When crane accidents occur in New York and New Jersey, they usually happen in the middle of a well-populated area and cause injuries. When a crane collapses and doesn’t hurt anyone, everyone in the area can breathe a sigh of relief and use the crane accident as a learning opportunity.
On the West Coast last week, officials say a crane collapse on the Port of Portland was a “best case scenario” as far as crane accidents go. How so, you might ask. Well, according to a port spokesman, “No one was hurt. It didn’t end up in the river, and it didn’t hit any other structures or conveyances.”
According to OregonLive.com, workers called 911 from the port at about 9:30 that morning to report the crane collapse. They weren’t certain at the time that no one was trapped beneath. However, by the time emergency responders arrived, all workers had been accounted for and there were no injuries.
The crane was in the process of being removed when the accident occurred. The machine had been unused since the mid-1990s. During the removal process, workers heard a noise that indicated something was wrong. They evacuated, and about a minute later, the crane collapsed.
“The systems worked, and everyone did as they were supposed to,” said the port spokesman.
A similar non-injury crane accident happened in Monmouth Beach. According to News12.com, this crane was on a barge in the river and appeared to be part of a reconstruction dock project. It isn’t clear how the accident happened or if it was being operated at the time. What is clear, however, is that no one was injured.
Injury-free crane accidents are rare. Usually, when we hear about a crane accident, it’s because someone was seriously injured or even killed. These hulking machines towering over the rooftops have the potential to inflict serious damage when they come crashing down.
If you work in construction and you work around cranes, you know the risks are always there. You take precautions to keep yourself safe, but you alone cannot be expected to prevent all accidents on the job site. It’s when accidents that are beyond your control happen that you may be entitled to compensation.
New York and New Jersey Crane Accident Lawyers
The construction accident attorneys of Ginarte represent people who are seriously injured on construction sites. If you’ve been involved in a fall accident, a crane accident, or any other construction accident, we may be able to help you too. Call (888)–GINARTE today to discuss your legal options.