What kinds of injuries are caused by maritime crane accidents?

Offshore Cranes Can Cause Devastating Injuries 

Cranes present many potentially dangerous hazards for maritime workers. These massive machines are moving heavy cargo continuously. Both the operator and those in the vicinity are at risk of suffering serious injuries. You may be entitled to financial compensation when you were hurt at your maritime job. The question is how you can best pursue compensation for your injuries. The maritime injury lawyers at Hofmann & Schweitzer have been fighting for the rights of injured workers like you for decades. We can investigate your claim, identify the applicable maritime laws, and fight for your fair recovery.

Typical Injuries Sustained in Maritime Crane Accidents

Crane accidents can cause devastating injuries, and given the precarious nature of working with cranes on a platform or vessel at sea, they are not uncommon. Whether you are operating the crane, working on the ground, or doing an unrelated job nearby, you are at risk of being injured when a malfunction, safety violation, lifting failure, or other crane accident occurs.

Common injuries suffered by maritime workers in crane accidents include the following:

• Crush injuries. Workers can face crush injuries when caught between moving crane components or between a load and a fixed structure. This can occur during lifting operations if proper safety protocols are not followed, leading to entrapment. Accidents involving sudden drops of loads, improper securing of loads, or mechanical failures can result in crush injuries.
• Falling object injuries. Workers may be struck by objects falling from cranes, including tools, equipment, or even the load itself. Poorly secured loads or improper rigging can contribute to falling object incidents. Any failure in the lifting process, such as a malfunctioning hoist or rigging failure, can lead to objects falling from the crane, posing a risk to seamen working below.
• Lacerations and abrasions. Working near moving crane parts or during the handling of materials can expose maritime workers to the risk of lacerations and abrasions. Accidents involving swinging loads, sudden movements of crane components, or contact with sharp edges can result in injuries ranging from minor cuts to more severe lacerations.
• Falls. Slippery surfaces on offshore platforms, combined with the dynamic environment of crane operations, can lead to workers falling from heights. Falls may occur during boarding or disembarking from cranes, working on elevated platforms, or attempting to secure or release loads.
• Traumatic injuries. Workers can suffer traumatic injuries from impacts with crane structures, moving loads, or other equipment. Accidents involving sudden stops, collisions, or unexpected movements of crane components can lead to traumatic injuries, such as fractures, amputations, or concussions.
• Burn injuries. Hydraulic fluid leaks, electrical malfunctions, or contact with hot surfaces can result in burn injuries. Crane accidents involving hydraulic system failures, electrical faults, or equipment overheating can expose workers to the risk of burns.
• Electric shock. Crane malfunctions or contact with overhead power lines can result in electrical injuries. Accidents involving the crane coming into contact with power lines, electrical failures, or inadequate grounding can expose workers to electrical hazards.
• Musculoskeletal injuries. Improper lifting techniques, repetitive movements, overexertion, or working in awkward positions during crane operations can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. Long hours of crane operation without adequate breaks, improper ergonomic design of workstations, or lack of training in proper lifting techniques can contribute to these injuries.

Begin Protecting Your Recovery by Contacting a Maritime Injury Lawyer

There may be legal questions about how you can most effectively seek compensation for your injuries. Much depends on the type of construction or maritime work that you are doing and where the crane is being used. Near-shore construction employees do their work on a vessel that is often near the dock, and they may not be working on a “vessel in navigation.” 

Construction or maritime workers who are offshore and working on a vessel in navigation may have a different set of legal protections, including when they are constructing wind turbines. Which maritime law covers you is always a matter of factual and legal interpretation, and the result could vary even when the facts change slightly. 

Our maritime injury lawyers can review your claim and help you determine your legal options. Depending on where you worked and the particular facts of your situation, you may be able to file a Jones Act lawsuit or another type of maritime injury claim to seek fair compensation.