Cranes and the maritime shipping industry go hand in hand. While these large machines are absolutely necessary for the heavy lifting that the shipping industry entails, they are still dangerous, even deadly. Cranes are made even more dangerous when proper safety measures, proper training, maintenance issues, and caution are ignored.
How do crane accidents occur?
There are numerous ways in which one can be injured in and around cranes. Malfunction or failure of hardware such as booms, cables, winches, rigging, and electrical equipment can cause the crane to act unpredictably, and bystanders could be hit with the boom, the load, or falling items. Incorrect assembly or dis-assembly of cranes can also cause accidents. Improper training, supervision, and communication can also lead to disaster. If equipment is not properly maintained, rusting and breakages could cause injury as well.
Types of injuries that occur in crane-related accidents:
- Drowning: If a crane knocks an individual overboard, the results can be devastating. Improper communication or operation of the crane would be the most likely cause. The US Coast Guard reports that from 2000 to 2012, 50% of fatalities on towing vessels or barges were due to falling overboard.
- Brain Injury: With the heavy loads that these cranes carry, it’s not surprising that brain injuries are a possible injury. There are also multiple opportunities for load drop accidents to occur, from snapping ropes and wires and faulty machinery to improper lifting and transporting techniques and ignored weight constraints.
- Loss or damage of limb and body: Again, the heavy cargos lifted and transported by cranes put everyone around them at risk. Becoming pinned beneath a load and the deck can cause significant damage to the body, even loss of limbs. Snapping wires and ropes themselves can slice through the body, causing devastating injuries.
- Wrongful death
Fighting for the Fair Compensation that You Deserve
While the causes and types of injuries from cranes differ, one thing remains the same: if you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be owed compensation. Past and future lost wages, medical expenses, care, reduced ability to work, disability, and pain and suffering can be ruinous to a victim and their family.
These types of accidents require an immediate and thorough investigation, which requires an experienced attorney. Attorney Richard Serpe’s is an experienced maritime and personal injury lawyer with over 29 years of experience. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact us to discuss your situation.
