Staten Island Crane Accident Lawyer

Cranes are a part of everyday life in New York City. With so much ongoing construction and repairs, they are a common sight to see. But what happens when these huge pieces of equipment fail?

Despite the countless stringent safety procedures in place to secure cranes and ensure safe operation, injuries and fatalities happen more often than they should, including in areas like Staten Island.

If you are a pedestrian or construction worker who was hurt in a crane accident, it is important to get in touch with a skilled Staten Island crane accident lawyer as soon as possible. The experienced attorneys at Shulman & Hill advocate for those who are hurt in accidents to ensure they are compensated for their losses.

How Cranes Are Used in Staten Island

Cranes are a fixture of daily life in Staten Island. These machines use different types of ropes or chains to lift and lower heavy materials. Different types of cranes are used for various purposes, such as:

  • Moving materials in the construction industry
  • Loading and unloading freight
  • Putting together heavy equipment in the manufacturing industry

Some cranes can reach extremely tall heights and carry heavy loads. For example, a tower crane can reach a height of almost 265 feet when it is unsupported. Tower cranes can lift up to 18 metric tons, or 39,690 pounds of weight. There are switches that operators use to ensure that they are not carrying too much weight.

So, how do these structures reach so high and carry so much weight without falling over? This is due to the huge pad of concrete that gets poured weeks before the crane even arrives on site. Anchor bolts are embedded deep into the pad of concrete to support the crane’s base. This design helps to ensure baseline stability. As the crane extends to reach its maximum height, counterweights are placed on horizontal sections placed throughout the mast. This ensures that the crane can lift heavy loads from maximum heights.

Common Crane Accidents in Staten Island

Due to the size and height of cranes, there are a large number of potential hazards involved in operating and being near these heavy pieces of machinery. This is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) strictly regulates the use of machinery like cranes. In addition to following regular safety procedures for operating the equipment, periodic inspections are extremely important to ensuring crane safety. When all of its components are not thoroughly inspected at the required intervals, things can go terribly wrong.

Some examples of crane accidents include:

  • Crane collapse. If a crane is carrying a load that exceeds its weight limits, or if its weight is not counterbalanced properly with counterweights, it can collapse. These accidents can be catastrophic.
  • Dropped loads. When cranes exceed the maximum weight to be lifted, or other safety protocols are not followed, heavy tons of materials are at risk of being dropped. This can cause extreme damage to the surrounding property and cause critical injuries and fatalities, particularly if items fall onto a nearby worker.
  • Power line interference. According to OSHA, no part of the crane or its load should come within 20 feet of a power line. Many steps should be taken to avoid this, such as surveying where power lines are and discussing with workers how to prevent the crane from coming too close to a power line. Workers also need to either use a spotter who is constantly in contact with the operator or use a proximity alarm that gives the operator sufficient warning when the crane gets close to the 20-foot radius. Electrocution and downed power lines are possible consequences of ignoring these steps.
  • Assembly or disassembly mishaps. Parts of the crane must be assembled on site. That involves using heavy equipment to put together the heavy crane components. When OSHA guidelines are not followed during the process, or workers cut corners, serious injuries can occur.

Pursuing Compensation for a Crane Accident Injury

You might have trouble figuring out your next steps when you have been in a serious crane accident. The aftermath of such an incident can be tough, but your next steps will depend on a few factors. Here are the likely options, depending on your situation:

Filing for Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation benefits are available to employees who are injured on the job. If you are a construction worker injured in a crane accident, you will most likely be able to obtain these benefits. Your employer pays for workers’ compensation insurance to protect you in the event of an injury.

Workers’ compensation can offer you regular payments for lost wages, medical costs, and death benefits for spouses and dependents of workers who suffered a fatality on the job.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

In some cases, you may be able to pursue additional compensation for your injuries by filing a personal injury lawsuit. You might be able to hold the property owners, general contractors, or subcontractors financially responsible for your injuries if they failed to provide a reasonably safe work site or necessary safety equipment.

How Can a Staten Island Crane Accident Attorney Help?

There are many reasons to seek out a qualified industrial and crane accident lawyer when you are injured on the job. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be tedious without the support of a professional attorney. Our lawyers at Shulman & Hill can ensure that the process is completed thoroughly, greatly reducing the chance for delays or denials. If we believe a third party’s negligence may have contributed to your accident, our attorneys can also help you file a personal injury lawsuit.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

Seeking help from a skilled Staten Island crane accident lawyer is one of the best ways to maximize your chances of getting fair compensation for your accident. Medical costs are expensive, and with the cost of living in New York City being so high, many people cannot afford to suffer from any reduction in their wages.

Our attorneys at Shulman & Hill will use their expert investigative and litigation expertise to help you recover compensation and hold any liable third parties accountable so that you can spend the time you need recovering. If you have been hurt in a crane accident in Staten Island, contact Shulman & Hill as soon as possible. We will review your case for free.

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We have helped thousands of New Yorkers recover more than $400 million in compensation

We have helped thousands of New Yorkers recover more than $400 million in compensation

We have helped thousands of New Yorkers recover more than $400 million in compensation

NO FEE UNLESS YOU WIN

Everyday working people often struggle to afford top-tier legal representation. To ensure equal access to justice, we work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no attorneys’ fees unless we achieve a settlement or verdict in your case.

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"The treatment received by Shulman & Hill was extremely excellent. They treated me like I was part of their family and that gave me a lot of confidence in them. I would recommend them one hundred percent because they are very trained in your area. I congratulate you and ask God to fill you with blessings. Gracias for your support."

Ramon E.

"I would like to thank The Shulman & Hill Law Firm in Brooklyn for their outstanding representation on my worker’s compensation case. The monetary reward exceeded our expectations and Alex worked closely with me to meet and exceed my goals."

