At any given time, large construction cranes dominate city skylines. These towering machines are vital to completing projects that are many stories above ground level. Cranes are considered the most expensive, important, and dangerous pieces of equipment. When an accident involving a crane happens, the results can be catastrophic, and requires help from an Orlando crane accident lawyer.
Even if your construction site does not have a crane, accidents can happen, resulting in serious injury. If you or a loved one was involved in a crane or construction-related injury, make sure to contact a construction site accident attorney.
A crane accident can occur in many different ways, but the two most common causes are mechanical malfunction or human error. However, most crane accidents are avoidable, with more than half of accidents attributed to human error.
Another common cause of crane accidents is electrocution. Workers may accidentally come in contact with a live wire, or the crane’s operator may accidentally hit a power line. Workers could also be struck by the crane’s load or boom or be injured from the crane collapsing.
There’s a risk for cranes to collapse if workers put too much weight on it. If a load is unbalanced, objects and debris can fall off the crane, or the crane can tip over. Accidents are more likely to happen if a company uses the wrong crane type for the work needed.
Florida law requires all construction sites using cranes to follow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. These guidelines limit how cranes are used and require crane operators to complete special training before using the machines. These rules are uniform across Florida, providing the same set of standards for all construction sites. Other regulations OSHA provides are:
Employers are required to have their crew members adequately certified to work cranes. A party’s clear failure to abide by any of these rules and regulations may be evidence of a negligent work environment.
In cases of a defective crane, operators can follow all precautions and safety measures but still be injured. Crane manufacturers are required to follow set standards to promote safety. They include:
Cranes that are poorly designed or fail to follow any of the above safety requirements might make a workplace subject to liability if an accident occurs.
Construction sites are dangerous places, even when following all safety protocols. Workers come in contact with all types of environmental risks, hazardous materials, and dangerous equipment. The most severe accidents are falls from height. However, other accidents may include:
Construction work is a heavy-duty profession, and injured workers rarely have the option of light or modified work.
While crane accident injuries are common, there are many other construction-related injuries. Some of the most common are:
These injuries can dramatically affect victims and their families. Victims may also face extended time away from work and large medical bills.
Employers are required to provide a safe work environment for their employees. Most construction companies stress safety training, but accidents still happen. If the company does not provide a safe environment, which then results in a worker’s death, the company can be held liable. The site foreman may also be held responsible.
Similarly, a manufacturer can be liable if they provided equipment that does not meet safety standards. An experienced personal injury attorney can conduct a thorough investigation of your injury to determine who the at-fault party is.
There are many different types of compensation you may be eligible for depending on the injury and facts surrounding the accident.
Almost every employer is required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Because of this, many victims opt not to hire an attorney. However, insurance companies may not want to pay what the victim deserves to cover medical bills and lost wages.
A worker may not be able to file a lawsuit against their employer, but it may be possible to file one against a third party whose negligent actions caused your injury. Personal injury claims are also available for non-workers who may have been injured during a construction accident.
If you lost a loved one because of a construction accident, you might be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for your loss.
Construction injuries are traumatic experiences. A top-rated personal injury attorney at The Umansky Law Firm can help you identify who you can receive proper compensation from. With over 100 years of combined experience, our team has the expertise to launch a full investigation into your case and the circumstances surrounding the accident. We’ll fight for you to receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.
Call or complete our online contact form to schedule your free consultation today.
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