A crane collapsed on the Tappan Zee Bridge in the midst of construction work, injuring five people and shutting down traffic for hours in both directions, The New York Times reports. The crane that collapsed was one of 28 being used in the $3.9 billion replacement work on the aging bridge. This has been described as the largest infrastructure project in the country. The crane collapse occurred around noon on July 19 at the Rockland County side of the bridge.
Ongoing Investigation
None of the injuries is believed to be life threatening. Three motorists were injured in vehicles that swerved and crashed when the crane fell. Two workers on the construction project also sustained injuries. No vehicles were struck by the crane. About 138,000 vehicles cross the bridge everyday between Rockland and Westchester counties. Officials said the crane was a vibratory hammer that was putting in pilings.
Officials are still trying to determine precisely what caused the crane collapse. But, high winds have been ruled out. Governor Andrew Cuomo said the crane that collapsed was a new one. A representative for the construction company in charge of the project said they will be looking into whether the collapse was due to the crane, the vibratory hammer it was holding up or operator error. The investigation into the cause of this accident is still ongoing.
City’s New Crane Regulations
Earlier this month, the Department of Buildings issued a series of new regulations to tighten citywide crane safety including requiring a “lift director” at the site of each crawler crane. Last month, the Department of Buildings announced it would adopt several recommendations recently released by the Crane Safety Technical Working Group, a committee appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to examine crane safety after a 565-foot crane came crashing down in Tribeca killing one man and injuring several other victims.
Since this crash, the specific configuration of crawler crane that was used in the accident – a crane that cannot be used when winds are gusting above 20 mph ¬– has been banned from city streets. The department plans to permanently ban these cranes. But for all these cranes, the department has ordered that construction sites must employ a lift director to oversee weather conditions and inspections similar to the sign-off process that is required before airplanes take off. All cranes that are mounted to massive, mobile tracks will now need to be equipped with devices that measure wind speeds.
Owners, managers and general contractors, etc. have the duty and an obligation not only to safeguard their workers who are on the job, but also ensure the safety of pedestrians and passersby. Workers must be provided with job and safety training, necessary safety gear, a safe work environment and proper supervision.
Compensation for Injured Victims
Whether it’s workers or passersby who are injured, victims of crane accidents can seek compensation for their injuries, damages and losses. Workers who have been injured on the job can seek compensation for damages by filing a workers’ compensation claim, which usually covers medical expenses and a portion of the lost wages. In addition, workers may be able to file a third-party claim against a negligent party other than the employer for significant monetary damages and have two sources of compensation available for their losses. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, sub contractors, building owners, manufacturers of defective products, etc.
Passersby who are injured by debris at a construction site or in a crane collapse may be able to hold a number of parties accountable for their losses. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crane accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 44 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job – one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/nyregion/crane-collapse-tappan-zee-bridge.html?_r=0
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