If you were hurt in a crane accident, the New York crane accident lawyers at Gorayeb & Associates are ready to fight for you — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Crane accidents are among the most catastrophic events on any construction site. The forces involved are enormous, the heights are extreme, and the consequences are often permanent.
New York City’s skyline is built on construction work — and that means thousands of workers operate around cranes every day. Tower cranes climb alongside high-rises in Midtown. Mobile cranes maneuver through tight streets in Brooklyn and Queens. When something goes wrong, workers pay the price.
At Gorayeb & Associates, we have spent more than 40 years representing injured construction workers and their families. We have recovered over $2 billion for more than 10,000 workers across New York. Our NYC crane injury lawyers know how to investigate crane accidents, build powerful cases under New York Labor Law, and take on insurance companies and deep-pocketed contractors. Whether you need a crane accident attorney NYC residents trust or a crane collapse lawyer New York courts respect, our team is here for you.
Injured in a crane accident? Contact Gorayeb & Associates for a FREE consultation — available 24/7. Hablamos español.
New York City presents a set of challenges that make crane work uniquely hazardous. Towers under construction can reach 1,000 feet or more. Streets are congested with workers, pedestrians, and vehicles. Wind conditions at height are unpredictable. And construction timelines create constant pressure to cut corners. The numbers tell the story. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, crane-related fatalities account for a significant share of construction accident statistics each year. OSHA data consistently shows that the most common crane accident causes are equipment failure, improper rigging, contact with power lines, and instability during setup or operation.
In New York, the sheer density of construction compounds every risk:
When these factors collide, workers get seriously hurt — or killed.
Crane accidents take many forms. Our construction crane accident attorney NYC team has handled cases involving every type of crane failure and incident, including:
A full structural collapse is the most catastrophic type of crane accident. These events can send hundreds of tons of steel crashing onto workers, streets, and neighboring buildings. Collapses are often caused by overloading, improper assembly, foundation failure, or extreme weather.
Mobile cranes and truck-mounted cranes can tip over when the ground is unstable, outriggers are not properly deployed, or operators exceed the crane’s rated load capacity. Tip-overs frequently injure workers and bystanders in the collapse zone.
A load that breaks free during lifting or travel can fall hundreds of feet. Rigging failures — broken slings, faulty hooks, improperly secured loads — are a leading cause of construction fatalities in New York. Workers below the lift path face extreme danger. Learn more about your rights on our New York falling object accident lawyers page.
The boom is the long arm that extends from the crane body. Overloading, metal fatigue, and manufacturing defects can cause the boom to buckle or fracture. A boom failure can send a load plummeting and the crane itself into collapse.
Contact between a crane or its load line and live electrical wires is one of the leading causes of crane-related fatalities in the construction industry. High-voltage electrocution is nearly always fatal and frequently affects multiple workers simultaneously. See the OSHA crane safety standards for federal safety standards.
Workers in the swing radius or beneath a crane’s travel path can be struck by the rotating counterweight, the boom, or the load itself. These impacts cause severe crush injuries, fractures, and traumatic brain injuries.
Inexperienced or improperly certified operators, operators working under fatigue, or operators who have not received proper training under OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC can make critical mistakes — misjudging load weights, swinging loads over workers, or operating in unsafe wind conditions.
Our crane accident attorneys represent workers injured by all types of construction cranes:
The impact of a crane accident — whether a dropped load, a collapse, or a tip-over — can permanently change a worker’s life. We represent workers who have suffered from some of the most common risks for construction workers:
No injury is too severe and no case too complex for our team. We handle catastrophic cases and understand the long-term financial and human costs these injuries create.
Hurt in a crane accident? Our NYC crane injury lawyers will review your case for free.
One of the most important things injured crane workers need to understand is that New York law imposes strict, near-absolute liability on certain parties. You do not have to prove they were negligent in the ordinary sense. The law makes them responsible. Potentially liable parties in a crane accident include:
New York Labor Law Section 240 holds property owners strictly liable for gravity-related injuries — including crane collapses, dropped loads, and tip-overs — that occur on their property. This liability cannot be transferred away by contract. The property owner is responsible whether or not they were present on the job site.
General contractors who supervise or control the construction site are also subject to absolute liability under Labor Law 240. If you were hurt by a crane accident on a project they managed, they are liable — even if the crane was operated by a subcontractor.
A subcontractor who operated or maintained the crane, or whose employees rigged the load, may bear liability for the accident under Labor Law and common law negligence principles.
If a crane collapsed or malfunctioned due to a defect in the equipment itself — a failed boom, defective hydraulics, or a flawed design — the manufacturer or rental company may be liable under product liability law.
New York’s absolute liability standard means that a property owner or general contractor cannot escape responsibility simply by arguing that the worker contributed to the accident. The sole proximate cause defense is the only narrow exception, and it is rarely successful in properly documented cases.
New York has some of the strongest worker protection laws in the country. Three statutes are central to crane accident cases:
Section 240 of the New York Labor Law — commonly called the Scaffold Law — requires property owners and general contractors to provide proper protection to workers at elevation. It covers crane accidents involving falling objects, collapsing cranes, and workers who fall from height. For a full explanation, visit our dedicated New York Labor Law Section 240 page.
The critical feature of Section 240 is absolute liability. Owners and contractors are liable if the injury results from a failure to provide adequate protective devices — regardless of their intent or even the worker’s own actions. A worker’s comparative negligence is not a factor.
