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Crane accident claims are legal actions taken when an injury is caused by the negligent actions of an employer, site operator, or another third party. Whether you broke your wrist because of a failure to service a crane or suffered catastrophic injuries due to a collapse caused by a failure to repair worn-out components, Accident Claims will use decades of collective experience to support you through the claims process.
Our advisors are on hand 24/7 and happy to answer any initial queries about the claims process. They can evaluate your situation, explain the steps involved in making a claim, and connect you with one of our expert accident at work solicitors. Get in touch today using the details below:
4.8Crane accident claims are a way for employees to seek compensation for injuries caused by the negligent actions of a third party, such as an employer or maintenance provider. Your specific compensation will depend on the severity of your injuries and the details of the prognosis, such as how long it will likely take you to fully recover.
To discuss your crane accident claim, get in touch with one of our friendly advisors today.
Yes, you can claim for injuries caused by a crane accident if they result from a third party’s failure to meet their legal health and safety obligations. The crane accident claims eligibility criteria are detailed below:
If you were injured whilst operating the crane, you may be able to seek compensation if the harm you suffered was caused by your employer’s failure to service the machinery or carry out a risk assessment prior to use. You might also have grounds to make a defective work equipment claim if you can show that the equipment had a manufacturing defect and that this directly caused you harm.
Yes, you can still pursue a crane accident claim if you were just visiting the construction site, provided that your injuries were caused by the occupier’s failure to ensure your reasonable safety. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, parties in control of public spaces have a legal duty to use practical measures to keep visitors reasonably safe. For crane operations, this requires work areas to be clearly demarcated, properly signposted, and securely segregated from public footpaths.
Our advisors can help you find out whether you may be eligible to make a crane accident claim today. Get in touch.
In the tragic event that a loved one loses their life in a fatal crane accident, specific legal rules will govern when and who can pursue compensation. For the first 6 months following the death, the deceased’s estate will be the only party that can bring a claim. This includes taking legal action on behalf of eligible relatives. However, if the estate does not seek compensation for these family members within the 6-month window, then qualifying dependants may then claim for the impact of losing a loved one.
More information is available in our dedicated guide to claiming fatal accident compensation. You can also contact one of our supportive advisors who can help explain the steps involved in starting a fatal crane accident claim.
Employers, site operators, and equipment manufacturers are among the main parties that could be responsible for a crane accident. Below, we outline why and highlight other parties who may be held liable for an incident.
Per the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers must take practical measures to protect the health, wellbeing, and safety of staff in the workplace. This includes providing workers with sufficient role-specific training necessary to competently operate heavy-lifting equipment, such as cranes.
If a specialist contractor is hired to operate the crane, they owe a duty of care to every individual on site. In particular, they have a responsibility to follow pre-agreed lift plans, comply with the machinery’s safe working load (SWL), and operate the crane safely and competently.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) require parties who control cranes or other machinery to make sure they are fit for purpose. This includes inspecting the equipment and carrying out thorough examinations at legally required intervals.
Managers must coordinate site safety, as established by The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. This involves ensuring that cranes are erected in secure, properly signposted exclusion zones and operated only on stable ground.
Maintenance providers are responsible for running checks on the crane. They may be liable for an injury if it occurs due to a failure to adequately inspect the crane for defects or to make appropriate repairs.
The Consumer Protection Act 1987 imposes strict liability on manufacturers. Essentially, this means that you do not have to establish negligence. Rather, you only have to show that the crane had a defect (such as a faulty hydraulic seal) and that this directly caused your injury.
Responsibility may also fall on other contractors operating on site if their hazardous actions, such as incorrect signalling, directly lead to a crane-related injury.
You can find out who may be responsible for your crane accident by discussing your circumstances with one of our advisors today.
There are many ways in which negligence can lead to crane accidents, such as poor supervision, insufficient training, and inadequate maintenance. Some specific scenarios in which crane accident claims may arise are given below:
You can discuss the unique circumstances of your claim with one of our helpful advisors. Get in touch today.
The amount of crane accident compensation that might be awarded in a successful claim will depend on the injuries that you sustained, the long-term impact on your quality of life, and whether there are any associated financial losses. Your solicitor may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them evaluate the value of general damages, the part of a settlement that covers the effects of physical or psychological trauma.
