Falling Crane Crushes Car Near NYC Construction Site

A Bronx driver and a pedestrian narrowly escaped a falling crane in September. A boom crane on a Bedford construction site snapped and toppled over, taking down a light pole and crushing a vehicle. Fortunately, both the driver and pedestrian escaped with minor injuries. A firefighter told the driver if her car had been just three inches forward, she may not have survived.

Construction is one of the most dangerous professions in the United States. In fact, this is the second New York City crane accident in two months: another crane toppled in Brooklyn, damaging a nearby building. Whether you’re working on site or have been injured as a passerby, a personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney can help you recover compensation for your injuries.

Who’s liable in a construction site accident?

Liability for construction accidents often depends on who’s injured and who caused the accident. Construction workers can file a workers’ compensation claim for any on-the-job injuries—and they don’t have to prove fault to receive benefits. Workers’ compensation claims pay for medical expenses, lost wages and may provide temporary or total disability benefits.

Construction workers generally cannot file a personal injury claim against their employer. However, if a third party’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident—such as a subcontractor, vendor or manufacturer—they may be able to file a claim against those parties.

Pedestrians, drivers and other passersby can file their own claims against the construction site operators. These typically proceed on a theory of negligence. Plaintiffs may be able to recover damages for past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and more.

If you’ve been injured in a construction site accident, call the knowledgeable personal injury lawyers at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP today.