Trenton Crane Accident Attorneys
Cranes are large pieces of machinery that pose a major risk to both workers and pedestrians near construction sites. If you have lived in New Jersey for more than a month, there is no doubt that you have seen the extraordinary amount of construction taking place in this thriving state. Cranes are always used in big construction jobs and for logistics. Dock workers are exposed to crane-related accidents every day that they are on the job. Cranes are used for lifting and swinging heavy loads in a wide range of directions. The crane is a significant piece of equipment and can be extremely dangerous to use, work near, and operate. As such, cranes inevitably find their way to these jobs and often become the center of litigation.
For victims who have been hurt in crane accidents in New Jersey, Cohen & Riechelson offers free consultations, and our team of attorneys will go over your case piece by piece to ensure your rights are protected. We will look into the accident’s circumstances to identify any potential causes and parties that should be held accountable for your injuries.
Learn your rights as an injured worker or bypasser in a New Jersey construction accident involving a crane by requesting a free case evaluation from one of our accomplished personal injury attorneys. Our personal injury firm serves clients in Hamilton, West Windsor, Ewing, South Brunswick, Mount Holly, New Brunswick, Princeton, Edison, Mercer County and Middlesex County, NJ. Call now (609) 528-2596 to speak with knowledgeable, compassionate legal professionals who can answer your inquiries and help fight for the compensation you need to recover and thrive.
Crane Accidents Are More Frequent Than You Think in NJ
Between the years 2011 and 2015, there have been 220 crane-related accidents resulting in death. This staggering statistic averages 44 deaths per year due to crane-related accidents. In these accidents, injuries resulted from victims being struck by equipment or an object a little over half of the time. Over 60% of these cases involved a victim being injured by falling equipment or objects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that the object falling came from a crane in approximately 60 incidents. Crane-related deaths and accidents are more common than you may think. This means that employers, third parties, and manufacturers should take proper precautions when deploying and choosing to use a crane.
Most Frequent Causes of Crane Accidents
The most common crane-related accidents include when a crane collapses, comes in contact with power lines, when the crane falls or overturns, dropped objects and loads, various mechanical failures, improper maintenance, inspection, and/or training. This list is merely a recitation of those most common incidents; however, there are many ways a crane can cause injury. Considering the extreme size of equipment and objects that necessitate the use of a crane, there is no surprise that many crane-related accidents result in death.
Ways You can be Injured in a Crane Accident
Having established that death is a very common injury caused by crane-related accidents, there are several other types of injuries that may result. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) often occur to those not killed by being struck as a result of a crane. Uncontrolled objects that fall most often lead to TBIs or significant head trauma affecting the rest of the victims’ lives. Another common result of crane-related accidents is spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries may occur not only from uncontrolled loads but also by falling out of the operating cab of the crane or being struck by an uncontrolled load swinging. Victims have also been known to be electrocuted by a crane’s metal boom coming into contact with live power wires.
How Are Crane-Related Accidents Prevented on Construction Sites?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has provided specific guidelines, which can act as standards, that are followed by employers availing themselves of the use of a crane for their worksite. There are several ways that worksites can lower their liability for crane-related accidents. These strategies include an assessment of the work site before work beings, identifying any high-risk areas for accidents, creating a safety plan that ensures the operator and crane are capable of the job and performing, authorizing a person to oversee the crane while it is in use whose sole job is to prevent unsafe situations from arising, preparing a team of individuals capable of proper performance and communication while the crane is in use, and training all individuals who are on the site while the crane is in use.
Handling Claims for Injuries Resulting from Crane Accidents
Liability in a crane-related accident is vast among worksite employers. Courts will analyze if the employer has done everything in their power to prevent such an accident and whether or not they have been negligent in their duty to ensure a safe worksite for all of their employees, especially the victim of the crane-related accident. The equipment, or crane, will be looked at to see if this crane was proper for use such as the job in which the accident occurred. Courts will also analyze the operators of the crane to ensure that the operator chosen by the employer to carry out specific duties has not been negligent in performing those duties, thus resulting in injury.
Contact Mercer County Crane Accident Lawyers to Discuss Your Case
There are many reasons to hire a skilled, experienced attorney to represent you in a crane-related accident case, the most important being settlement negotiations. However, certain aspects of your accident will preclude you from maximum compensation. Workers’ compensation claims may preclude you from filing a claim against your employer; however, it will not preclude you from filing against another negligent party. Negligent third parties may be the subject of a lawsuit, even though you may have filed a workers’ compensation claim already.
Third-party liability is not an easily navigable land without an attorney experienced in crane-related injury lawsuits in New Jersey. Make sure you hire only the most trained and qualified to represent your needs and interests appropriately throughout the lawsuit in order to obtain maximum compensation. At Cohen & Riechelson, our highly accomplished personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyers represent injured workers and other victims throughout East Windsor, Robbinsville, Trenton, Hopewell, Lawrence, Woodbridge, Pennington, and across Mercer County and New Jersey. We are ready and committed to helping you get back on your feet physically, emotionally, and monetarily by using our extensive background to negotiate or litigate your case to the fullest extent.
When your future is hanging in the balance after being injured in a crane accident, there is simply no substitute for a legal professional who dedicates themselves to proving your case and resolving your claim for the highest amount possible. Our firm is standing by to assist you with a free consultation and to discuss your available legal avenues. Call (609) 528-2596 today for a free initial consultation with one of our dedicated injury attorneys.
