There is always construction going on in New York City, and cranes are a common sight. These pieces of equipment are capable of lifting large and heavy loads high off the ground. It is extremely important for safety policies and procedures to be followed at all times. When safety is not taken seriously, things can go wrong and people can get hurt.
This past July at a construction site in Queens, a crane toppled onto its side and was leaning against an adjacent building, forcing an evacuation of everyone inside. The commercial boom truck was being used in the construction of a nine-story building. The boom was extended as the truck toppled and crashed into offices behind the site.
“I was working in my office back here, sitting at my desk...and all the sudden, I heard ‘Boom,’” said David Konsker, who was working in the building. “Got up from the desk, and I saw some debris fall from my ceiling. Went around, looked up, saw a crane on the roof.”
Konsker said debris had also fallen directly onto the desk of his secretary, who was not in that day.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, and amazingly no one was hurt. The building was evacuated. Federal OSHA agents and investigators from city Department of Buildings are looking into the cause of the accident.
How do crane accidents happen?
Cranes are large and complex pieces of equipment and there’s a lot that can go wrong when someone is negligent. A crane accident can happen because of:
Overloading
A crane should not be used to lift a load that exceeds its rated capacity. When this happens, the load can be dropped or the crane may overturn.
Inappropriate installation
Appropriate precautions must be taken to ensure the crane is stable and secure.
Inexperience
When employers hire operators who are not qualified or lack appropriate experienced, there is a greater risk of an accident.
Negligent design or maintenance
Cranes must be built properly and receive routine maintenance to prevent failure.
Miscommunication
Operators, signal persons, and other workers need to have effective communication in order to ensure that tasks are performed safely. Employers have a responsibility to put protocols in place.
Get experienced legal representation when you need it
When things go wrong, people can suffer devastating injuries that can be life-altering. Medical expenses add up quickly even while they are left unable to work to earn an income. Recovering from their injuries can take months or years. Some victims are left with a permanent disability.
That’s why setting and following construction safety procedures is so important. Employers, crane companies, property owners, contractors, manufacturers, and other parties who are negligent by failing to meet their responsibility to safety need to be held accountable.
At Keogh Crispi, P.C., we fight for the injured in New York. We take quick action to gather evidence after an accident and use it to build strong cases for financial compensation. We fight back against insurance companies who want to pay as little as possible and are always ready to take them to court if needed.
If you were hurt in a New York crane accident, you need an experienced construction accident attorney to help you fight for every dollar you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.