspended for up to six months or lose their license, unable to get a new license for 5 years.

Potential Parties Who May be Responsible for a Crane Accident in NJ

Crane accidents, just like the cranes themselves, can have many parts.  If you are considering taking legal action after being hurt by a crane due to someone’s negligence, you need to know who the culpable parties might be. First and foremost, crane operators should be licensed.  To obtain a license, they must receive training specific to the kind of crane they use and must have at least 1,000 hours of apprenticeship before getting it.  Being under the influence, ill, or drowsy can cause them to act foolishly.  Also, not inspecting the crane properly could cause an accident for which they would be responsible.

General contractors are in charge of creating a safe work environment.  The construction workers are usually their employees and go with them from site to site.  The contractor is to blame if the grounds are unsafe, the equipment is substandard, or they do sloppy work. Property owners are also liable for unsafe working conditions.  They rely on the general contractors to keep them abreast of any issues, but the property owner’s responsible for keeping the site safe.

Further, crane owners usually rent their cranes to contractors.  It is very rare to find a general contractor with their own cranes.  The owner could be to blame if a faulty crane caused your accident. Crane manufacturers can make mistakes.  If the crane that injured you had a factory defect, the company that fabricated that crane could be held liable.

Seeking Compensation as a Construction Worker Injured in a Crane Accident

Workers’ compensation will cover medical costs and some wages, but you have another option outside of workers’ compensation.  Where possible, a third-party personal injury claim can help restore you economically and provide you with the resources you need to heal completely.  The crane manufacturer, general contractor, or any outside party pertaining to the accident can be the focus of your lawsuit.

Seeking Compensation for a Crane Accident Near a Construction Site

Construction workers, contractors, and property owners can be held accountable if they are injured near their construction site.  Crane accident injuries or fatalities are usually considered premises liability cases.  If the appropriate safety measures were not taken, their neglect gives you the right to seek compensation for your injuries.

Get in Touch with our Crane Accident Injury Lawyers to Find out Your Rights in NJ

If you or someone you know has been injured in a crane accident in New Jersey, you have the right to pursue compensation, but it is a tough row to hoe when you also have to focus on healing from your injuries.  Maybe your injuries are so serious that life as you know it will be changed completely.  Letting the people who caused your injury to continue as though it wasn’t their problem isn’t fair.  You deserve better, and we are here to help you.

At Chamlin, Uliano, & Walsh, our talented attorneys have the legal acumen to protect your rights against big companies who have little interest in your recovery.  Don’t let them cajole you into accepting a settlement.  The first number is typically less than you are truly entitled to. We will work for you to achieve the best possible result.

Call our Monmouth County office today at (732) 440-3950 or reach us online.  We offer confidential, free no-obligation consultations in Neptune, Long Branch, Howell, Lavallette, Rumson, and throughout Southern New Jersey.  Remember, a personal injury suit has a statute of limitations of two years, and the clock is ticking.  Don’t wait another minute!  We are here to help you.