Our solicitors often use the JCG because the document provides suggested brackets of compensation spanning a variety of injury types. The table below provides a selection of JCG guidelines for various injuries, including brain damage. Please note that none of these amounts is guaranteed for successful crane accident claims, and the first figure was not taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries and Financial Losses | Multiple severe injuries with substantial special damages, such as lost earnings and the cost of physiotherapy and specialist orthopaedic care | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain and Head Injury | Very Severe - little or no language function and the need for full time nursing care | £372,570 - £533,720 |
| Moderate (i) - severe intellectual deficit with some risk of epilepsy | £198,320 - £289,420 | |
| Paralysis | Paraplegia - award will depend on the extent of pain and life expectancy | £289,420 - £375,540 |
| Neck Injury | Severe (i) - associated with incomplete paraplegia with little or no movement of the neck | £195,970 (in region) |
| Back Injury | Severe (i) - damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots | £120,340 - £212,670 |
| Pelvis and Hip Injury | Severe (i) - Extensive fractures of the pelvis | £103,580 - £172,970 |
| Moderate (ii) - May involve hip replacement or other surgery | £16,640 - £35,130 | |
| Chest Injury | (b) - Permanent damage caused by trauma to chest, the lungs, and/or heart | £86,860 - £133,000 |
| Leg Injury | Less Serious (i) - fractures where an incomplete recovery is made or serious soft tissue damage | £23,730 - £36,680 |
To find out what compensation you may receive to cover your general damages, call an advisor today.
4.8Yes, compensation can cover financial losses after a crane accident if they are directly associated with your injuries. These can be recovered under the head of claim, special damages, and some examples are discussed below.
Crane accidents can lead to lifelong medical costs, especially if you need long-term care from private orthopaedists or other specialists. You may be able to recover any costs related to private medical treatment and prescriptions necessitated by your injuries.
Falling from a crane can result in serious injuries, such as a broken back, that may require you to pay for physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions to rebuild strength and mobility.
If you have been left unable to drive because of a broken leg, you may have had to pay for bus or train tickets to help you get around.
Injuries sustained in crane accidents are likely to lead to time off work, which can result in a significant loss of earnings. Special damages can cover the wages that you have lost, including bonuses and overtime.
Crane accidents, such as crushing injuries caused by a collapse, may leave you with permanently reduced mobility. In this case, you may be compensated for the cost of hiring cleaners or carers.
Keep a log of each payment you make, along with copies of receipts and invoices to prove they were made. This will be essential if you wish to claim for your financial losses.
You can find out what other expenses may be reimbursed in your special damages by calling one of our advisors today.
To bring a crane injury claim, you will need evidence to prove how your employer or another third party is at fault for the harm you suffered. Some steps to take to help you gather evidence and strengthen your claim are detailed below.
Prioritising your health is the most important part of the process. Prompt medical care ensures you get the treatment you need after the crane accident and also creates an updated medical record. These documents can be used as evidence in support of a crane accident claim.
As soon as you can, begin compiling evidence showing mechanical defects or failures in crane operation procedures. This can include CCTV footage, any available telemetry data from the crane, photographs of visible defects, and documents related to maintenance or operator training. Find out more about what evidence is needed for a personal injury claim in our dedicated guide.
The site where the crane was should have an accident report book where you can make an official record of what happened. This can outline precisely what happened and establish a clear chronology of the incident.
Each day, make a note of any worsening symptoms and your pain levels. You can also detail the broader impact on your life since the crane accident and record any payments you make in association with your injuries.
A personal injury solicitor specialising in workplace accident claims will have the experience necessary to show the negligence of the crane operator or your employer. Here at Accident Claims, we can advise you on what evidence to gather and provide hands-on support throughout the claims process.
You will need to begin your claim within 3 years starting from the date of your accident. You can find out more about the limitation period in our dedicated guide.
If you have any further questions about the steps to making crane accident claims, don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly advisors today.
By making your crane accident claim with Accident Claims’ solicitors, you will receive a bespoke service designed to achieve a successful outcome and ensure your wellbeing is prioritised from start to finish. Our services and the No Win No Fee arrangement offered by our expert solicitors are detailed below.
Crane accident claims handled by our expert solicitors will give you the best possible chance of success with your claim. The services that they provide to ensure this include:
Yes, crane injury claims can be made on a No Win No Fee basis with our solicitors, who offer a specific arrangement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means that you can begin making your claim with the benefits of:
A maximum of 25% is deducted from your compensation as the solicitor’s ‘success fee’ if your claim is successful. This is deducted as a legally capped percentage, meaning you will receive the majority of the compensation.
You can find out more about our solicitors’ services and the arrangements that they offer by contacting an advisor at Accident Claims today. Speak to us today:
Find more of our useful guides below:
Further reading that might be of assistance to you is outlined below:
Thank you for reading our guide on crane accident claims. We hope you found it useful.
