LOS ANGELES CRANE ACCIDENT LAWYERS
Aggressive Lawyers Representing Los Angeles Crane Accident Victims
Construction sites have their share of dangerous equipment, but few pieces of equipment are as dangerous as cranes. Used to lift materials, crane collapses and other accidents can injure not only construction workers but people outside the construction site. Many people die each year in crane accidents, and hundreds more suffer serious, life-altering injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crane accident, you should reach out to one of our crane accident attorneys for advice about how to seek compensation.
Types of Crane Accidents
Cranes are large pieces of equipment, and they can cause considerable damage. Some of the more common crane accidents include:
- Crane collapses. Cranes can collapse when set up on uneven or slick surfaces or when they become overloaded.
- Dropped loads. Cranes typically move supplies or goods. If the crane fails, or if the operator makes a mistake, then the load can fall onto people, often causing death or serious injury.
- Boom strikes. As the crane moves, it might collide with a construction worker, causing death or serious injury.
- Electrocution. Crane operators can get electrocuted if the crane’s boom makes contact with a power line or other supply of electricity. Electrocution accounts for almost a third of all crane accident deaths.
Crane accidents can cause devastating injuries, such as crush limbs, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, spinal cord injuries, and internal organ damage. About 22 construction workers are killed each year in crane accidents.
Causes of Crane Accidents
Often, some mistake is to blame for the crane accident. Had a person been more careful, the accident could have been avoided and no one would have been injured. Common causes include:
- Choosing an inappropriate crane for a job
- Improper set up
- Using the crane in a manner not specified by the manufacturer
- Failing to follow federal standards for crane operation
- Lifting an unbalanced load
- Improper maintenance of the crane
- Failing to properly train crew to use the crane
- Failing to follow proper safety protocol
Another cause of crane accidents could be a defect in the crane itself. In this situation, the person operating the crane did nothing wrong. Instead, the crane was defective, and the defect led to the accident. Crane manufacturers and other parties along the chain of distribution can be held legally responsible for the accident if they sold a defective crane.