Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
A dropped load, crane tip-over, or swinging boom can injure several people across a construction site. A crane accident lawyer in Scarsdale can investigate who controlled the lift, the equipment involved, and whether another company shares responsibility.
Shulman & Hill handles serious New York construction cases and conducts detailed in-house investigations. Our attorneys have over 200 years of combined experience representing injured workers after crane accidents and other job site injuries.
A Scarsdale workers’ compensation lawyer can pursue medical and wage benefits while other claims are reviewed. Shulman & Hill offers free consultations, works on contingency, and handles workers’ compensation and personal injury matters when both arise from the same accident.
How Crane Accidents Happen on Construction Sites
Crane operations depend on equipment, rigging, ground conditions, communication, and the people directing each lift. Problems with setup, maintenance, signaling, or load control can put operators, laborers, and nearby workers in danger.
Common crane accident events include:
- Falling loads from failed rigging or unstable lifting.
- Tip-overs caused by uneven ground or overloading.
- Struck-by incidents involving swinging booms or materials.
- Electrocution from contact with overhead power lines.
- Crush injuries during assembly, disassembly, or movement.
A Scarsdale personal injury lawyer can examine whether a contractor, property owner, equipment company, or another outside party contributed to the accident. That investigation may uncover a separate claim in addition to workers’ compensation.
Common Injuries Linked to Crane Accidents
Cranes move materials that can weigh thousands of pounds, sometimes high above workers on the ground. A falling load, collapsing boom, or moving piece of equipment can cause injuries that require surgery, rehabilitation, and extended time away from work.
Workers may suffer broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burns, amputations, crush injuries, internal injuries, or severe muscle and joint damage. Electrical contact can also cause burns, nerve damage, cardiac injuries, or death.
Some workers return with permanent restrictions that prevent them from performing their previous duties. Medical records, specialist reports, work restrictions, and wage information can document how the injury affects employment and future earning ability.
What a Crane Accident Lawyer in Scarsdale Can Do for You
A crane investigation may start with the lift itself. Attorneys can examine who planned the operation, who owned or rented the crane, who operated it, how the load was secured, and which companies controlled the surrounding work.
Important records may include maintenance histories, inspection documents, operator information, site photographs, contracts, incident reports, video, and witness accounts. These materials can help establish what happened before equipment is repaired, moved, or returned to service.
A crane accident lawyer in Scarsdale can also identify insurance coverage and determine whether more than one claim applies. Serious construction accidents may involve workers’ compensation along with claims against owners, contractors, equipment companies, or other parties.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits After a Job Site Injury
Workers’ compensation may provide medical care and wage benefits when a crane accident happens during employment. The benefits available depend on the injury, disability level, earnings, and how the condition affects the worker’s ability to continue working.
Your workers’ compensation claim may involve the following:
- Medical visits, testing, and hospital care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation services
- Partial replacement of lost wages
- Awards for temporary or permanent disability
- Death benefits for qualifying family members
A worker does not always have to remain completely out of work to receive benefits. Some employees return with restrictions, work fewer hours, or earn less because of their injuries, which can create additional questions about wage benefits.
When You May Have a Third-Party Claim
Workers’ compensation may not be the only claim available after a crane accident. Someone outside the injured worker’s employer may have contributed to unsafe equipment, hazardous site conditions, poor crane maintenance, or decisions that led to the incident.
A third-party case might involve a general contractor, subcontractor, property owner, crane rental company, maintenance provider, or another outside business. The responsible parties depend on who controlled the equipment, work area, or activity that caused the injury.
A separate personal injury claim may provide damages that workers’ compensation does not cover, including pain and suffering. Both claims can arise from the same accident and should be reviewed together.
Scarsdale Crane Accident Cases May Involve Multiple Parties
Construction projects can involve owners, general contractors, subcontractors, crane rental businesses, operators, rigging crews, and maintenance companies. Each company may have different responsibilities for the equipment, work area, safety planning, or lift.
Contracts, project records, inspection logs, maintenance documents, and witness accounts can help identify who controlled different parts of the operation. Those records may also reveal which company knew about a hazard or had authority to correct it.
A crane accident attorney in Scarsdale can investigate those relationships and determine whether responsibility extends beyond the crane operator. Decisions made by contractors, property owners, equipment providers, and other companies may all require review.
Evidence That Can Strengthen Your Case
Construction sites change quickly after a crane accident. Equipment may be moved, damaged materials replaced, and temporary work areas dismantled. Photographs, surveillance footage, incident reports, and witness information can preserve details about conditions when the injury occurred.
Other evidence may include inspection reports, maintenance histories, lift plans, equipment data, contracts, training records, safety documents, and information about the load. Medical records and wage documents can show the physical and financial effects of the accident.
Some cases require closer examination of mechanical failures, rigging practices, ground stability, or crane operation. Preserving equipment and records early can provide more information about what happened before the site or machinery changes.
How New York Law Can Affect Crane Accident Claims
New York gives construction workers added protections in accidents involving heights, falling objects, and unsafe work areas. Those protections may apply when an owner or contractor failed to provide proper safety equipment or allowed hazardous construction conditions.
Crane cases may involve hoists, rigging, suspended loads, elevated work, or other equipment used to move materials around a construction site. The duties of property owners and contractors can become part of the case depending on the work and accident.
A crane accident claim may therefore involve workers’ compensation and separate rights under New York construction law. The facts determine which protections apply, which companies may bear responsibility, and what forms of recovery may be available.
Contact Shulman & Hill After a Crane Accident
A crane accident can involve workers’ compensation, construction law protections, and claims against companies outside your employer. Identifying those options starts with a detailed review of the lift, equipment, site conditions, and companies involved.
Shulman & Hill has recovered over $1 billion for clients and handles serious construction cases across New York. Our attorneys conduct in-depth investigations into accidents involving contractors, property owners, equipment companies, and other parties connected to the job site.
Contact Shulman & Hill for a free consultation with a crane accident lawyer in Scarsdale. We work on contingency and can travel for consultations when needed. New York, We Got You.
