Crane Accidents

Chicago Lawyers for Injuries Caused by Crane Accidents

Construction sites are inherently dangerous. Those in charge of construction sites are required to follow numerous regulations, including OSHA standards, to protect their workers. Unfortunately, safety is not always prioritized, and devastating crane accidents can occur. Most construction workers are financially and emotionally unprepared for the consequences of a catastrophic injury. If you were injured or a loved one was killed onsite, you should call the seasoned Chicago crane accident lawyers of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca.

Crane Accidents

Cranes are necessary for many construction projects. However, they also carry risks and if they’re used negligently or have mechanical defects, they may inflict catastrophic injuries or wrongful death on those working or otherwise on the construction site. Common causes of crane accidents include contact between the crane and a power line, use of a crane outside a manufacturer’s specifications, improper crane setup resulting in collapse, failure to follow safety standards, overloaded cranes, and choosing an improper kind of crane to do the job. When a crane is overloaded and its stabilizing outriggers aren’t set up correctly, the crane may overturn, and if the crane load is dropped in the wrong spot, it can severely harm workers below.

Construction workers are expected to stay alert to the possibility of hazards but sometimes they there are no warning signs, and they get injured. Possible injuries from a crane accident are serious and include electrocution, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, broken bones, lacerations, back injuries, and paralysis. When injuries are inflicted in an accident, an injured construction worker may be able to recover damages, not from their own employer, but from another subcontractor to whom they don’t have an employee relationship. Parties that may be culpable in a crane accident include contractors, crane operators, equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, suppliers.

In order to recover damages on your behalf, our construction accident attorneys will likely need to show negligence, inadequate training, or improper maintenance of the crane. To establish negligence, we’ll need to show that the defendant owed you a duty of reasonable care, failed to meet that duty, and in so failing, caused your injuries, which resulted in actual damages.

It’s important to retain an attorney who can fully investigate the causes of the crane accident. The language of construction contracts signed by the various parties on a construction site can also have implications for an injured person’s ability to recover. In addition to pursuing damages under a theory of negligence, it may be appropriate for a visitor to the site to pursue a premises liability or product liability lawsuit for damages.

Damages

When our lawyers are able to establish liability, we may be able to recover both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages are tangible losses, often documented, and include medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, replacement services, and lost wages. Noneconomic damages are intended to quantify losses that are, in some sense, not so easily pinpointed, and are likely to include pain and suffering, mental distress, loss of consortium, disfigurement, and loss of earning capacity. For example, if you were crushed beneath a panel, suffering injuries that required multiple surgeries because a crane operator ignored a stop signal and lowered a load onto you, you may be able to recover the costs of emergency care, surgeries, and subsequent therapies, as well as the costs of any prosthetics that are necessary.

Throughout these medical procedures, you may be unable to work, and will need replacement income for that period. For catastrophic injuries, some of our clients are left unable to work, or unable to work jobs that pay them at the same rate, and you are entitled to compensation for those, too. In addition, you may no longer be able to enjoy the same recreational activities as before, and the jury will try to synthesize your testimony and the testimony of family members and others to put a dollar figure on your loss of enjoyment.

Workers’ Compensation for Crane Accidents

If you were injured on the job, you may be able to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. These are no-fault benefits that cover medical expenses and a portion of wage loss, but not noneconomic damages like pain and suffering. This is the only compensation you can recover against your employer.

Consult a Chicago Lawyer About Your Crane Accident Injuries

If you were injured in a crane accident, you need skillful legal representation. Call the experienced Chicago crane accident attorneys of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca to handle your personal injury lawsuit, workers’ compensation claim, or SSDI claim. Call us at 312-724-5846 or fill out our online form.