Houston Crane Accident Lawyers

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Undefeated Texas Crane Injury Lawyers

Cranes are essential heavy equipment on many oil and gas, maritime, construction, and other job sites across Texas. But with the capacity to lift and move extreme loads and weighing tens to hundreds of tons, cranes also pose a significant threat to workers in the Lone Star State, claiming the lives of dozens each year and injuring countless more. 

However massive, a crane should not buckle in the wind. It should not topple over onto nearby buildings. And it should never strike a worker or bystander due to another’s reckless or careless actions. 

If a catastrophic crane failure or operator’s negligence has caused you or a loved one harm in Houston, TX, you have the right to hold the at-fault parties accountable. 

You also have the right to the best legal representation in Texas, a top-rated law firm with the resources, knowledge and experience needed to take on the biggest companies in the world, handle the most complex and challenging work injury cases, and recover the maximum compensation you deserve for ALL of your injuries and losses.

At Zehl & Associates, we not only win — we set records. Having represented thousands of injured workers in Texas and across the U.S., our undefeated personal injury attorneys have recovered Billions on behalf of our clients and their families, including the largest verdicts and settlements in Texas and U.S. history.

We stand up to corporate giants every day and do whatever it takes to hold them FULLY accountable, so that you and your family never have to worry again.

Were you or a loved one in a heavy equipment accident? Contact us right away to learn about your legal rights and options. Consultations are free.  

How Our Record-Setting Attorneys Can Help if You Were Injured in a Crane Accident in Houston,TX

After the unthinkable, injured Texas workers and their families are often left to pick up the pieces on their own. No matter if an employer assures you that they will “take care of” you or “make things right,” such promises usually amount to little. 

In fact, from the moment an accident occurs, the company and their insurance adjusters are only concerned with one thing: saving money by paying victims and their families as little as possible, no matter the actual extent of their injuries and losses.  The only way to level the playing field is by hiring the most experienced attorney you can find — and fast.

Once hired, Zehl & Associates immediately gets to work fighting for you:

• We ensure that injured workers receive the best medical care possible and that their medical bills and reasonable living expenses are paid while their case is pending.
• We assemble a team of the best lawyers, engineers, and safety experts in the country to determine what really happened and how it should have been prevented.
• We identify all parties who share blame, file a lawsuit to recover all the damages you are entitled to, and handle all negotiations with the responsible parties and their insurers and lawyers.
• We NEVER settle for less than the maximum compensation you deserve for all of your injuries and losses. We’ll take the case to trial, if necessary, where we remain undefeated to this day.

For us, clients are like family. That’s why our business is based on maximizing recoveries, not on volume. By limiting the number of clients we represent, we are able to devote our full resources to each and every client, all of the time. We stand by you and your family every step of the way.

But don’t take our word for it. Hear what our clients think about working with us.

Are Crane Accidents Common in Texas? 

Unfortunately, crane accidents are far more common in the Lone Star State than anywhere else in the nation.

Between 2011 and 2017, at least 50 workers died in crane accidents in Texas, according to the most recent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of fatalities was 3X higher than in the state with the second-highest rate of crane-related deaths, Florida, which saw only 16 crane-related deaths over the same period. In fact, Texas saw more fatal crane accidents than the next three states combined.

Texans are far more likely to experience a dangerous or deadly crane accident if they work in construction, oil and gas extraction, maritime, manufacturing, or at petrochemical plants and refineries. 

Houston occupations commonly at risk of crane-related injuries or fatalities include:

• Construction workers
• Road construction workers
• Crane operators
• Specialty trade contractors
• Oilfield workers
• Petrochemical plant workers
• Refinery workers
• Longshoremen
• Dockworkers
• Transportation workers, including truck drivers
• Material-moving occupations

What Causes Crane Accidents?

Unfortunately,  human error is to blame for 90% of all crane accidents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, most crane accidents are entirely preventable.

The most common causes of crane accidents include:

• Struck-bys and falling objects. More than half of all fatal crane injuries involve a worker being struck by an object or equipment. The inherent risk in heavy lifting operations means a load can drop suddenly, while the crane’s swing radius poses significant danger to nearby workers.
• Falls. Disregarding fall protection protocols jeopardizes crane operators and other workers working at elevated positions, sometimes hundreds of feet above ground level. Sadly, falls account for roughly 20% of all fatal crane accidents.
• Transportation Incidents.  The movement of cranes or heavy equipment presents its own set of hazards. Including collision risks and the danger of overturning, accounting for 13% of fatalities involving cranes.
• Electrocution. A boom or a crane cable can easily come into contact with a power line, which is why it’s imperative that employers consult with utility operators to prevent the chance of any accident. 
• Imbalanced and excessive loads. An imbalance or excess weight can lead to instability during crane operation, increasing the likelihood of striking nearby workers or causing a collapse.
• Improper assembly or disassembly. Erection, dismantling, or extension of a crane demands meticulous attention to safety procedures. Neglecting stability tests, along with poor communication, can result in catastrophic accidents.

