An investigation into the causes of injuries on construction sites has revealed that a construction crane accident is 90% of the time due to human error. Three areas of concern were specifically identified as contributing to a construction crane accident:-
- A lack of training
- A lack of supervision
- A lack of communication
These are all elements of an employer´s responsibility to provide a safe environment for his workforce, and if you have been involved in a construction crane accident where an employer was negligent in his responsibilities, you are entitled to claim compensation for your injuries.
Your first priority, however, should be to take care of your health. A construction crane accident is usually very serious as cranes are often manoeuvring exceptionally heavy objects. In the event of anyone being struck by an object dropped from a crane, it will usually end in hospitalisation. For more minor injuries, first aid may be administered on site, but you should still visit the accident and emergency department of your local hospital or see your family doctor where appropriate treatment can be administered in more sterile surroundings.
Where the accident is not your fault, and you have sustained an injury, your attendance at a medical centre will be recorded on your medical history, and this – together with the relevant entry in your employer´s “Accident Report Book” – will be used to support your compensation claim for a construction crane accident.
Claiming Compensation for a Construction Crane Accident
Claiming compensation for a construction crane accident may not always be straightforward and can be easier to do with the assistance of a specialised personal injury claims solicitor. Issues such as your employment status may affect the way in which you are able to claim, particularly if you are not employed but sub-contracted, self-employed or on a short term agency contract. Other complications, such as your employer denying his liability for your injury, may also create problems with your claim at a time when you are still suffering from your injuries and may not have the energy or inclination to do battle.
One aspect of a compensation claim you should be very cautious of is being approached by your employer´s insurance company with an offer of early settlement. “Third party captures” are used by insurance companies to save themselves money, by tempting victims of construction crane accidents with short term cash. Inasmuch as a quick settlement and lump sum payment may be very appealing to you, it is worth remembering that insurance companies act in their own interests – and not yours!
Because of the many different scenarios you may find yourself in when claiming compensation for a construction crane accident, we have set up a legal claims advice helpline which enables you to discuss your individual case with a specialist personal injury claims solicitor. You are invited to call our freephone number and ask any questions you have about your entitlement to claim compensation, the procedures you should follow and even whether an offer made to you by an insurance company is fair. Our service is completely confidential and there is no obligation on you to proceed with a claim once you have spoken with us.
Call us now or if you cannot speak now please fill in the form below and we will call you back.
What You Can Expect When You Call
When you call our legal claims advice helpline, we aim to establish in the initial conversation that you have a compensation claim for a construction crane accident which is worth your while to pursue, and that you have the correct information on how to go about it.
As each individual case is unique, we will ask you to explain to us how your construction crane accident happened, what injuries you received and how they were treated. It is also important that we know why you believe your employer was responsible for the accident and what you feel could have been done to prevent it.
The other elements of your claim we would like to know more about are how your injuries have affected your quality of life, interaction with your family and your future job prospects. Some of these areas may be temporary or as yet unknown, but compensation for any physical or psychological trauma you are suffering may still be incorporated into your claim.
We usually end our initial telephone conversation with a question and answer session to deal with any points that have not been covered in the conversation, and provide you with a list of options for you to consider, along with advice on how to proceed with a claim. You are under no obligation to act on any of these suggestions and are welcome to call us back if you think of any more questions.
If you yourself are unable to call us because of your injuries, we are able to offer advice through a family member and will take calls from concerned family members as well. Our lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and we also operate a call-back service if it is not a convenient time to call right now. Simply leave your contact details in the box below, indicating when would be a suitable time for us to call you, and one of our helpful and friendly team will be back in touch.