Photo: KVUE-TVTwo cranes collided at a construction site in north Austin on Wednesday, causing one to partially collapse. The cranes became entangled several stories above a building in a developing area that includes residential, retail, and commercial space.
22 workers were injured in the accident, including 16 who were transported to hospitals with non life-threatening injuries, according to Austin-Travis County EMS spokesman Darren Noak. Most of those injuries occurred when workers were forced to run for cover.Authorities reported that one of the crane operators was still inside the crane cabin about 150ft above the ground for more than an hour after the accident. The crane did not appear to be damaged. Fire Department Capt. Mark Bridge assured the public that the operator was safe and helped to stabilize the crane as recovery was underway.
Investigators do not believe there was an issue with the cranes’ bases or that they were in danger of falling over. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined.https://www.weebly.com/weebly/apps/generateMap.php?map=google&elementid=806779491676713784&ineditor=0&control=3&width=auto&height=250px&overviewmap=0&scalecontrol=0&typecontrol=0&zoom=15&long=-97.70750149999999&lat=30.3007575&domain=www&point=1&align=1&reseller=falsehttps://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!4v1600361252093!6m8!1m7!1sOGbOym0EyJyuheUKaKhLqg!2m2!1d30.30076899683642!2d-97.70751195512788!3f82.61443676079578!4f10.841606227239339!5f0.7953743826487043Cranes are a type of machinery that usually consists of a base unit attached to a mast or tower that is usually attached to a slewing unit with a horizontal jib (or working arm), machinery arm, and operator’s cab. Cranes are frequently used for loading and unloading large amounts of freight. An individual can be injured in one of the many different kinds of crane accidents. Some of the most common types that Williams Hart & Boundas sees include, but are not limited to:
- Inadequate training
- Improperly set up cranes
- Improper cranes for certain functions
- Exceeding operational limits
- Improper load capacity
- Failure to maintain the crane
- Falls
- Caught in-between accidents
- Electrocution
- Struck by objects
- Dropped loads
- Swinging loads
- Transportation incidents
- Defective parts or other mechanical failures
Cranes need to be operated by qualified personnel who have received appropriate training and the cranes must be located on level and secure sites. Safety plans are essential to the use of cranes, and load stability needs to be checked frequently. When training and safety regulations are overlooked, an accident can happen. Depending on the type of accident they were involved in, workers and bystanders are at risk of serious injuries like brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, strains, and more.
The actions that you take immediately following the incident can determine the results of your case. You should always seek immediate medical attention, even when you do not think that you were harmed. If you were hurt in a crane accident on the job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits (regardless of who was at fault for the accident) and if defective equipment, parts, or a negligent third party caused the accident, you could be owed additional compensation.
The attorneys of Williams Hart & Boundas will work tirelessly to make sure every negligent party involved in your accident is held fully accountable. Contact us today for a 100% FREE case evaluation to learn more about your options.
