Crane Accident Compensation Claims
Find out how our experienced solicitors could assist you with the crane accident claims process.
£70 million in compensation
Crane Accident Compensation Claims
Find out how our experienced solicitors could assist you with the crane accident claims process.
This guide looks at the eligibility criteria all crane accident claims must meet. We will discuss the duty of care you are owed in the workplace and how a breach of this duty could lead you to suffering an injury in an accident at work.
Furthermore, we look at how compensation is calculated in personal injury claims and the different forms of compensation you could be awarded. We will also look at examples of evidence that could help support your crane accident claim.
The guide concludes by explaining the benefits of working with one of our personal injury lawyers or solicitors on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you have suffered an injury at work, you can contact our advisors to see whether you may have a valid personal injury claim. As well as providing you with free advice on your case, they can help answer any questions you may have about accident at work claims for crane accidents.
Connect with our advisors today by:
- Calling 0151 375 9916
- Using our live chat service.
- Contacting us online.
What Is A Crane Accident?
A crane accident is an incident, usually in a workplace like a construction site, where a crane causes an injury to a person or several people.
We explore the causes of crane accidents below, but in short, if the operation of a crane is dangerous and creates a risk of harm, it could lead to serious injuries.
If you get injured by a crane, it may be possible to make a compensation claim for the injuries suffered, as well as for the financial cost of the injuries, such as missing out on your pay.
What Are The Causes Of Crane Accidents?
There are various ways that a crane accident could occur. However, you must remember, that in order to have a valid crane accident claim, your injury must have been caused by someone breaching the duty of care they owed you.
Some examples of how someone may be injured in a crane accident include:
- An employee did not receive any training on how to operate a crane but was still asked to use one as part of their work duties. Due to this, they lost control of the crane and hit another employee, causing them to suffer a back injury.
- Despite raising their concerns, an employee was required to overload a crane. This caused the crane’s boom to collapse, and the load fell onto the employee. This resulted in them suffering multiple severe injuries, such as a head injury and a broken leg. In some cases, this could even lead to fatal injuries.
- A crane was not regularly maintained. This resulted in the crane going into mechanical failure, which caused the crane operator and other employees who were near the crane to suffer various injuries.
These are just a few examples. To see whether you may have a valid claim, or to ask any questions about the crane accident claims process, you can contact our advisors.
Examples Of Common Crane Accidents
Now we know what the potential causes of crane accidents can be, let’s look at how these accidents can unfold. Here are some examples:
- Collisions with power cables, which could cause electric shock injuries
- Incidents where the crane drops its load to the ground, potentially hitting people below
- Where a crane causes part of a building or structure to collapse, which could see rubble fall and land on workers below
- In severe cases, a crane could lose balance, topple and fall over.
- On major construction sites, there may be more than one crane in operation. In these cases, the cranes could collide with one another
- The crane attempts to lift a load that’s too heavy for it, destabilising it and knocking it off balance.
This isn’t a full list, so if you don’t see your circumstances described, don’t worry. There’s a good chance you could still make a compensation claim. Get in touch with us today to discuss your case with us.
What Injuries Could You Suffer In A Crane Accident?
With such heavy machinery involved and the significant weights that cranes can lift and move, the potential for serious injury is significant.
From our experience helping people with crane accident compensation claims, some of the most common injuries we see include:
- Head injuries and brain damage
- Crush injuries which can lead to broken pounds and compound fractures
- Damage to the spinal cord
- Loss of limbs, as well as fingers, hands or feet
- Broken and fractured bones
- Psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
This is by no means an exhaustive list; a crane accident can result in any type of injury and of differing severities. If you’d like to discuss your case with us today, call us for free on the number at the top of this page.
Can I Make A Crane Accident Compensation Claim?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, all employers must take reasonable and practicable steps to ensure that employees are protected from harm whilst performing their duties. These steps can include ensuring all staff have received sufficient training and performing regular risk assessments.
Since one of the main industries that cranes are used for is construction, it is important to note that another party may owe you a duty of care while working on a construction site.
Various companies such as scaffolding and electric may be working on a construction site. There may also be a main contractor and site manager if these duties are not performed by your employer. A duty of care may also be owed to you by these individual parties while you are working on a construction site. Additionally, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 sets out how those responsible for construction sites can help improve overall safety within the industry. The party that you would make your claim against would be affected by who owed you a duty of care at the time of the accident that injured you.
Furthermore, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 provides guidance for companies and people who operate, own or have control over lifting equipment, such as cranes.
All crane accident claims must be able to meet the following eligibility criteria for them to be valid:
- A duty of care was owed to you at the time and place of your accident.
- A breach of this duty occurred.
- This breach caused you to suffer physical or psychological harm.
If you believe you have been injured due to a breach of health and safety at work, you can contact our advisors today to see whether you may have a valid crane injury claim.
