A January 2013 crane accident in New York injured seven people, including three construction workers who had to be extricated, according to news reports. Authorities say the cause may have been an overweight load.
The accident occurred in Long Island City behind a well-known neon Pepsi-Cola sign. Witnesses said they heard the cable snap just before the arm came crashing down. The crane operator apparently tried to lift a 23,900-pound load—over twice the maximum allowable weight for the crane. Furthermore, the operator was trying to lift the load outside the approved loading zone, meaning that he could not see the load he was lifting. A stop work order for crane operations on the site was put in place, and the crane operator’s license was temporarily suspended.
Nationwide, crane accidents are a leading cause of construction accidents. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that in 2006, 72 people were fatally injured in crane accidents and hundreds more suffered nonfatal injuries. In New York, crane accidents have become almost an expected occurrence and a given hazard for anyone working in the construction industry. The prevalence and severity of crane accidents prompted the City of New York recently to promulgate new laws to increase oversight and safety for those working in and around cranes. Despite these new laws, crane accidents continue to occur causing serious, even fatal, injuries to construction workers and others nearby.
Amazingly, one news source indicates that the crane involved in the most recent collapse was inspected just four days prior to the accident. A lack of sufficient personnel to inspect cranes in New York City remains a problem, according to city officials. The number of inspectors available to inspect cranes and enforce crane regulations has dropped by 60 percent in recent years. That leaves only four inspectors to inspect all of the cranes operating in New York City. Not surprisingly, officials admit that the lack of inspectors creates manpower problems for the city.
If you have been injured in a crane accident on a construction site, you could be entitled to third-party compensation in lieu of, or in addition to, workers’ compensation. All too often, workers’ compensation benefits fail to adequately compensate the victim of a construction accident. Given the numerous different companies often working at the same site, there is a chance that someone other than your own employer may have contributed to your injuries.
Contact the New York/New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., to find out what legal options you may have. With seven offices conveniently located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area including a new Queens office, we have an office near you. Call 888-446-2783 or fill out our online contact form for your free consultation.