New York Crane Accident Attorneys

The Law Firm of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro has over 50 years experience in handling all types of construction site accidents. We handle a variety of construction accident cases, including crane accidents, nail gun accidents, elevator accidents, defective machinery accidents, scaffolding accidents, hazardous energy accidents and compressed gas accidents. These accidents often involve injuries such as spinal cord and back injuries, amputations, crushed limbs, burns, traumatic brain injuries, paraplegia and quadriplegia.

More than 250,000 crane operators are at risk of serious and often fatal injury due to accidents involving cranes, derricks, hoists, and hoisting accessories. According to OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Heath Administrations), there are approximately 125,000 cranes in operation in the construction industry as well as an additional 80,000-100,000 in general and maritime industries.

OSHA identified the major causes of crane accidents to include:

• boom or crane contact with energized power lines (nearly 45% of the cases)
• under the hook lifting device
• overturned cranes
• dropped loads
• boom collapse
• crushing by the counter weight
• outrigger use
• falls
• rigging failures

Although workers' compensation aids employees while injured on the job, it is usually not sufficient to fully compensate injured workers for all damages sustained as a result of their work-related accident.

Under New York State Law, employees cannot sue their employers for damages sustained as a result of a work-related accident. In order to receive reasonable compensation for their injuries, workers must commence third-party lawsuits against parties other than their employer. Owners of property, general contractors, sub-contractors, architects, even equipment manufactures may be held responsible when a construction site accident occurs. In addition to workers' compensation benefits, additional damages that can be recovered in third-party lawsuits include pain and suffering, additional wage loss benefits, additional medical benefits and loss of consortium.

Employers have a duty to comply with OSHA standards that include the following regulations:

• De-energize and visibly ground electrical distribution and transmission lines at the point of work.
  
  
• Use insulated barriers that are not a part of the crane to prevent contact with the lines.
  
  
• If the power lines are not de-energized, operate cranes in the area only if a safe minimum clearance is maintained.
  
  
• Where it is difficult for the crane operator to maintain safe clearance by visual means, designate a person to observe the clearance and to give immediate warning when the crane approaches the limits of safe clearance.
  
  
• Do not use cage-type boom guards, insulating links, or proximity warning devices as a substitute for the de-energizing and grounding lines or maintaining safe clearance.

Many crane related accidents involve mobile cranes, and many "non-crane" workers have also suffered serious injuries. These non-crane operators include mechanics, oil workers, ironworkers, rigger, and stevedores.

Our construction litigation department has been handling complex construction accident cases for years and has a vast degree of knowledge about New York State Labor Law and the Industrial Code.

Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro is committed to upholding the rights of laborers and construction workers who, in order to support their families, have been subjected to unsafe and negligent working environments

We only represent individuals who are injured by negligence; through the malpractice of doctors or hospitals; injured in workplace accidents or by faulty products, equipment or machinery; injured in automobile accidents; or through the negligent maintenance of property. The firm has achieved great success in these specialties which are all bound together by a common thread: an individual has suffered serious physical or emotional injury.

An attorney client relationship is not established by submitting this initial contact information.

420 Lexington Avenue
Suite 2750
New York, NY 10170

Telephone: 212-986-7353
Fax: 212-953-4308
E-mail: wrs@wrslaw.com