7 Major Crane Collapses & Their Resulting Jury Awards

There are few more terrifying events in the construction world than a crane collapse. Any mishap involving these massive structures often results in significant injury or death.

Our crane accident lawyers help victims and surviving family members seek damages for personal injuries, past and future pain and suffering, financial losses, medical treatment, lost union benefits, and wrongful death. Oresky & Associates, PLLC, has won many different construction accident cases involving cranes, hoists, scaffolds, lifts, and ladders.

Here are seven crane collapses and their resulting settlements in New York City and around the country. If you or a loved one was injured in a serious accident like this, we will help.

Fort Lauderdale Crane Collapse, April 4, 2024

According to Equipment World, one construction worker died and three people were injured in Fort Lauderdale after a platform on which the crane was located collapsed. The falling crane struck vehicles and a drawbridge. The construction worker was killed when he fell along with the crane.

Later that month, NBC Miami reported that one of the victims injured in the collapse had filed a lawsuit against several companies involved in the crane collapse. She is seeking $50 million based on the physical, mental, and financial losses she experienced when the crane fell on the car she was riding in. Her suit is still ongoing as of October 2024.

New Orleans Crane Collapse, October 12, 2019

CNN reports that three workers were killed and over 30 people were injured after the New Orleans Hard Rock Hotel collapsed. Over a week after the collapse, two cranes that had been mounted on top of the building finally “snapped into pieces and toppled.”

An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited three companies and eight subcontractors for multiple violations that undermined the site’s structural integrity and worker safety.

Several lawsuits were filed against the companies responsible for the accident. As of 2023, the families are still waiting for their settlements, WDSU reports.

Dallas Crane Collapse, June 9, 2019

NBCDFW reports that one woman died, five were injured, and 500 were left homeless when a crane at a Dallas, Texas, construction site crushed an apartment building and a parking garage.

Bigge Crane and Rigging Company denied responsibility for the accident, saying strong wind gusts were to blame. However, the crane was built to withstand much stronger wind gusts than the conditions seen on the day of the collapse.

In 2023, KERA News reported that the jury awarded $860 million to the family of the deceased woman.

Seattle Crane Collapse, April 27, 2019

The Seattle Times reports that four people were killed and three others were injured when a construction crane collapsed onto a street in Seattle, Washington. Two ironworkers at the job site were fatally injured. A college student and a former city administrator were also killed.

The collapse was caused by the premature removal of parts as workers were dismantling the crane. The three injured parties and family members of the deceased filed lawsuits against the liable companies. In 2022, the relatives of two of the deceased and the injured victims were awarded $150 million by a jury.

New York City Crane Collapse, May 30, 2008

Per the New York Times, two workers — the crane operator and another worker on the street below — were killed when a crane tower collapsed. The crane’s owner knew part of the crane was defective, which led a jury to award $96 million to surviving family members after a lengthy civil trial.

These damages were awarded in two parts. First, the victims were awarded $48.3 million for economic and non-economic damages. An additional $24 million was added in punitive damages, which reflects the extent of the negligence that led to the accident.

New York City Crane Collapse, March 15, 2008

New York Daily News reported that twenty-four people were injured, and seven people died when a 200-foot-tall tower crane collapsed during the construction of a 44-story building in Manhattan. Six of the dead were construction workers, and the seventh was a tourist.

Investigators attributed the collapse to improper procedures as workers were trying to anchor the crane to the building. The construction site had been cited 13 times for safety violations prior to the deadly accident. The families of the six dead workers received a settlement in 2019.

Milwaukee Crane Collapse, July 14, 1999

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that three ironworkers were killed when a crane known as “Big Blue” fell onto a construction cage in which they were standing. The deadly accident occurred during work on the roof of a baseball stadium. Despite concerns about wind gusts that exceeded the crane’s wind tolerance rating, the project manager insisted that work continue.

The widows of the deceased workers sued Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for loss of companionship and pain and suffering. The jury awarded more than $99 million, most of it in punitive damages, according to Pages 108-109 of a Marquette Sports Law Review paper.

Injured in a Crane Collapse?

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How Common Are Crane Accidents?

OSHA tracks crane-related injuries throughout the United States. Their data show that crane accidents are rare, but when they happen, the results are often catastrophic. For example, in 2023:

• Three workers were severely injured in accidents involving fixed or stationary cranes. One required hospitalization, and two suffered finger amputations.
• Two workers were hospitalized after accidents involving floating or barge-mounted cranes.
• One worker was hospitalized after being struck in a rail-mounted crane accident.

What to Do in Case of a Crane Accident

Our law firm recommends that you take the following important steps to protect your health and your rights after a crane collapse accident:

Seek Medical Attention

Always seek medical care following any type of accident. Go to the emergency room if necessary, or get treatment from on-site medical personnel.

Report the Accident

Collapses are major crane accidents that are impossible to miss. Nevertheless, to preserve your right to workers’ compensation benefits, you must notify your employer within 30 days, per the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB).

Document Everything

If possible, take photos and video of the accident site, your injuries, and any people or vehicles around you. Write down everything you remember as soon as possible so future reports will be accurate.  If you are unable to, ask a friend or coworker to photograph everything with his or her phone.  

Preserve Evidence

Communications from your employer or their insurer (including texts, letters, and emails), medical records, pay stubs, and tax information can all prove invaluable in your legal action.

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers

The sooner you speak to our construction accident lawyers, the sooner we can start investigating the accident’s cause and fighting for a settlement or verdict. We represent documented and undocumented workers.

Cooperate with the Investigation

Multiple parties, including OSHA and the insurance companies, will be looking into this accident. We can prepare you for their questions and enable you to cooperate with their investigations without compromising your rights.

Focus on Your Recovery

Nothing is more important than your physical and emotional recovery. You concentrate on feeling better while our personal injury attorneys advocate for you.

Crane Accident Legislation and Legal Action

Under New York State law, construction workers injured in crane collapses may have two ways to recover damages:

• Filing a workers’ compensation claim: Injured workers are entitled to medical care, lost wages, and disability payments through workers’ comp. The injured worker may also be entitled to a lump sum award. The families of deceased workers can collect death benefits.
• Filing a personal injury claim: In addition, if you were injured in a crane collapse, you may be entitled to commence a third-party claim against the owner, general contractors, and other contractors at the job site. This claim would be additional to your workers’ compensation claim and cover pain and suffering, loss of services, loss of union benefits, and other economic losses.

Our legal team will bring a personal injury lawsuit and work closely with our affiliated workers' compensation lawyers to fight for the money and the justice you deserve. You have a limited time to take legal action after a workplace injury, so we urge you to begin immediately.

We Can Help If You Were Injured in a Crane Accident

If you or a loved one was injured in a crane accident or another type of construction accident, contact Oresky & Associates, PLLC, for a free consultation. Our workplace accident lawyers have helped injured New Yorkers for over 30 years. Call (718) 993-9999 today to find out how our team will fight to hold the liable parties responsible and seek just compensation that you deserve.