California news reports that a man from Henderson, Nevada was killed this past week when a 75-ton crane toppled over and pinned the man underneath. According to ABC News, the man had been a crane operator for more than 40 years, and was known as “one of the best.” The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal-OSHA) is still investigating the accident.
Similarly, just days earlier a large construction crane toppled in Santa Clara along Great America Parkway. The crane collapsed next to a parking garage being built, damaging part of the structure. The accident happened just north of Levi’s Stadium and the California’s Great America. Fortunately, no personal injuries were reported in this instance.
The construction industry is one of the most dangerous areas to work. Despite significant efforts being made to improve work place safety, serious construction site accidents involving cranes continue to occur. In fact, crane accidents are responsible for nearly 10% of all fatal construction accidents. Further, while the majority of crane accidents are non-fatal, many times those who suffer serious personal injuries are not crane operators but other workers on construction sites.
The major causes of all accidents involving cranes include the following:
- Contact with power lines
- Falls
- Mechanical failures
- Overturns
Whenever a crane accident occurs, the crane company may be responsible for paying damages to individuals hurt by the crane. However, injured employees of the crane company will typically be limited to workers’ compensation benefits. Due to the complexities involved in construction accidents, it is important to consult with an experienced California construction site accident lawyers to assess the foregoing.
At Viadro Law, LLP our attorneys have years of experience representing individuals who suffer construction site injuries, including workers injured in crane accidents. For more information, please contact our dedicated Oakland personal injury lawyers for an immediate, confidential consultation.
