Video obtained by NBC showed the arm of the crane collapsing before its outermost portion struck a building across the street and sent debris flying. The arm then slammed into the tower and plummeted down onto scaffolding as well as the street below. The top part of the crane, the boom and a 16-ton load crashed to the ground where people ran to avoid the falling equipment and debris.
Officials said the crane operator was bringing 16 tons of concrete up when he spotted the fire. He attempted to put out the flames himself, but was unable to do so and got out. He was not injured. But, as the fired heated the cable attached to the weight, it weakened and caused the crane to collapse, officials said. Eleven people, including building workers who were outside the building at the time, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Three of the victims were transported to area hospitals.
The building on which the crane was situated is currently under construction and is intended to be a 54-story, mixed-use building, officials with the New York City Department of Buildings said. It is not clear if anyone else was in the building at the time of the crane collapse. Mayor Eric Adams said it is not clear what sparked the fire. The investigation is ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims and we wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Crane accidents in New York City have led to numerous worker deaths as well as serious or even fatal injuries to pedestrians and passerby. There are a number of reasons why crane accidents occur, including:
Overloaded cranes: Cranes have weight limits to ensure that they do not tip over. If these weight limits are exceeded, the crane can tip over or the boom can 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 can move and lead to a crane collapse.
Inadequate job and safety 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.
Contact with electrical lines: Electrocution caused by overhead power lines is a common cause of crane accidents. Crane operators as well as workers in the basket must constantly be made aware of where live wires are located. It is also imperative that power to electrical lines is shut off before work begins near live wires.
Victims injured by these types of accidents involving falling equipment, debris or poorly maintained structures should understand they have legal rights. In such cases, injured bystanders or passersby can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injury, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
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 have two sources of compensation available 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 or a loved one has been injured 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. For over 51 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. 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, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy 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.
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Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crane-on-hells-kitchen-skyscraper-on-fire-partially-collapses-officials/4537781/