Lungo Oleg, 36, of Brooklyn, was killed in a construction accident when he was pinned by a knuckle boom that was being used to offload steel beams from a truck. Officials said Oleg was pronounced dead at the scene the afternoon of March 17. According to a News12 report, the fatal construction accident occurred at a popular strip mall on Route 300 in the Town of Newburgh.
Ongoing Construction Accident Investigation
The part of the strip mall where this horrific accident occurred was once a
restaurant and is currently being converted into a retail store, according to the report. Oleg was operating the vehicle as an employee of a company out of East Jewett, New York. Police have determined there was no criminality involved.
However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which probes work-related accidents, will help police with an ongoing investigation into how and why this construction accident occurred. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Lungo Oleg for their tremendous loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
What Causes Crane Accidents?
Crane accidents in New York City have led to numerous worker deaths as well as serious or even fatal injuries to pedestrians and passerby. Knuckle boom cranes, such as the one that was involved in this accident, are pieces of heavy machinery designed to lift loads, handle and deliver material and conduct work at the boom tip through a variety of attachments. These cranes are designed to be lightweight and highly maneuverable to carry large loads while working in tight spaces, which is why they may result in major injuries if something goes wrong.
There are a number of reasons why crane accidents occur, including:
Crane collapse: Cranes have weights limits to ensure that they do not tip over. Cranes also use counterweights and out-rigging systems to counterbalance the weight. If these weight limits are exceeded, the crane can tip over or the boom may collapse.
Improper crane assembly: A major reason booms collapse is lack of proper crane assembly. In addition, if the crane does not have the proper wood or metal blocking supports to stabilize the load carried by the crane, the load may move and lead to a crane collapse.
Lack of worker training: Laws also require that a crane operator/worker be properly trained in how to use them and complete courses offered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the operation of cranes. Employers also need to make sure that workers at a job site are warned of the dangers of cranes and require them to maintain a safe distance between the crane being operated and other activity within the job site.
Mechanical failures: Cranes must be inspected and maintained regularly. This is key for preventing injury accidents brought about by mechanical failures. Crane components should be repaired or replaced promptly when necessary. Inspections are also critical to prevent crane accidents. Inspectors examining the cranes should make sure they are safe before clearing them for use.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Construction workers who have been injured in crane accidents may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits, which covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. In addition, workers may also be able to file a third-party claim against a negligent (careless) party other than the employer or co-employees for significant monetary damages and thus have two sources of compensation for their losses. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, construction companies, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents etc.
If you have suffered injuries in a construction-related 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.
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. Our law firm also recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
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 and/or medical malpractice cases in New York, 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: https://bronx.news12.com/police-construction-worker-dies-in-newburgh-strip-mall-crane-collapse