Established, Experienced, Dependable, Responsive and Committed
Settlements And Compensation Amounts In Crane Accident Claims
If your personal injury claim is successful, your settlement could be made up of two heads of loss. General damages is the first one, and it will be awarded in all successful crane accident claims. This compensates you for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries which can be both physical, emotional or both.
As part of the claiming process, you may be required to undergo an independent medical assessment. A solicitor could organise this for you if you decide to work with one. The report from this assessment could be used by those calculating your claim for general damages. Additionally, they may also refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) alongside this report. This document provides compensation guidelines for various types and severities of injury.
We have used figures from the JCG to create a table below. However, please bear in mind that each claim varies from person to person. Also, the first entry does not come from the JCG.
Compensation Guidelines
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Guidelines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries Plus Expenses | Severe | Up to £1,00,000+ | Compensation for multiple severe injuries. It also includes compensation for costs incurred due to the injuries like loss of earnings and medical costs. |
| Head | (a) Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 | A degree of ability to follow basic commands but little, if any evidence of meaningful environmental responses as well the need for full time nursing care. |
| Head | (c) Moderate (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 | A moderate to severe intellectual deficit as well as a change in personality and impact on the senses. |
| Back | (a) Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 | Severe damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots which creates severe pain, paralysis and impaired bowel, bladder and sexual function. |
| Back | (a) Severe (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 | Chronic conditions persist despite treatment resulting from soft tissue injuries, fractures of discs and disc lesions. |
| Arm | (a) Severe Injuries | £117,360 to £159,770 | Injuries that are considered as serious but fell short of amputation, however, the person has been left little better off than if it had been amputated. |
| Knee | (a) Severe (i) | £85,100 to £117,410 | Serious knee injuries where the joint is disrupted and gives rise to the development of osteoarthritis as well as cases of gross ligamentous damage. |
| Leg | (b) Severe (ii) Very Serious | £54,830 to £87,890 | Injuries that are classed as very serious in nature and create permanent mobility issues, with the person needing mobility aids for the rest of their life. |
| Ankle | (c) Moderate | £16,770 to £32,450 | Fractures and tears to ligaments that cause issues walking on uneven ground, taking stairs or standing for a prolonged period. |
| Shoulder | (b) Serious | £15,580 to £23,430 | Dislocations to the shoulder and brachial plexus damage that causes pain, aching. |
Can I Claim Back Money I Lost Because Of The Crane Accident?
Special damages is the second head of loss that could be included within your settlement. This compensates you for any financial expenses caused as a direct result of your crane accident injury, such as:
- Loss of past or future earnings.
- Any care costs, if you needed a carer.
- Travel expenses, such as taxis to and from hospital appointments.
- Medical expenses, such as paying for physiotherapy.
- The costs for any adaptations needed in your home or vehicle.
You will need to provide evidence of any financial losses you wish to claim for. This can include receipts, payslips and invoices.
To find out how much compensation you may be eligible to receive as part of your crane accident compensation claim, you can contact our advisors.
How Can I Prove My Crane Accident Compensation Claim?
To help support your crane injury compensation claim, it’s important to collect as much evidence as possible. The evidence you gather will need to prove liability, how the accident occurred, and the injuries that were suffered.
Some examples of evidence that could be gathered for crane accident claims include:
- CCTV footage of the incident.
- Photographs of the accident scene.
- Your medical records that state the injuries you suffered and their treatment.
- A copy of the report of your accident in the workplace accident book.
- Witness contact information, as they could provide a statement at a later date.
If you are eligible to start a claim, one of our solicitors could help guide you through the claiming process, including helping you gather evidence for your case. To see if you could be able to work with one of them today, contact one of our friendly advisors.
We pride ourselves
on providing the best service
possible for our clients.
We pride ourselves on providing the best service possible for our clients.
Make A Crane Accident Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
If you have a valid case, one of our personal injury solicitors could help guide you through the crane accident claims process. They may also offer their services to you via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee contract.
Under this particular contract, there will be nothing to pay upfront to your solicitor for them to begin working on your case. Additionally, there will be no service fees to pay while the claim moves ahead or if it ends unsuccessfully.
In the event of a successful outcome, your personal injury solicitor will take a small and legally restricted percentage from the compensation as a success fee.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding the crane accident claims process, such as ‘How long after an accident at work could I make a claim?’, you can contact our advisors. As well as answering your questions, they can offer you free advice for your case and connect you with one of our solicitors.
To speak with an advisor today, you can:
- Call 0151 375 9916
- Use our live chat service.
- Contact us online.
Our Latest Customer Reviews
AS SEEN ON
Contact Us
Our helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
All calls are free and there’s no pressure whatsoever to proceed with a compensation claim.
If you write to us, we aim to respond within an hour or two, and no more than a few hours.
