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Cranes are used to reach great heights, and they are an indispensable tool used in a variety of industries. Cranes are classified as heavy equipment, and when they are used appropriately and safely, they can be of immense help. Unfortunately, when a crane is used improperly and or recklessly, both crane operators and those on the ground can be in danger.

If you were injured in a crane accident, you may be weighing your legal options. With the right Washington DC crane accidents lawyer on your side, you may be able to get the compensation you need to cover your medical bills and living expenses. Even if you were offered worker’s compensation, you may still need an attorney to advocate on your behalf.

Learn more about crane accidents and your legal rights by contacting a construction accident attorney today.

Causes of Crane Accidents

Crane accidents come in a variety of forms, but unfortunately, they can all be deadly. Crane accidents are frequently caused by one or more of the following events:

• Partial or Complete Crane Collapse – As implied, when a crane collapses, workers can fall from great heights. Fortunately, such dramatic collapses are not common, and most collapses involve smaller cranes. Collapses are rare, but often, they are the result of negligence or improper maintenance.
• Overloading – All cranes can only support a certain amount of weight. If a person overloads a crane with equipment or too many people crowd onto a crane, the crane can collapse under the massive weight. For this reason, crane operators and employers should always ensure employees do not overload a crane.
• Load Striking Another Object – When the load of a crane strikes another object, such as a powerline, tree, or building, everyone in the general vicinity can find themselves in danger. Such accidents are common in the chemical and oil industries.
• Unsecured Load – When a load is improperly secured, all those who in the cab can fall from a great height. Such falls can be deadly or result in permanent injury for those involved.

Cranes are certainly helpful in many situations, but they must be used properly and maintained regularly by an experienced team of inspectors and maintenance professionals.

Worker’s Compensation Benefits

Worker’s compensation is an insurance program all employers of a certain size must participate in. Worker’s compensation benefits pay workers approximately 80 percent of their usual salary on a monthly basis until they recover and are capable of resuming their normal duties. Filing for compensation is usually a relatively simple process, and even if the worker was injured through their own fault, they can still claim compensation.

In most cases, worker’s compensation will cover the following expenses:

• Medical bills related to the injury
• Lost wages
• Costs associated with retraining an employee or enrolling them in a vocational rehabilitation program
• Payments for partial disability
• Payments to the family members of workers whose injuries result in death

If an injured employee chooses to claim worker’s compensation benefits, they will not be allowed to file a lawsuit against their employer. Unfortunately, injured employees may need the help of a Washington DC crane accidents lawyer if their employer disputes their compensation claim.

Reach Out to a Washington DC Crane Accidents Attorney Today

If you were injured in a crane accident, you may be only focused on recovering and returning to your normal day-to-day life. This is a noble goal, but you must also consider your legal options. No one should be forced to pay their own medical bills and living expenses in the wake of an on-the-job accident they are not responsible for, and in some cases, an accident they are responsible for.

Reach out to a Washington DC crane accidents lawyer to speak to a legal professional.