Were you or a family member injured in a crane collapse in Texas?
At Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers, we are trial-tested crane collapse lawyers committed to thorough preparation in every matter.
If you were hurt when a crane failed on a Texas job site, plant, or roadway, the companies that owned, rented, rigged, and operated it may share responsibility, and our Texas crane collapse lawyer can pursue each of them. At Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers, our founders represent injured workers and families in county, state, and federal courts across Texas. Contact our office to arrange a free consultation about the collapse and your recovery.
Crane Collapse Lawyer Texas
A crane collapse claim is a negligence claim against the businesses responsible for a crane that tipped over, dropped its load, or suffered a structural failure in its boom, mast, or rigging. The injured person may be a worker on the site, a driver on an adjacent road, or a pedestrian. For an injured employee, the responsible companies frequently include contractors and equipment owners other than the employer.
Texas recorded 50 crane-related worker deaths from 2011 to 2017, more than the next three states combined, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Types of Crane Collapse Cases We Handle in Texas
Crane failures occur in construction, industrial, and roadside settings. Injured workers, motorists, and families bring claims from each setting, and our firm handles all of them.
- Tower crane collapses. Tower cranes on high-rise projects can fail during erection, climbing, or dismantling, or when tie-ins and mast sections are improperly installed. We examine assembly records, the manufacturer’s procedures, and the qualifications of the erection crew.
- Mobile and truck-mounted crane tip-overs. A mobile crane can overturn when outriggers are set on soft ground or the lift exceeds the crane’s rated capacity. Lift plans, load charts, and ground-condition assessments usually show whether the lift should have proceeded.
- Boom and jib failures. Fatigue cracking, defective welds, and missing pins can cause a boom to buckle under a routine load. Inspection logs and maintenance invoices often reveal whether the defect was known before the failure.
- Dropped loads and rigging failures. Worn slings, overloaded shackles, and poor rigging practices can release a load onto the workers below. These claims frequently involve a rigging subcontractor in addition to the crane owner.
- Power line contact. A boom that contacts an energized line can electrocute the operator or ground crew. Site planning and the clearance maintained around overhead lines are central to liability.
- Refinery, plant, and port crane accidents. Industrial facilities and dockyards rely on cranes for maintenance and cargo work, and several contractors often share the same work area. We identify which company controlled the lift and which company controlled the site.
- Collapses that injure motorists and pedestrians. A crane that falls across a road or sidewalk can injure people with no connection to the project. Those claims may reach the general contractor, the crane owner, and the lift contractor.
- Crane component and design defects. When a hoist brake, limit switch, or structural member fails because of its design or manufacture, the manufacturer may be liable alongside the companies on site.
Why Choose Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers as My Crane Collapse Lawyer in Texas?
Trial Preparation in Multi-Defendant Industrial Cases
A crane collapse case often involves an owner, a rental company, a rigging contractor, a general contractor, and a manufacturer, each with its own insurer and defense counsel. We prepare these cases for a jury from the outset, and that trial-focused approach requires each defendant to answer for its own role in the failure. Matt Greenberg has served as lead trial counsel in record-setting Texas cases and is licensed to practice in Texas, Louisiana, and Arizona. Super Lawyers has named him a Rising Star.
Mike Streich, a cum laude graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, worked as in-house counsel for an offshore construction company. That work involved contracts, litigation, and injury claims arising from the company’s operations. Mr. Streich has been selected to the Super Lawyers Texas Rising Stars list.
Recoveries in Construction and Industrial Cases
Our attorneys have recovered more than $348 million for injured workers and families, including:
- $17 million defective product settlement
- $12.7 million settlement in a multi-party rig collapse case
- $11 million mid-trial workplace injury settlement
- $5.9 million settlement for a worker injured in a construction accident
Crane collapse cases are handled on a contingency fee, and you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.
What Is Important to Understand About a Crane Collapse Case?
Crane collapse cases usually involve several companies, technical equipment records, and injuries that affect a person’s ability to work for years.
What Are Important Aspects of a Crane Collapse Case?
The strength of a claim depends on identifying every responsible company and preserving evidence, including the crane itself, before it is repaired or removed. Several issues arise in most cases:
- Multiple responsible parties. The crane owner, the rental company, the operator’s employer, the rigging contractor, the general contractor, and the manufacturer may each bear a share of fault.
- Technical records. Load charts, lift plans, annual and frequent inspection logs, operator certifications, and wind data establish whether the lift was planned and performed properly.
- Regulatory history. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains a public inspection database that shows prior citations issued to employers on a site.
- Allocation of fault. Under Texas proportionate responsibility, an injured person who is more than 50 percent responsible cannot recover, and defendants frequently argue that the worker caused the incident.
- Early settlements. When one company resolves its share before the others, partial settlements reduce what can be recovered from the remaining defendants, so each offer is evaluated against the full case.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Crane Collapse Cases
Texas law allows an injured person to recover from each company whose negligence contributed to a crane failure. Establishing negligence requires proof that the company owed a duty of reasonable care, did not meet it, and caused the injuries, and in crane cases that proof usually comes from engineering analysis and the defendants’ own records.
Compensation includes medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. It also includes physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and disfigurement, which are often significant after crush injuries, amputations, spinal trauma, and traumatic brain injuries.
When a collapse is fatal, the wrongful death statute permits the surviving spouse, children, and parents to recover for their losses, and the estate may pursue related survival claims. Exemplary damages are available only on proof of fraud, malice, or gross negligence by clear and convincing evidence.
What Is the Crane Collapse Case Timeline?
A crane collapse lawsuit must generally be filed within two years of the injury. In a fatal collapse, the period for a wrongful death claim runs from the date of death.
- Preservation. Written notices go to every company on site, requesting that the crane, its components, and all lift records be retained.
- Investigation. Engineers examine the failed components, and we obtain contracts, inspection logs, and any OSHA investigation file.
- Claims. We present the claim to each defendant’s insurer once the investigation identifies the responsible companies.
- Litigation. If the claims do not resolve, we file suit, and discovery proceeds through depositions, document production, and inspection of the equipment.
- Resolution. Cases resolve through negotiation, mediation, or trial, and multi-defendant cases may resolve with different companies at different stages.
What Should You Bring to Your Crane Collapse Consultation?
The first meeting is more productive when we can review the documents already available to you. Bring what you have from the following list:
- Medical records, hospital discharge papers, and bills related to the injury.
- Pay stubs or tax records that show your earnings before the collapse.
- Any incident report, witness names, and correspondence from your employer or an insurer.
- Photographs or video of the site, the crane, and any company names or equipment numbers visible on it.
We use these materials to identify the companies involved and the deadlines that apply, and a Texas crane accident attorney will discuss both with you. We also give a candid assessment, including when the facts do not support a claim.
Reach Out to Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers handles crane collapse claims throughout Texas for injured workers, motorists, and families. The consultation is free, and no attorney fee is owed unless we recover compensation. Our Texas crane collapse attorney can evaluate the incident, identify the companies involved, and outline the next steps in your case. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.
