California Injury Blog
Paul Nagle, 60, was killed in a construction accident in Irvine. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal workplace accident occurred the morning of February 2, 2016 in a commercial construction site at 15100 Barranca Parkway. Firefighters found Nagle dead next to a crane. They said it appeared to have been a crane-related construction accident. Cal/OSHA investigators were looking into the cause of the accident. Nagle was employed with Mr. Crane, an Orange-based company. Police are still investigating this incident.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family members of Paul Nagle. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Common Causes of Crane Accidents
Cranes are large pieces of construction equipment that can result in significant injuries or even fatalities when they collapse or malfunction. Here are some of the most common causes of crane accidents:
• Crane collapse: Cranes have weight limits. When those limits are exceeded cranes may buckle or tip over. It is important to load the crane properly.
• Training: It is critical that crane operators are properly trained when it comes to safety. Employees should take every precaution to make sure that other workers on the site maintain a safe distance from the crane operation.
• Defective parts: When a crane is manufactured with weak or substandard parts or components, there is a heightened risk of it failing.
• Electrocution hazard: Crane operators should be wary of overhead power lines. Contact with these lines could prove fatal for crane operators.
• Poor maintenance: Cranes are complex pieces of equipment that require routine maintenance. Any worn parts should be fixed or replaced right away.
Compensation for Workers and Families
When a worker is fatally injured in a construction accident, his family members can seek death benefits through his employer’s workers’ compensation program. However, in some cases, they may be able to receive additional compensation by filing a third party claim. Such claims are often worth a lot more than workers’ compensation benefits.
Third-party claims are filed against parties other than employers whose negligence may have caused or contributed to the fatal accident. Examples of third parties include contractors, building owners, maintenance firms and manufacturers of defective products. An experienced Orange County construction accident attorney will be able to advise victims and their families in such cases regarding their legal rights and options.