Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Crane accidents are among the most serious injuries that happen on construction sites. The forces involved are enormous, and the injuries are often catastrophic, leading to broken bones, spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, or worse.
If you or someone you love was hurt, a crane accident lawyer in Babylon can help you understand your rights and pursue the full compensation you’re owed. We represent construction workers, laborers, and tradespeople who get hurt on the job.
Shulman Hill has recovered over $1 billion for personal injury clients, and we will bring that track record of success to your claim. Our Babylon workers’ compensation lawyers have rich experience in construction cases and know how to go after every party responsible.
Who We Help and Where We Work in Babylon
Crane accidents don’t only injure the operators. Anyone on or near a job site can be affected, including bystanders. A Babylon personal injury lawyer who specifically handles crane accident cases represents the following:
- Crane operators injured due to mechanical failure, inadequate training, or unsafe working conditions
- Riggers and signal persons working directly with crane loads
- Other construction workers on site who are struck by falling loads, collapsing booms, or swinging equipment
- Pedestrians and bystanders injured by crane collapses or falling debris near active construction sites
- Workers in adjacent buildings affected by crane failures on neighboring sites
If you were hurt by a crane, whether you were operating it, working near it, or simply walking past the site, you may have a claim. A crane accident lawyer in Babylon will assess your situation and tell you exactly where you stand.
Common Crane Accident Scenarios on Job Sites
Crane accidents happen for a range of reasons, and liability often extends beyond the operator. Common scenarios include:
- Crane collapse: structural failure due to improper assembly, overloading, or ground instability
- Falling loads: rigging failures, improper load securing, or operator error causing materials to drop
- Boom failures: mechanical defects or overextension causing the boom to fail
- Electrocution: crane contact with overhead power lines, one of the leading causes of crane-related fatalities
- Swing radius accidents: workers struck by the rotating cab or counterweight
- Tip-overs: cranes operating on unstable ground or exceeding load capacity
- Defective equipment: manufacturer defects in the crane itself or its components
Each scenario involves different liable parties, which may include the crane operator, the general contractor, the property owner, the crane rental company, or the manufacturer. A crane accident attorney in Babylon will identify every one of them.
Your Rights After a Workplace Injury
If you were injured on a job site in New York, you have two distinct sets of rights that can work together:
| Workers’ compensation covers your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages regardless of fault. You don’t have to prove anyone was negligent; you just have to show the injury happened at work. Report your injury to your employer within 30 days and file a C-3 claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board within 2 years. | Personal injury claims go further. Through New York’s Labor Law and common law negligence, you can pursue compensation for pain and suffering, full lost wages, and long-term losses (things workers’ comp doesn’t cover). These claims are filed against third parties: general contractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and others whose negligence contributed to your injury. |
You don’t have to choose between them. A Babylon crane accident lawyer will pursue both simultaneously to maximize your total recovery.
Proving Liability and Fault in Construction Claims
New York’s Labor Law provides powerful protections for construction workers injured in crane accidents:
- Labor Law § 240 (the Scaffold Law) imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors for gravity-related injuries, including falling loads and crane collapses. Even if you were partially at fault, this law may still apply, though it won’t apply where the worker’s own conduct was the sole cause of the accident.
- Labor Law § 241(6) requires job sites to comply with specific Industrial Code safety regulations. A violation that causes your injury creates direct liability.
- Labor Law § 200 covers general worksite safety and negligent supervision by owners and contractors.
Beyond Labor Law, product liability claims may apply if a defective crane component caused your injury. A crane accident lawyer in Babylon will examine every legal avenue available to you.
What Compensation Can Cover
Crane accident injuries are often severe and long-lasting. Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death damages
A crane accident lawyer in Babylon will calculate the full extent of your losses, not just the immediate bills.
How Shulman Hill Builds Your Case
Crane accident cases are complex. Multiple parties are involved, evidence needs to be preserved fast, and the legal framework spans workers’ comp, Labor Law, and product liability. Shulman Hill moves immediately.
Evidence We Gather From Day One
- Crane inspection and maintenance records
- Load charts and rigging plans
- OSHA inspection reports and violation records
- Operator certifications and training records
- Site photographs and video footage
- Witness statements from coworkers and bystanders
- Black box and data recorder information from the crane, where available
- Expert engineering analysis of the failure
The sooner a Babylon crane accident attorney gets involved, the more evidence we can preserve. Job sites get cleaned up fast, and critical evidence disappears with them.
Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Lawsuits
Workers’ comp is your baseline. It covers medical bills and partial lost wages without requiring you to prove fault. But it doesn’t cover pain and suffering, and wage replacement is capped. That’s why third-party lawsuits are key here.
If a general contractor, property owner, crane rental company, or equipment manufacturer contributed to your injury, you can sue them directly on top of your workers’ comp claim. New York’s Labor Law makes this especially powerful for construction workers.
In crane accident cases involving § 240, strict liability means the property owner or contractor is responsible even without proof of specific negligence. That combination, workers’ comp plus a Labor Law claim, is often where the most significant recoveries come from.
Contact a Crane Accident Lawyer in Babylon Now
Crane accidents change lives. If you or someone you love was hurt, don’t wait. Evidence disappears fast and deadlines are strict. Shulman Hill represents the construction workers who build New York, and we fight for them with everything we have.
No upfront fees. You don’t pay us anything unless we win. Call Shulman Hill today for a free consultation.
Every Borough. Every Block. New York, We Got You.