Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Crane accidents can cause some of the most severe injuries seen on construction and industrial sites. When a crane failure or hoisting incident occurs, workers often face serious medical treatment, time away from work, and uncertainty about how their financial obligations will be handled.
If you are searching for a crane accident lawyer in Yonkers, we can help. At Shulman & Hill, our attorneys represent injured construction and industrial workers throughout Westchester County. We’ve recovered more than $1 billion for injured clients.
If you need help, contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our Yonkers workers’ compensation lawyers today.
Who Our Yonkers Crane Accident Lawyers Represent
Crane accidents affect a wide range of construction and industrial workers. At Shulman & Hill, we represent both union and non-union workers injured in crane-related incidents throughout Yonkers.
Workers we commonly assist include:
- Crane operators and tower crane operators.
- Riggers, signal persons, and oilers.
- Ironworkers and structural steel workers.
- Laborers and dockbuilders.
- Electricians and other trades working near hoisting operations.
- Truck drivers or delivery workers injured during lifting operations.
Families can also turn to our firm after fatal crane accidents. In those cases, our Yonkers personal injury lawyers help surviving relatives pursue available benefits and evaluate potential wrongful death claims.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available in Crane Cases
If you were injured during crane operations on a Yonkers construction site, your first source of financial support will often be New York workers’ compensation benefits. This system provides coverage for job-related injuries without requiring you to prove that your employer caused the accident.
Through workers’ compensation, you may receive payment for necessary medical treatment related to the injury, including surgery, hospital care, rehabilitation, and follow-up appointments with authorized providers. These benefits are intended to ensure that you can receive treatment while you are unable to perform your regular job duties.
If your injury results in lasting impairment, the Workers’ Compensation Board may also award additional benefits. Depending on the circumstances, this can include Schedule Loss of Use awards for permanent injuries to limbs or extremities, or disability classifications that provide continuing wage benefits when you cannot return to your previous work.
How Lost Wages Are Calculated
If your injuries prevent you from returning to work after a crane accident, workers’ compensation may provide weekly cash benefits to replace a portion of your income. These payments are calculated using your average weekly wage before the accident and the medical determination of how disabled you are from performing your job.
In most cases, the weekly payment equals two–thirds of your average weekly wage multiplied by your degree of disability, subject to the statewide maximum benefit allowed under New York law. The Workers’ Compensation Board relies on payroll records, union contracts, and other wage documentation when determining the correct amount.
For many construction workers in Yonkers, wage calculations can become complicated because of overtime, multiple employers, or varying project assignments. Our Yonkers crane accident attorneys review wage records carefully to ensure that the benefits you receive reflect the full value of your earnings before the accident.
Third-Party Claims After a Crane Injury
Workers’ compensation benefits do not include damages for pain and suffering. However, many crane accidents involve negligence by parties other than the injured worker’s employer.
When another party contributed to the accident, a third–party personal injury lawsuit may be possible. Potential defendants may include property owners, general contractors, crane companies, equipment manufacturers, or other contractors working on the site.
In certain construction cases, New York statutes such as Labor Law §240(1) and Labor Law §241(6) may apply when safety protections related to elevated work or construction site regulations were violated.
Proving Fault and Building Your Case
Crane accidents frequently require detailed investigation because several contractors and equipment providers may be involved in a single lifting operation. Determining responsibility often requires reviewing both site safety procedures and the mechanical condition of the crane itself.
Our Yonkers crane accident lawyers examine documents such as lift plans, crane inspection reports, maintenance records, and operator certifications. We also review site safety plans, jobsite photographs, and witness statements that describe how the incident occurred.
When necessary, we consult with engineering and crane safety specialists who can analyze the equipment and lifting procedures involved. Their findings can help explain how safety failures contributed to the accident and how the resulting injuries may affect your future work capacity.
Time Limits and Reporting Rules in New York
Several deadlines apply to crane accident cases in New York. Workers generally must notify their employer about a workplace injury within 30 days in order to protect their workers’ compensation rights.
A workers’ compensation claim must usually be filed with the New York Workers’ Compensation Board within two years of the accident or occupational illness.
Separate deadlines apply to third-party injury lawsuits. In most cases, a personal injury claim must be filed within three years of the accident, while wrongful death claims are typically subject to a two-year filing deadline.
Damages You Can Seek After a Crane Injury
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- The physical pain and limitations caused by your injuries.
- Income you have already lost because you could not return to work.
- Reduced earning capacity if the injury prevents you from continuing in construction or crane work.
- Medical treatment, therapy, and rehabilitation not covered by workers’ compensation.
- Long-term care needs resulting from permanent injuries.
- Scarring, disfigurement, or other lasting physical effects of the accident.
If a crane accident results in a fatal injury, the worker’s family may also have the right to bring a wrongful death claim under New York law. These claims can seek compensation for funeral expenses and the financial losses suffered by surviving family members.
Speak With a Yonkers Crane Accident Attorney at Shulman & Hill
At Shulman & Hill, our attorneys have helped more than 26,000 injured clients pursue compensation. We regularly handle construction injury cases involving multiple contractors, equipment failures, and complicated jobsite safety issues.
If you were injured in a crane accident in Yonkers, our lawyers can review the circumstances of the incident, explain the benefits and claims that may be available to you, and help you decide how to move forward.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a crane accident attorney in Yonkers.