Police are looking into a fatal collision between an MTA bus and a boom lift in Midtown the night of Jan. 26 that sent a construction worker plummeting to his death. According to AMNY.com, the incident occurred near the Victoria’s Secret store on 51st Street and 5th Avenue in Midtown. ABC7 reports that the 39-year-old worker was apparently changing a billboard atop the store when the bus hit his boom lift.
Emergency medical personnel rushed the worker to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police have not yet identified the worker. The MTA bus driver remained at the scene. No charged have been filed yet. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased worker. They will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Common Causes of Such Accidents
Construction site accidents involving cranes, lifts or booms caused by vehicle collisions are a serious safety concern, particularly in high-traffic areas like construction zones, industrial sites or roadways. These incidents often occur when vehicles collide with stationary or moving boom lifts, leading to severe injuries or fatalities for workers on the lift.
Distracted or reckless driving plays a significant part in these types of crashes. Drivers who are not paying attention or who speed through construction zones are more likely to collide with equipment. Unsafe working conditions can play a part as well. One common cause is poor visibility. Drivers may fail to see a boom lift or its extended arm, especially at night or in areas with inadequate lighting or signage.
Improper placement of the boom lift can also contribute to collisions. If a lift is positioned too close to active roadways or in areas with heavy traffic flow without proper barriers or warning systems, it becomes vulnerable to being struck by passing vehicles. Construction companies, owners, contractors or some sub-contractors should make sure workers are well protected with proper lighting, lookouts and the equipment necessary to do the job safely.
Injuries Suffered in Accidents Involving Cranes, Booms or Lifts
Accidents involving cranes, booms, or lifts can result in a number of injuries and in many instances tend to be severe or life-threatening due to the elevation of the equipment. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can occur if workers are struck by falling objects, crane parts or debris. Head injuries are particularly common in cases where workers are not equipped with protective gear such as helmets or hard hats.
Broken bones and fractures are frequent, often resulting from falls from significant heights or being pinned by equipment. Spinal cord injuries and paralysis can also occur, particularly if a worker falls from a boom or lift or is involved in a crushing incident. Falls are among the most prevalent causes of injury, especially if workers are not secured with fall protection systems like harnesses or guardrails.
Crush injuries are another major risk. Workers can be caught between the equipment and a stationary object, leading to severe damage to limbs or even amputation. Electrocution is also a significant hazard, especially when cranes or lifts come into contact with overhead power lines causing burns, nerve damage or other fatal injuries. Proper worker training, adherence to safety standards, routine equipment inspections and use of protective gear can help curb such injury accidents.
Compensation for Injured Victims
Crane accidents can result in serious injuries not only for construction workers, but also passersby. Injured workers in New York City may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Workers’ compensation provides medical treatment, wage replacement, and other benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
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/managers, managing agents etc. In cases where a worker dies from injuries suffered on the job, surviving family members may seek death benefits through workers’ compensation and/or file a wrongful death claim against a third party who may be held liable for the fatal incident.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crane accident or any type of construction accident or workplace 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 53 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.
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
Sources: https://www.amny.com/news/worker-dies-midtown-mta-bus-crash-01262025/
https://abc7ny.com/post/midtown-fatal-accident-construction-worker-killed-mta-bus-hits-boom-lift/15840077/