Cranes are a common feature on construction sites but when they are misused or poorly maintained, serious accidents often result. At Hillstone Law we believe that anyone injured in a crane accident deserves to understand their legal rights and the options available for seeking justice and compensation.

Filing a Lawsuit After a Crane Accident

In California you are allowed to bring a personal injury suit if you are hurt in a crane accident. Costs from such accidents can be very high including medical bills, lost wages, physical and emotional suffering. To recover damages you must show someone else was negligent and caused your injury, meaning you have the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.

Who Might Be Liable

Various parties may be responsible following a crane accident, depending on how and why the accident occurred:

• The crane operator if they failed to act safely or properly under the circumstances
• The construction company or owner of the crane especially if they neglected maintenance or did not ensure operator safety training
• The manufacturer of the crane or its parts when defects in design or fabrication lead to the accident
• Property owners if unsafe conditions on the site or negligent oversight contributed to the accident
• Third party contractors especially those who assembled, maintained, or operated the crane or its components

How Negligence Is Involved

Crane accident cases typically hinge on negligence. Examples include:

• An operator lacking proper training or certification or ignoring safety protocols
• Failure to properly inspect or maintain equipment resulting in mechanical failure
• Unsafe site conditions like operating in high winds, using the crane on unstable ground, or failing to anchor or level it properly
• Defective parts or design flaws that make the crane unsafe even when used correctly

To succeed in a negligence claim you will need to show that the defendant had a duty to act carefully, breached that duty, and that breach directly caused your injury.

Types of Compensation You May Seek

If you are injured in a crane accident you may be entitled to recover:

• Medical expenses including current and future treatment
• Lost wages from the time you could not work and possibly future lost earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Disability or permanent disfigurement if the accident causes lasting harm
• Property damage if something you own was damaged during the incident
• In some cases punitive damages when the behavior was especially reckless or intentional

If someone died in a crane accident you may bring a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for medical care before death, funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.

Special Situations: Workplace Injuries

If the crane accident occurred on the job workers compensation typically applies. That means you may already be entitled to benefits like medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost wages without proving fault. But in many cases there is also a possibility of suing a third party such as the crane manufacturer or a contractor if their negligence played a role. In such cases you may recover damages beyond what workers compensation provides.

Time Limits and Legal Support

In California there are deadlines called statutes of limitations for filing personal injury and wrongful death claims. Missing those deadlines can mean losing the right to bring a claim. Gathering evidence such as medical records, maintenance logs, and witness statements, documenting how the accident affected you, and hiring an experienced attorney are critical steps.

At Hillstone Law we help victims of crane accidents understand who may be liable, what compensation they can receive, and guide them through every stage of the legal process to ensure their rights are protected.