If a crane’s rigging failed and a load fell on a worker, if a tower crane tipped and a worker was injured, or if a worker fell from the crane itself, Section 240 applies, and the owner and GC are strictly liable.
Section 241(6) requires that all construction work be performed in compliance with the New York Industrial Code. Violations of specific Industrial Code sections — including those governing crane operations, rigging, and overhead work — establish liability for owners and contractors. This statute is particularly powerful in crane accident cases because the Industrial Code contains detailed requirements for crane setup, load testing, operator certification, and inspection. Any documented violation becomes strong evidence of liability.
Section 200 codifies the general duty of care that all parties on a construction site owe to workers. When a crane accident results from the negligent supervision of the work or the negligent maintenance of equipment — and the party had actual authority to control that work — Section 200 liability applies.
Labor Law cases are time-sensitive. Don’t wait — speak with a New York crane accident lawyer today. Free consultation. No fees unless we win.
A serious crane accident can cost hundreds of thousands — or millions — of dollars over a lifetime. A successful claim can help you recover:
Many crane accident workers are entitled to bring both a workers’ compensation claim AND a third-party lawsuit against the property owner, general contractor, or equipment manufacturer. These two claims work in parallel. The third-party lawsuit typically recovers far more — including pain and suffering — which workers’ comp alone does not cover.
| Damage Category | Workers’ Comp | Third-Party Lawsuit |
| Medical Expenses | Partial — excludes some long-term care | Full — past and future, including surgery and rehab |
| Lost Wages | Limited — ~2/3 of avg weekly wages, capped | Full — 100% of lost income including overtime |
| Loss of Earning Capacity | Limited — schedule loss of use only | Full — lifetime projection based on age and trade |
| Pain and Suffering | Not covered | Full — often the largest component; no cap in NY |
| Disability Benefits | Partial — capped by state schedule | Full — uncapped, includes future care needs |
| Owner / GC Liability | Not covered — does not reach owners/GCs | Full — Labor Law 240 strict liability |
When a crane accident takes a worker’s life, the family left behind deserves full justice. New York law allows the surviving spouse, children, and other dependents to file a wrongful death claim. Our New York wrongful death lawyers can guide your family through every step.
A wrongful death action can recover:
New York’s wrongful death statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of death, with narrow exceptions. If your family has lost someone in a crane accident, time is critical. The sooner we begin our investigation, the stronger your case will be.
Lost a loved one in a crane accident? Our wrongful death lawyers are here for your family. Available 24/7. Hablamos español.
The steps you take immediately after a crane accident can directly impact your legal case. Follow our guide to starting your case for full details. Here is what to do if you were injured on a construction site:
OSHA’s crane safety regulations under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC set detailed requirements for all crane operations on construction sites. These regulations include:
When an employer, general contractor, or crane operator violates any of these standards, that violation is direct evidence of negligence. OSHA citations issued after an accident can be powerful tools in a personal injury lawsuit. Our attorneys know how to obtain OSHA investigation records and use them to build your case.
In addition to federal OSHA standards, crane operations in New York City are subject to strict oversight by the NYC Department of Buildings. The DOB requires:
Failures to comply with DOB requirements — including operating without permits, using an unlicensed operator, or skipping required inspections — are strong indicators of liability. Our team investigates DOB records as a standard part of every crane accident case.
After a serious crane accident, you will hear from insurance adjusters quickly. They may seem sympathetic. They are not on your side. Common tactics insurance companies use include:
The right response to an insurance company contact is simple: don’t speak to them without an attorney. Our lawyers handle all insurer communication from the moment we take your case. We know their playbook, and we don’t let them use it against our clients.
Don’t let an insurance company lowball you. Get a free case review from our New York crane accident lawyers. Hablamos español.
Christopher J. Gorayeb founded this firm with a simple mission: to fight for the workers who build New York. Construction workers — many of them immigrants — do some of the most dangerous work in this city. They deserve a law firm that understands their community, speaks their language, and never backs down. Our team is bilingual. We serve Spanish-speaking workers and families in their first language. Hablamos español — not just as a slogan, but as a genuine commitment to our clients.
We know that many workers in New York’s construction industry are immigrants — documented and undocumented. Immigration status has absolutely no effect on your right to file a Labor Law claim in New York. The courts protect workers regardless of citizenship. We protect those rights every day.
All consultations are 100% confidential. We will never share your personal information with any government agency or employer. Our attorneys and staff are bound by strict professional confidentiality rules.
We are also proud members of the communities we serve. Visit the Gorayeb Community Center for resources and support for construction workers and their families throughout New York.
Our New York construction accident lawyers represent workers injured in all types of construction site accidents, including:
A crane accident can change everything in an instant. The path to recovery — physical, financial, and legal — is long. You should not walk it alone.
The New York crane accident lawyers at Gorayeb & Associates have spent more than 40 years fighting for the workers who build this city. We have recovered over $2 billion for injured workers and their families. We know New York Labor Law, we know crane accident cases, and we know how to win.
Learn more about how to start your case from your first call through resolution. Meet our attorneys to learn more about the team that will fight for you.
Contact Gorayeb & Associates today. Free consultation, 24/7. For Construction Accidents, Go with Gorayeb™ | Hablamos español.
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