Crane Collapse: Death in the Air

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | May 10, 2010

Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc, both inland and along the eastern seaboard. The storm took or altered the lives of many in its path, leaving economic damages behind that are predicted to be between $35 and $45 billion.

An enduring image heralding the arrival of the storm was a collapsed crane, mounted 1,000 feet above some of the most expensive real estate in New York City, as it snapped and swayed in the wind, forcing the evacuation of nearby buildings.

However, it does not always take a storm for cranes to be perilous. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 91 fatal workplace injuries in Oklahoma in 2011, and the largest percentage of these injuries were in the construction and extraction industries.  On construction sites, cranes are a deadly source of Oklahoma City construction accidents.

What causes a crane accident?

Despite regulation by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), fatal accidents involving mobile and tower cranes still occur each year. As construction accident lawyers, we aggressively pursue compensation for clients injured in crane and other accidents.  Crane accidents can be caused by:

  • Overloading
  • Rigging failure
  • Poor communication
  • Toppled, imbalanced or overturned equipment
  • Inadequate maintenance
  • Lack of operator training or skill

Like other damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, the damaged and dangling crane at 57th Street in New York is being painstakingly secured.  For a city that has suffered deadly crane accidents in recent years, the crane is a stark reminder of the death and danger routinely found overhead for those in the construction trade. And, it is a reminder for every other American city, as well — including Oklahoma City.

Construction site dangers exist across the country.  If you are injured in Oklahoma City, contact us online at Cunningham &Mears, for skilled legal representation.

Posted in Legal Matters