As one of the world’s great metropolitan areas, it’s hardly unusual to see cranes and other heavy equipment on New York City streets. Our city has experienced a construction boom in recent years, making cranes an even more commonplace sight.
Yet while cranes play a critical role in our city’s infrastructure, they can also be very dangerous if operated improperly.
According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, an average of 44 people die in the US each year from crane accidents. The study also showed that roughly half of all crane deaths involved workers being struck by a falling object or equipment. Falls, meanwhile, represent about 14-percent of crane-related deaths.
The leading locations for crane accidents include construction sites (24-percent) and factories or plants (24-percent). Specialty trade contractors, heavy and civil engineering, construction and manufacturing are the most common industries where crane accidents occur, combining for nearly 70-percent of crane deaths.
New York City has seen a variety of high-profile crane accidents over the last few years. These incidents include a crane collapse in TriBeCa that killed one person and injured three; an industrial air conditioner unit that fell from a crane in Midtown Manhattan and injured multiple people and a crane collapse in the East Village in July, 2019 that temporarily closed the FDR Drive.
Recent national crane incidents include:
- An out of control crane that crashed into a residential home in New Jersey.
- A crane collapse into a Dallas apartment complex that killed one person and critically injured several more.
- A massive, 28,000-pound crane that crashed into one of Seattle’s busiest intersections, killing four people, smashing six cars, and injuring numerous others.
Common Causes of Crane Accidents
According to the Crane Inspection and Certification Bureau, 90-percent of crane accidents occur due to human error. The most common of these errors include:
- Operators exceeding the crane’s operational capacity.
- Swinging the boom or making a lift without the outriggers being fully extended.
- Electrocution resulting from a crane coming into contact with a power source during operation.
- Uncontrolled hoisted materials falling and striking workers.
When errors such as these occur, it places crane operators, workers and pedestrians in grave danger. Given the size and power of a crane, it’s unsurprising that half of all crane injuries result in death. When a serious or injury occurs, the crane operator, the property owner, the business owner and other parties may be held liable for negligence.
Finding the Right Crane Accident Attorney
At The Frankel Law Firm, we’ve been fighting for the rights of accident victims for more than 40 years. We have the experience necessary to handle even the most complex crane accident cases.
If you have been injured in a crane accident, contact us today at (212) 888-5100 or at www.frankellawfirm.com for a free consultation.
We welcome your legal questions for topically relevant articles in the future. Feel free to compose a question – it may be addressed in future articles. Email Question
Free Case Evaluation
Fill Out The Form Below To Find Out If You Have A Case.
Thank you for contacting us. One of our colleagues will get back to you shortly.
