October 13, 2009

Construction Worker Injured in Crane Accidents

Arizona crane accidents can cause catastrophic injuries including head injuries, broken bones, electrocution or even death. All these injuries have tremendous financial, physical and emotional consequences to injured victims and their families. Crane accidents usually occur when loads are dropped, when a crane collapses, or when individuals are hit by materials that fall from the crane. Sometimes, a manufacturing or design defect in the crane can also cause a devastating accident.

According to a recent Fox News report, a crane operator at a hospital construction site sustained head injuries after a 150-foot crane with a 160-foot boom tipped over. The crane was apparently moving a piece of concrete, which collapsed and caused the boom to break. Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are trying to figure out what caused this accident. Thankfully, the construction worker did not suffer major or life-threatening injuries.

In such cases, injured workers are often eligible to seek compensation for medical expenses, cost of physical therapy, psychological counseling or other expenses associated with the injuries. Workers can also seek compensation for earnings lost as a result of losing their ability to work for an extended period of time. In the event of a fatal construction accident, the worker’s family can also seek compensation. However, Arizona workers compensation law is not the only source for reimbursement and compensation. In some cases, victims can look to both workers compensation and personal injury as a way to become fully reimbursed for their losses. However, it takes an experienced personal injury lawyer in Arizona to help determine if personal injury claims are available after a construction worker injury on the job site.

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October 1, 2009

Crane Accident Kills Construction Worker

A number of construction site accidents in Arizona are caused by crane accidents. About one-fourth of all crane accidents are caused by cranes overturning because loads are not secured properly or because of improper assembly or disassembly. Crane accidents in Arizona can be devastating and often fatal because of the sheer weight of the equipment that can crush and kill a worker instantly.

Such a gruesome tragedy recently occurred at a bridge construction site when a boom snapped off a small crane and crushed the crane operator. According to an article, the 48-year-old construction worker was standing next to the crane and operating the hydraulic boom when 8 feet of steel gave way and crashed upon him. Investigators are still trying to figure out why the boom fell. The man was killed on the spot.

In many cases, these entirely preventable accidents occur because of the lack of proper construction site safety procedures. The news article states that the contractor overseeing the bridge reconstruction project has been cited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for safety violations in the past. It will be interesting to see whether safety violations or lack of training played a part in this fatal construction accident. The deceased worker apparently worked for a sub-contractor.

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May 29, 2009

Crane Collapse Injures Construction Worker

Construction accident attorneys in Arizona and throughout the US often find themselves helping people who have suffered serious injuries on a job and need to pursue damages beyond those available under Arizona Workers Compensation laws. Often times, what begins as an OSHA investigations (or AOSHA investigations in Arizona) leads to information that can form the basis of a lawsuit for the injured person.

According to a report, the collapse of a crane in a construction accident is under investigation. The crane accident resulted in injuries to a worker on the construction site. Early reports indicate that the crane was lifting a steel beam when it appeared that the weight of the beam caused the crane to twist and collapse. An ambulance was called to the scene of the construction accident but by the time it arrived, the construction worker had already driven himself to a nearby hospital.

Although, thankfully, it appears that the construction worker was not severely injured in this accident, recent crane accidents indicate that many construction workers are not so lucky. Tragically, crane accidents result in preventable deaths or catastrophic injuries for construction workers and the victim’s family is left with a pile of bills and questions about their options.

If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in a construction accident, the experienced Tuscon construction accident attorneys at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., are ready to assist you. After a free consultation, they will launch an immediate investigation into the accident, answer any questions you may have, and hold the company or individual responsible for the accident accountable for their actions. Call 602-978-6400 today to schedule a free consultation with the Arizona construction accident lawyers at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., and get straight answers to your questions.

May 25, 2009

Crane Accident Fatally Injures Construction Worker with Falling Glass Panes

Can someone who was hurt get money in Arizona beyond just what workers compensation claims pay them? Often times, these claims are limited to whatever is allowed under workman’s comp. However, many people do not realize that construction accidents in Arizona and injuries are often different due to the number of sub-contractors on the job site. Thus, getting the top injury accident lawyer can be important in helping to determine if there is a claim.

A 24-year-old construction worker was killed in a construction accident after he was struck by glass panes that fell from a crane, as reported in a recent article. The worker was working on a building remodel when the glass panes fell off the top of a crane. The man was taken to a local hospital where he died shortly after the accident. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating this fatal construction site accident.

The sad and unfortunate truth about crane accidents in Arizona is that they are often totally preventable. Crane accidents can occur when loads are dropped, as it did in this worker's case. These accidents can also occur when the crane collapses or tips, or when individuals fall from cranes. No matter how crane accidents occur, the consequences are usually devastating and often fatal. Some of the serious injuries that could occur as a result of crane accidents include broken bones, chemical burns, brain injuries, paralysis and disfigurement. All of these injuries have severe financial, physical and emotional consequences for injured victims and their families.

Arizona law allows victims of construction accidents such as crane accidents to sue for injury-related compensation beyond just making a workmens' compensation claim in many cases. However, the law relating to such cases can be complex. Each case needs to be carefully investigated and convincing evidence needs to be collected to prove every individual case. If you have been injured in an Arizona crane accident, call a skilled Phoenix construction accident attorney at Breyer Law for a free consultation and evaluation of your claim. We will explore every possible avenue to secure fair compensation for your injuries and loss.

May 8, 2009

Crane Collapse Kills 4, Injures 10

A multi-story crane working on a skyscraper under construction broke apart and fell across several buildings resulting in the deaths of 4 people and injuring at least 10 more according to a report. Officials investigating the accident say that the crane was at least 19 stories tall and split into several pieces as it fell, completely demolishing a four-story townhouse and causing significant damage to five other nearby buildings. Emergency response personnel rescued one injured man from the debris of the townhouse four hours after the crane accident occurred.

Details are still sketchy, but the authorities believe that the four people killed in the construction accident were all workers at the construction site for a condominium tower. Those suffering injuries are believed to have lived or worked in the buildings which were damaged. Accident investigators claim that a piece of steel somehow fell and sheared off one of the ties which held the crane to the building which then destabilized the crane, causing it to detach, topple and break into several pieces as it fell.

Residents in the area claim that they contacted the city several times about the construction site, saying that the building seemed to be going up too quickly and those crews were working illegal hours. City officials say that they have issued 13 violations to the construction site over the last 27 months, but claim that given the size and scope of the project, this is not an unusually high figure. Interestingly, the last inspection of the crane apparently took place the day before the fatal construction accident which raises a number of issues in and of itself.

Construction work sites are some of the most dangerous places to work in the country. As this and other recent crane accidents have shown, these types of construction accidents not only endanger the people who work at construction sites but also the people living and working nearby.

If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in an Arizona crane accident or another type of Arizona construction accident, our experienced Arizona construction accident attorneys may be able to help. After a free initial consultation, we’ll launch an immediate investigation and may be able to help you receive compensation to offset steep medical expenses and other costs. To schedule a consultation with our skilled Arizona construction accident lawyers, call us today at 602.978.6400.