Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
You may be facing lost wages, medical bills, and a long recovery after a crane accident. When you need a clear path forward, a crane accident lawyer in Huntington can help you protect your rights and pursue the benefits and compensation allowed under New York law.
Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers has a team in place with over 200 years of combined experience. We help injured crane operators, riggers, laborers, tradespeople, delivery drivers, and bystanders pursue compensation after construction site accidents.
We encourage you to discuss your crane accident with our workers compensation lawyers in Huntington. Our team handles workers’ compensation claims and, when appropriate, third-party lawsuits stemming from crane collapses, struck-by events, and hoisting failures. To learn more, request a free case review.
How a Lawyer Will Approach Your Crane Accident Case in Huntington, New York
Every crane accident case starts with a clear plan. Your crane accident attorney in Huntington will consider your job, payroll status, and union agreements. From here, they may file and manage your workers’ compensation claim while they evaluate potential third-party lawsuits.
Your personal injury lawyer in Huntington can handle insurance calls, independent medical examination (IME) scheduling, hearings, and settlement talks. You should expect to get regular updates and insights to help you make informed decisions at each stage of your case.
Outside of these things, your attorney will prepare your case as if it will go to court. That means performing a timely investigation, calculating your damages, and committing the time and resources necessary to help you achieve the optimal case results.
Should You Hire a Lawyer for Your Crane Work Accident Case in Huntington, New York?
Crane accident lawyers in Huntington represent union and non-union workers across trades, including ironworkers, electricians, carpenters, laborers, and riggers. They also help pedestrians, motorists, or adjacent property occupants injured by crane loads, falling objects, or debris.
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal crane accident, your attorney may help your family recover compensation from any liable parties. They may do so by filing a workers’ comp death benefits claim and lawsuit on behalf of you and your family.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available to Those Injured in Crane Accidents in Huntington, New York
If you were hurt while working on a crane, you may have access to New York workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of fault. These benefits can cover authorized medical care, a portion of lost wages, and disability awards for lasting impairment.
Covered care benefits under workers’ comp in New York include hospital bills, follow-up visits, surgery, prescriptions, and medical devices. Lost wages are typically paid as temporary disability if you miss more than seven days. If your injuries limit your long-term earning capacity, you may ask for permanent partial or total disability benefits.
New York workers’ comp system does not pay for pain and suffering. That gap is where a separate third-party claim, if this is an option for you, can make a difference. Your Huntington crane accident lawyer can evaluate both tracks so you can pursue the full scope of financial recovery permitted under New York law.
Third-Party Liability Beyond Workers’ Comp
Even when workers’ comp applies, you may have a negligence claim against non-employer parties. A third-party negligence claim may allow recovery for pain and suffering, full lost earnings, and other damages that workers’ comp does not cover.
Potential defendants in third-party crane accident lawsuits may include general contractors, site owners, crane rental companies, rigging contractors, and maintenance vendors. Your Huntington crane accident attorney may inspect contracts, safety programs, and site control to determine who had authority over the crane and lifting operation.
New York’s labor laws may apply to your third-party lawsuit relating to a crane accident. Some of these laws can create avenues for recovery in instances when property owners and contractors failed to provide adequate protection during elevation-related work and other covered activities.
How to Prove Negligence in Crane Accident Cases
Crane accident attorneys in Huntington may capture accident scene photos and videos and secure daily crane logs, lift plans, and maintenance records. In addition, site safety meeting minutes, job hazard analyses, and subcontractor scopes may reveal who contributed to your crane accident.
Your personal injury attorney may interview crane operators, signal persons, and ground crews. Where needed, they may retain professionals who can reconstruct crane load geometry, set-up, and communication flows. Their opinions can connect technical missteps to the incident and your injuries.
Your medical records matter, too. Your lawyer may coordinate with your medical providers to document diagnoses, work restrictions, and future care needs to establish a clear link between your crane accident and losses.
Deadlines and Notice Requirements in New York
Workers’ comp requires you to notify your employer within 30 days of the accident. You generally have up to two years to file a claim for a traumatic injury. If you wait too long to inform your employer or file your claim, you could lose the right to request compensation for your crane accident injuries at a later time.
For third-party lawsuits, New York’s statute of limitations is typically three years for personal injury and two years for wrongful death. If a municipal entity is involved, a Notice of Claim may be due within 90 days, with shorter suit deadlines.
Our Lawyers Are Ready to Fight for You
If you take responsibility for the injuries that you suffered during your work on a crane, you may have to cover some or most of the costs associated with them out of pocket. On the other hand, if you partner with Huntington crane accident lawyers, you can get the legal help you need to recover compensatory damages from any liable parties.
Shulman & Hill has obtained more than $1 billion for our clients. Our workers’ comp lawyers will answer any questions you have about crane accident claims. Alternatively, if you want to file a crane accident claim or lawsuit, we’re here to help.
When it comes to your crane work accident case, we’re all in, and we will provide you with aggressive legal representation every step of the way. For more information, request a free case review.