Cranes are essential for moving heavy objects and supplies, but they can be highly dangerous. Accidents involving cranes can lead to debilitating injuries and ongoing medical expenses. Contact a seasoned Van Nuys crane injury lawyer if you were hurt in a crane accident. Our workers’ compensation attorneys could review your situation, explain your legal options, and help you pursue fair compensation for your injuries.
Cranes are used at construction sites, ports, warehouses, and manufacturing plants, among other places. They are considered essential equipment in many industries.
While crane accidents are not common, they do occur. Common types of crane accidents include:
Individuals injured in a crane accident should consult a Van Nuys attorney as soon as possible. A legal professional at Glauber Berenson Vego could help determine whose negligence led to the accident.
Negligence occurs when someone fails to take proper care to prevent harm or injury to others. Depending on the cause of a crane accident, an investigation may reveal that one or more parties were negligent.
When an accident is due to crane operator error, the company that hired the operator may be liable. This is because employers are responsible for the negligent conduct of their employees when performing their jobs.
The crane manufacturer or the manufacturer of a specific part that failed and caused the accident could also be held liable. A skilled crane injury lawyer in Van Nuys could identify all potentially liable parties to increase the amount of insurance coverage available to an injured person.
If you were working on the site of the crane accident, you must seek compensation from the Workers’ Compensation program. Workers’ compensation insurance covers all employees, whether full-time, part-time, year-round, or seasonal, from their first day of work. The program offers medical care for work-related injuries, a partial wage if the injury prevents you from working for more than three days, and disability payments if the injury does not heal completely.
Employees may not sue their employers for work-related accidents. However, you can bring a third-party lawsuit seeking damages in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits.
So, for example, if you work for the general contractor on the site and the crane operator is a subcontractor, you can sue the crane operator for your losses, while collecting workers’ compensation benefits from the general contractor’s insurer. Third-party lawsuits are often possible, so meeting with a Van Nuys injury attorney is worthwhile even if your employer was primarily responsible for the crane accident.
If you were injured in a crane accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation.
Reach out to a Van Nuys crane injury lawyer as soon as possible. Whether you work for the crane contractor or another party on the site, the experienced legal team at Glauber Berenson Vego could protect your rights and help you secure maximum compensation.