Cranes are some of the most dangerous machines on a construction site. The crane operator, other workers, and people nearby could suffer severe injuries if something goes wrong. Many of these incidents are preventable—someone should be held accountable when they occur.
After a construction machinery incident, a Norristown crane accident lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can help you get the compensation you need to live comfortably while you heal. Our skilled construction accident attorneys have helped over 30,000 injured victims across Pennsylvania win their cases and take back their lives.
How do Crane Accidents Happen?
Cranes lift heavy loads and move them high into the air. Their extreme size and weight make any crane malfunction disastrous. To avoid incidents, cranes are subject to safety inspections, and their operators must have extensive training. 34 Pennsylvania Code §25.45 lists the requirements for crane operations. Still, accidents cause many severe injuries to innocent people every year.
Many scenarios involving cranes can result in catastrophic injuries or deaths, including:
- A load drop because of operator error or boom failure
- A crane hitting a power pole, breaking power lines or causing them to drop
- A crane collapse due to operator error, poor maintenance, improper setup, or mechanical failure
- A crane tipping because of shifting ground or unsafe setup
- A worker falling from a crane
High winds and sudden gusts could lead to a crane accident. Crane operators and job site managers must pay close attention to weather forecasts and stop work in windy conditions.
Your Norristown lawyer will thoroughly investigate the crane accident to learn how and why it happened. One or more parties could be responsible, and each must pay you for the harm you suffered.
Cranes Accidents Cause Severe Injuries and Death
Crane accidents often cause heavy machinery and construction materials to fall from a great height. Debris could scatter over a large area around the crane. Common injuries in Norristown crane accidents include:
- Cuts from flying shrapnel
- Broken bones suffered in a debris strike or a fall running away from the collapse
- Crushing injuries from being caught under the collapsing crane or adjacent structures
- Blinding eye injuries from flying debris
- Burns, if the crane caught fire or caused a fire nearby
- Electrocution, if the crane brought down power lines
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
Recovering from a severe or permanent injury is extremely expensive and could require lifelong treatment. When a crane accident is fatal, the surviving family members deserve accountability and justice from those responsible for their loved one’s death. Although nothing can truly compensate for your loss, a Norristown crane accident lawyer can ensure your family does not have to deal with additional financial burdens on top of your grief.
Getting Justice After a Crane Accident in Norristown
Your respected Norristown attorney will fight to get you and your loved ones the payments you need to move forward after a crane accident. Construction companies usually have significant insurance, and Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will work to ensure you get what you deserve.
If you are an employee of the company responsible for the accident, your lawyer can help file a workers’ compensation claim. If another company or party is also partially responsible for the crane incident, your attorney could sue the other party for your losses.
The money you get from a lawsuit is called your damages. You could seek damages for your physical pain, mental suffering, disability, scarring, loss of life’s pleasures, and other results of the crane accident. The responsible party also must pay you for your lost income, medical expenses, and property damage.
Contact a Norristown Attorney After a Crane Accident
Crane accidents should not occur if everyone does their job correctly. When somebody else’s negligence causes a tragedy, they must pay for the harm they caused. A Norristown crane accident lawyer can hold the wrongdoers accountable and seek justice on your behalf.
At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we know how to fight and win for hardworking construction workers injured in severe accidents. Managing Partner Rich Godshall and the team at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers have decades of experience successfully handling multi-million dollar catastrophic construction injury cases. Call us today to learn how we can advocate for you.
