Crane Accidents in Boston, MA
Choosing An Experienced Massachusetts Crane Accident Lawyer
The lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston are experienced in representing victims of crane accidents involving serious personal injury and wrongful death. A crane is a powerful piece of equipment. When someone is injured, a general contractor, sub-contractors or property owner may be liable.
Our attorneys settled one wrongful death case for two parents for $1.35 million, with special damages of $75,000 to pay for medical care and funeral expenses. The parents lost their son, a licensed crane operator, due to the negligence of several parties. The ground under the son’s crane collapsed when he raised the boom and he was pinned underneath. The son was never informed about the soil conditions. Read about the case.
When Crane Accidents Happen
A crane is an important piece of equipment for any construction site, with the capacity to transport thousands of pounds of materials. But many things can go wrong. When cranes are improperly set-up on unstable ground or forced to carry an overweight load, they can tip over, ejecting the operator and injuring other workers. A crane can also tip when the operator is forced to operate in adverse weather conditions. Another serious risk is cranes colliding with other pieces of construction equipment. This can occur when a contractor is not properly managing all the construction activity on a site.
Many crane accidents are fatal. When a worker survives, the physical injuries may include crushed legs, paralysis, broken bones, head injuries, organ damage, burns and permanent scarring. These injuries are life-changing and almost always prevent the injured from engaging in future work. The injured may have to spend time in a rehabilitation center and long-term care.
Crane operators are not the only ones who have been hurt. A worker who was disassembling a crane was killed in the Longwood Medical Area in September 2016. A year earlier in Taunton, a 24-year-old construction worker was killed at the Myles Standish Industrial Park in Taunton. A crane crashed into a steal beam. He was attached to the beam and fell 40 feet. If cranes are not properly set up, they can also injure pedestrians and other people on the ground.
In 2016, a 38-year-old man was killed in New York City when a crane came down. He had been sitting in a parked car and was crushed by the impact. Three other people were seriously injured, but survived. A half-dozen cars were damaged. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) cited the company Galasso Trucking and Rigging with two violations, including not making proper precautions to work in windy conditions.
If someone has been injured in a crane accident, they may be able to file a claim against a negligent property owner, general contractor or sub-contractor. These parties had a responsibility to be knowledgeable about the site conditions and provide safe working conditions for crane operators, workers and the public.
Speak to an Experienced Massachusetts Crane Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crane accident, it is important to speak to an experienced Massachusetts construction accident lawyer. There is a Statute of Limitations for how long you can file a claim. The Boston crane accident lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have over 100 years combined experience and have handled wrongful death and personal injury cases involving cranes and other types of construction equipment. Contact us today for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or (617) 723-7676 or use our contact form.