Crane Accidents

Large cranes are critical to the construction industry. These gigantic pieces of equipment are used on many different types of commercial and residential construction projects, especially in large cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Naples/Fort Myers. However, although commonly used, cranes raise many safety concerns. According to government statistics, cranes account for 17% of the fatal injuries in the construction industry.

At the personal injury law firm of Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, we represent workers and bystanders who have been injured in crane accidents. Our Miami crane accident lawyers have been helping clients recover meaningful compensation for their injuries and losses for over 45 years, and we know what it takes to succeed in these challenging and high-stakes cases. Give us a call at 305-448-8585 to schedule a free consultation today.

On average, there are about 42 crane-related deaths each year in the United States. Over 60% of these deaths are caused by victims being struck by equipment, most notably the crane's load. Construction workers experience the highest number of crane-related injuries and fatalities. In fact, construction workers account for nearly 80% of all crane accident victims.

Cranes are very dangerous equipment, and there are many ways that cranes can cause injury, either to construction workers or members of the general public. Some of the most common causes of crane accidents include the following:

Mechanical Failures: Just like any other machine, cranes can have mechanical problems. This might include issues with the crane's engine, brakes, or other critical parts that help it operate safely.

Operator Error: Sometimes accidents happen because the person running the crane makes a mistake. In fact, about 45% of crane accidents are due to operator error, which can include improper crane setup, mishandling of crane operations, or operating a crane without adequate training. Electrocutions account for approximately 20% of crane-related fatalities. This often occurs when cranes come into contact with power lines during operation.

Improper Crane Setup: Setting up a crane isn't easy and needs to be done on solid ground and with lots of care. If a crane isn't set up right, it could tip over or collapse.

High Winds: Cranes are very tall and can be affected by the weather, especially wind. If it's too windy, the crane can sway more than expected, which might cause it to drop its load or even topple over. This is why construction companies are not supposed to utilize cranes during high winds and other adverse weather conditions.

Overloading: Cranes have a limit to how much weight they can lift. Accidents can happen if they try to lift more than this limit, leading to the crane buckling or collapsing.

At Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, we are always here to serve you. Our personal injury attorneys will meet with you whenever it's convenient for you — whether that is an evening, a weekend or early in the morning. And if you cannot get to our office, we will come to you. We routinely make home and hospital visits to help make things easier for personal injury victims and their families.

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a construction accident involving a crane, reach out to the Miami personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada for immediate assistance. At Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, we take pride in connecting accident victims and their families with maximum compensation to ensure that they do not bear the financial burden of an accident. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contact our Miami law offices by calling us toll-free at 305-448-8585 or connect with us online to schedule a free and confidential consultation.