Many work sites in South Carolina depend on cranes and derricks to get the job done: lifting, transferring, and lowering goods, materials, and equipment are crucial aspects of daily operations. However, crane accidents cause many deaths and serious injuries every year, leaving workers and their families devastated.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a crane accident, you need one of South Carolina’s best law firms on your side. Since 1968, Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured workers across the state. With more than 350 years of combined legal experience, our firm is respected by our peers and hated by the insurance companies. That’s because our dedicated team of attorneys and case managers know what it takes to win complex work injury cases, including crane accidents that occur onshore and offshore in South Carolina.
At Joye Law Firm, we don’t just measure success in results, but also in the relationships we build with our clients. We treat every case with compassion and urgency, because we know what’s at stake for you and your family. We’ll work hard to ensure you and your family are properly compensated for harm caused by your crane accident.
Hazards With Cranes in the Workplace
Moving large, heavy loads is crucial to business in South Carolina. Avoiding the hazards that come with crane operations requires training and extensive workplace precautions by operators and the people who work around them.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict standards regulating crane, derrick, and hoist safety for general industry, construction, marine terminals, longshoring, and gear certification. However, accidents still occur due to negligence, faulty equipment, and lack of proper training.
Crane operations at South Carolina ports, such as Charleston and Georgetown, pose additional risks. Over-water operations increase the dangers of drowning and hypothermia after an accident.
Common Crane Accident Types
Faulty or unmaintained wires and winches are among the most common crane and rigging safety hazards. They can cause accidents that allow materials to fall or slip, posing threat of great injury or death to the workers below.
Accidents also result from cranes made unsafe by employers who neglect their responsibility to properly train and supervise workers.
The most common accidents are caused by:
- Contact with power lines – one of the most frequent causes of crane-related fatalities.
- Overturn – due to improper setup or unstable ground conditions.
- Falls – workers falling from cranes or loads falling from overhead cranes.
- Mechanical failure – faulty or unmaintained wires, winches, or hydraulic failures.
Crane Accident Statistics and Notable Incidents
A recent OSHA report on workplace fatalities and catastrophes lists multiple crane accidents, including:
- A worker was crushed by a crane boom while lifting a generator
- A worker was killed by a falling piece of concrete that struck the cab of a crane
- An employee was electrocuted after a crane contacted overhead power lines
- Two carpentry workers were fatally crushed when a crane boom fell on them
- A crane overturned on a highway bridge, killing one and injuring two others
The Worst Crane Accidents in History
- The crawler crane collapsed over the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 2015, killing 111 people and injuring 394 others due to human error and high winds.
- A New York crane collapse killed seven people and injured 24 others when an insufficient number of slings were used to stabilize a steel collar, leading to catastrophic failure.
- In 1999, the Big Blue crane at Miller Park (Milwaukee) collapsed onto a construction cage, killing three workers due to high wind gusts.
Why You Need a South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Crane accidents, whether on land or water, must be fully investigated by a qualified team that prioritizes the injured worker’s best interests. Without a full investigation, workers and their families risk being undercompensated for medical costs, missed paychecks, and long-term suffering. Unfortunately, corporations and their insurers often move quickly after work site accidents to obscure and dispute facts to avoid legal responsibility and save money.
At Joye Law Firm, we know how to fight back. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling South Carolina workers’ compensation and wrongful death cases.
We dig deep into the facts to uncover the truth about what went wrong and guide injured workers and families through their legal options. Whether through strategic negotiation or aggressive litigation, our mission is simple: to secure full and fair compensation for our clients.
One worker, a crane operator, was proud to be contributing to the build when he suffered a back injury while moving equipment. Initially dismissing the pain, he pushed through and continued working long, grueling hours. He didn’t want to do anything to slow the project down. But when his condition became unbearable, he sought medical treatment and filed for workers’ comp. Unfortunately, his workers’ compensation claim was denied due to late reporting. Realizing what he was up against, the injured crane operator hired Joye Law Firm.
