California Injury Blog
A worker at a Long Beach rail facility suffered fatal job injuries after a crane collapsed on top of him. The Los Angeles Times reports that the accident occurred the morning of September 18, 2010 at the facility in the 2400 block of East Sepulveda Boulevard. The worker was apparently standing under the crane and doing some repair work when it fell on top of him, killing him instantly. Another worker was also injured when he or she was pinned under the collapsed crane. It is not clear how serious that worker’s injuries were.
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My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this deceased worker. I also wish the injured worker a swift and full recovery. These victims and their families will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Crane Accident Statistics
A majority of crane accidents usually end up being fatal because of the size and weight of these cranes. Crane accidents also have the potential for catastrophic injuries. According to statistics maintained by Crane Accidents.com, there were 303 crane accidents involving 197 fatalities in the United States in 2009. In 2008, there were 401 crane accidents involving 217 fatalities.
Causes and Compensation Issues
Based on this news report, it is not clear why the crane collapsed. It is also not clear who was operating the crane at the time. We also do not know whether the crane collapse was due to a product defect or some type of malfunction. Usually, such industrial accidents are investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
When it comes to job-related accidents, injured workers could receive workers compensation benefits. In addition, they may also be able to file a third party claim against a negligent party other than their employer. Such entities include contractors, sub-contractors or the manufacturers of defective products. Injured workers or their families would be well-advised to contact a reputed Long Beach personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled third-party claims.
Have you suffered a work-related injury? Do you believe you were fairly compensated?
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.