Crane Accidents: Who Is Responsible?

With the proliferation of cranes comes an increase in crane accidents. When you have so many industrial and commercial properties with a growing need for construction, the potential for crane-related accidents is great. As with any type of accident, it is important to know who is responsible for it and the extent of their liability. Crane operators, heavy equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, property owners, and other third parties may all be at fault in an accident.

Understanding your liability limits will help you protect your business from lawsuits or claims from injured workers’ comp carriers. Crane accidents are not rare, as they account for about 7% of all industrial accidents each year according to data compiled by Crane Industry magazine. They’re also costly: According to an analysis by Risk Check Services, crane accidents cost the industry $2.7 billion annually in labor expenses and downtime.

Who Is Liable In A Crane Accident?

The law determines who is liable in a crane accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established guidelines for the general industry and construction industries that are applicable to most crane accidents. These guidelines state that the employer of the crane operator is liable for any injuries or damage to property caused by their negligence in operating the crane. Additionally, OSHA considers other parties involved in an accident liable, such as subcontractors and property owners. A third party can be held responsible for their negligence if they contributed to the accident causing damage or injury. This includes failure to ensure safety measures were taken prior to hiring a contractor. If you feel confident that you have met or exceeded all OSHA requirements, then you are not liable if there was an accident that injured or damaged property while your crane was being operated by someone else, regardless of what caused it.

What Is The Limit Of Liability For Crane Accidents?

The liability limit for crane accidents is usually a dollar amount. It is set by the state and can vary between $100,000 to $1 million. For example, in Wisconsin, the limit is $1 million per accident. If you’re a property owner, your liability limit may be $10,000 or less. The buck stops with you when it comes to crane accidents on your property. But if you own a construction business where you hire subcontractors to do work on your property, then you’re liable for their work no matter how much it costs because they are employees of yours. For a heavy equipment manufacturer, the limit is typically much lower than that of a property owner or contractor. Typically, these limits range from $50,000 to $500,000 depending on what kind of equipment was involved in the incident and whether it was private or public use. But regardless of who is responsible for the accident in question—property owner or contractor—it may make sense to insure yourself against potential claims by purchasing insurance policies that cover crane-related injuries and accidents.

What Factors Determine A Crane’s Limit Of Liability?

The factors that determine the limit of liability for a crane vary based on individual state and federal laws. New York crane accident lawyers told us that in general, the crane owner or operator is liable for up to an amount equal to $300,000 in damages. Additionally, a company must maintain safety standards, which will generally increase the limit of liability. If a company doesn’t perform these duties, an injured worker’s comp carrier might be able to recover additional compensation through a “close proximity” claim. Another consideration is what type of crane you own: If you own a boom-type crane that doesn’t have a boom at all–like one that has no jib–then you probably won’t face any liability limits at all. For jib-type cranes, there are two sets of limits: The first set applies if the jib is attached to the superstructure and is designed for use in erecting buildings or other structures; these limits begin at about $250,000 for third-party claims and continue as high as $1 million for direct injury claims if your company fails to perform its duty of care. The second set applies if your job isn’t attached to the superstructure but is still designed for use in erecting buildings or other structures; these limits start at about $3 million and increase as high as $8 million if your company fails to perform its duty of care.

Crane Operator & Operator Errors

Any time you have an accident with a crane, the operator is at fault by law. However, in many cases, the owner or contractor of the property is also liable for damages and injuries sustained by workers while on-site during construction. If a subcontractor is responsible for any part of the accident, they may be liable as well. The operator may be liable if they were grossly negligent, if they violated OSHA standards and regulations related to crane operation, or if they failed to do anything to prevent the accident. If there was no gross negligence on the part of the operator but still an accidental injury or death occurred because of crane malfunctioning, they might be partially liable if they were aware that it was potentially hazardous and failed to take corrective action. If there was not gross negligence on their part but another party’s negligence caused the accident, then that party will likely be held wholly responsible for any damages incurred as a result of it. Finally, if a third party’s negligence caused the accident but no one else was found to be at fault, then that party may only be held liable for damages caused by their actions.

Crane Maintenance & Malfunctioning Equipment

As with any type of accident, it is important to know who is responsible for it and the extent of their liability. Crane operators, heavy equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, property owners, and other third parties may all be at fault in an accident. Understanding your liability limits will help you protect your business from lawsuits or claims from injured workers’ comp carriers. Crane accidents are not rare, as they account for about 7% of all industrial accidents each year according to data compiled by Crane Industry magazine. They’re also costly: According to analysis by Risk Check Services, crane accidents cost industry $2.7 billion annually in labor expenses and downtime.

Property Owner & Lack Of Supervision

The property owner of the crane is responsible for ensuring that it is being operated safely. If a crane operator or heavy equipment manufacturer fails to ensure the safety of their crew members, they are liable for any injuries sustained. The property owner should also have sufficient supervision over their cranes to reduce the chances of accidents.

Subcontractor & Improper Installation Or Assembly

Crane operators and heavy equipment manufacturers are at the top of the list of potential defendants in an accident. Most often, they’re found negligent for providing improper installations or assemblies. When constructing a crane, it’s important for contractors to maintain a safe working environment for all involved: workers, subcontractors, and even the general public. When it comes to installation or assembly failures, liability can be assigned to the contractor who provided faulty workmanship. Property owners that own a building that houses a crane are also liable if their property is not properly secured so that it doesn’t harm anyone when using the crane. They may also be liable if they allowed unsafe conditions to exist on their property for any other reason (for example, allowing debris from construction to accumulate on their property). If you’re unsure about whether your operation is safe at any point during construction or use, ask your insurance broker as soon as possible. Insurance will protect you against losses sustained during construction or in case something goes wrong during the use of your crane or other heavy equipment.

Summary

When a crane accident occurs, the operator of the crane is usually found negligent and liable for damages. In cases where insurance does not cover the losses or when an insurance policy does not exist, the owner of the equipment may be found liable for paying damages. If you are responsible for a crane accident, you will have to pay for all of these costs as well as any legal fees incurred by the injured worker’s comp carrier, which can range from $1,000 to $10,000 per incident.