John S.

"To anyone in need of a worker’s compensation lawyer, I highly recommend Alex Shulman and his team. They went above and beyond to best accommodate me during my time of injury. All my questions and concerns were answered in a timely manner and with the utmost professionalism. In addition and most importantly they fought to make sure I was correctly compensated for my injuries at time of settlement and didn’t rush to get paid. I will be recommending their firm to anyone and everyone in need of their services."

Chaim L.

"I am both satisfied and relieved with the results this extremely professional and reliable firm did. They lead me through the entire process, they never gave me any issues. They handled everything on their own, and always put a great deal of effort to ensure my comfort and best interest. They were always reachable and answered all my questions, and gave me information even when I didn’t know what the right question to ask was.  They turned a grave dilemma into something very manageable and repairable. They are efficient and do not linger with any paperwork, I was truly amazed at the results and the short time it took. I highly recommend them to anyone, and will seek their counsel in the future."

Akila B.

"I really appreciate the service I received with Shulman & Hill.  They walked me through the process and kept me informed every step of the way.  They would call and leave a message and when I called back, I was connected with a person who knew exactly what my call was about.  I was very satisfied with my settlements. Thank You!"

Aaron R.

"Alex Shulman did a wonderful job walking me through all the process of my case…making sure I understood all the legality and severity of all my hearing. I highly recommend their firm to handle any and all worker’s compensation cases. They strive for your wellbeing health-wise as well as aiming for the financial max."

Altagrace G.

"Schulman & Hill was my very first choice I chose for my WC case . I am very pleased with the outcome of my case. I would highly recommend them to friends. They are very professional and kept me informed during every step of this process. Should I ever need a WC attorney again, God forbid, Shulman & Hill it is, hands down . Thank you ."

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"I had a great experience with Shulman & Hill. They have a great team and were very understanding and helpful from day one. I felt like I was in good hands and the outcome on my case overreached my expectations! I highly recommend this firm. You can be rest assured that they will fight for you rights."

Anna G.

"My experience with the Shulman & Hill lawyers during this process time was excellent, they are competent and very professional lawyers, they worked quickly with my case and they kept me informed of the whole process all the time. Shulman & Hill’s fans recommend them with closed eyes, thank you very much Shulman & Hill."

Carolyn G.

"Shulman & Hill is the best firm out there. They help you understand....since walking into Shulman & Hill, they have guided me...to get a win. I am completely happy with my compensation. What brought me to Shulman & Hill was their expertise in workers compensation and personal injury cases. What I found value in was in their mission to provide compassionate service..."

Jason S.

"I went to the Internet to find a lawyer to assist me to navigate worker’s compensation process. Shulman & Hill was my first choice  and I have no regrets. I was impressed with the prompt response to my case. I must comment on the office environment and office staff being  friendly, professional and prompt. A big thanks to the lawyers that represented me at the hearings and Valeria who helped to lessen my anxiety are dealing with legal issues. I have no hesitation in recommending this law firm to anyone that requires legal services."

Ita L.

"The best law firm in NYC! They explain everything to you and they are very generous and helpful. The lawyers are excellent and very respectful as also is the receptionist. I highly recommend the Shulman & Hill law firm."

Davis C.

"Excellent lawyers. Excellent service. I will recommend them as my first choice. They helped me with my case since day one. They know exactly how to work on a case and win it. They worked fast and were always in communication with me.  I won my case with a very high amount. Thanks to all the staff, I wish them my best. They will always be in my heart."

Grace B.

"Had a very positive experience working with Shulman & Hill in the worker’s compensation case. Everyone is very professional and competent. Received the maximum possible settlement in court. I am sincerely grateful to my lawyers and personally Alex Shulman for the work done. I wish you further success and prosperity."

Dmitry M.

"I am so glad that I chose Alex Shulman to represent me in my worker’s compensation case. I have definitely recommended him to some of my coworkers and friends who needed an Attorney. I am so happy with the service I got from him and his paralegals. Thank you very much to the entire staff at Shulman & Hill for everything!"

Ilya K.

"Shulman & Hill have been tremendously helpful in resolving my case. They are extremely professional and thorough. I would recommend them to anyone working to resolve a difficult case."

James M.

"I was very pleased with the work of this firm. They made sure I understood my case and I was never left out of the loop. They were professional and very friendly. I would recommend them to anyone looking for someone who is going to fight for you to the very end."

Jennifer D.

"Do not waste time looking for better. There is no better than Shulman & Hill. I am very happy I got introduced to them by my good friends. Definitely THE BEST there is."

Arian K.

"Shulman and Hill are the absolute best: JJ, Alex and Christine are powerhouse attorneys who get the best results for their clients. I feel like these guys took care of me like family. When you’re dealing with a worker’s compensation case, you’ll want a pit bull to represent you: Shulman & Hill is the firm you need."

Chelsea W.

"Wonderful service quality by the group of professional advocates in the law firm of Shulman & Hill! I did not expect that I will find a proper solution regarding my worker’s compensation. However, it has been possible by the experts and they have made the task easier over the period. Thanks to them for their help."

Corey A.

"I would definitely like to thank Mr. Alex Shulman and his entire staff at Shulman and Hill for their exceptional work in helping me with my Worker’s Compensation case. Their entire staff was courteous and professional from start to finish and all work was done in a timely fashion. I was previously with a different law firm who were not as informative, and they made me feel like I was a mere money to them. I personally recommend the law offices of Shulman & Hill for any injury/ worker’s compensation case you may have. They strive to get you a maximum reward for your injury, while maintaining the utmost courtesy and professionalism."

Dain J.

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