Additionally a crane accident may occur due to:

• Problems with the control or electrical system
• Defective equipment
• Structural and mechanical problems
• Extreme weather conditions
• Inadequate training
• Improper or infrequent inspection
• Misuse

Because a vast majority of crane accidents occur when the weight capacity is exceeded or equipment fails, it is vitally important that employers prioritize maintenance and safety practices while adhering to federal regulations to safeguard workers in crane operations.

Unfortunately, it’s been our experience that employers often prioritize profits over safety, and will then do everything in their power to evade accountability for negligence that leads to worker injuries or fatalities.

With decades of experience and Billions won, Zehl & Associates knows exactly how to hold accountable those responsible for crane-related incidents, ensuring just compensation for victims and their families.

Safety Regulations Are Meant to Protect Workers From Crane Accidents

Safety regulations serve as crucial safeguards against crane accidents, vital across a number of Texas industries that rely on a range of crane types — from overhead to truck-mounted to offshore floating cranes to “crawlers” —  to carry out lifting operations and improve efficiency.

Regardless of the sector, employers bear the responsibility of adhering to federal safety standards, notably OSHA’s crane regulations, which include pivotal guidelines meant to prevent fatal crane accidents, such as:

• ensuring adequate ground conditions for assembly
• consulting utility operators near power lines
• appointing competent personnel for inspections
• verifying crane operator qualifications
• providing comprehensive training for all site workers in safe crane operations. 

When employers ignore these safety practices, among others, they should be held accountable.

However, the moment an accident happens, the clock is ticking. The company and their lawyers and insurers will do everything in their power to try and prove you aren’t as injured as you really are, to discredit you, or even blacklist you — all to intimidate you into accepting as little compensation as possible for your injuries and losses.

Protect your rights and contact an experienced attorney right away. Consult with the best team of undefeated personal injury lawyers at 1-888-603-3636.

Common Crane Accident Injuries 

Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is here to help you seek compensation for all of your crane accident injuries, including:

• Burns
• Nerve damage
• Soft tissue injury
• Electrocution injury
• Crushing injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Neck injury
• Back injury
• Quadriplegia injury
• Whiplash injury
• Concussion injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Amputation injury
• Degloving injury
• Chest injury
• Eye injury
• Catastrophic injury
• Wrongful death of a family member

Report your crane accident to your supervisor immediately, then seek prompt medical treatment to ensure your injuries are properly diagnosed and documented.

We Have Won Billions Representing Texas Workplace Accident Victims

At Zehl & Associates, we understand just how overwhelming and isolating the aftermath of a crane accident is.  Losing a loved one or dealing with significant, life-altering injuries has lasting consequences on your well-being and on your family’s future.

When you come to us for help, we stop at nothing to stand up, fight, and win for you. 

We’ve represented thousands of workers in cases involving:

• Oilfield accidents
• Gas and other types of explosions
• Construction accidents
• Warehouse accidents
• Manufacturing accidents
• Logging accidents
• Agricultural accidents
• Mining accidents
• Transportation accidents
• Truck accidents
• Trade accidents
• Utility accidents
• Aviation accidents
• Slip and fall accidents

Our attorneys have won billions for injured workers like you.

Our latest record-setting victories for Texas workers include: 

• $90 Million for an oilfield burn victim in Burleson County, TX
• $85.7 Million for a seriously injured refinery worker in Houston, TX
• $55 Million for an oilfield worker who sustained second and third degree burns while working on an oil rig in Odessa, TX
• $37.5 Million for the family of a truck driver tragically killed in a collision in Dallas, TX

You can benefit from all we have to offer if you’ve been hurt on the job, too. Contact our Houston law office today to set up a time for a free case evaluation.

Undefeated Houston Crane Accident Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 For a Free Consult

In addition to being undefeated, the personal injury lawyers at Zehl & Associates have won Billions on behalf of our clients, including the largest accident verdicts and settlements in Texas history. 

If you have questions regarding your legal rights and options following a catastrophic crane collapse, call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to send us a confidential email.

We’ll discuss your legal rights and options and make sure you have all the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family.

All consultations are free, and you won’t pay a dime unless we win your case.

Frequently Asked Questions