Crane Accidents

Crane Accident Attorney in New York

Representing Injured Workers & Bystanders in New York Since 1995

Crane accidents rank among the most catastrophic events on any construction site. The injuries they cause, whether from a collapsed tower crane, a dropped load, or a boom strike, are often fatal or permanently disabling. Since 1995, Godosky & Gentile has represented injured New Yorkers and their families in high-stakes construction accident litigation, including crane accident claims throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and across New York State.

We handle third-party personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, not workers’ compensation. That distinction matters. A third-party civil claim can recover damages that workers’ compensation doesn’t cover: pain and suffering, full lost earnings, and the cost of future medical care and rehabilitation. Hablamos español.

If you or a family member was injured in a crane accident, contact us for a free consultation, available 24/7. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we obtain a verdict or settlement for you. Call us at (212) 742-9706.

Types of Crane Accidents We Handle

Crane incidents take several forms, and the legal theory of liability can shift depending on how the accident occurred. We represent clients injured in all of the following:

Tower crane collapse: Structural and connection failures that bring a crane down onto workers or surrounding property
Mobile crane tip-overs: Overturns caused by unstable or improperly prepared ground conditions
Dropped loads: Rigging failures, overloading, or improper load securement that sends material falling onto workers or bystanders below
Boom collapse or boom strike: Failure of the crane’s extended arm or contact with workers in the swing path
Power line contact: Crane contact with energized lines, leading to electrocution injuries
Falls from crane platforms or baskets: Elevation-related falls during crane operation
Assembly and dismantling accidents: Incidents that occur while a crane is being erected or taken down on the job site
Defective equipment: Component failures or design flaws that cause a crane to malfunction during operation

Who Can Be Held Liable in a New York Crane Accident

In most crane accident cases, liability extends well beyond the injured worker’s direct employer. New York law allows multiple parties to be named as defendants in a single claim, and identifying every responsible party is central to pursuing full recovery. We investigate all potentially liable parties from the outset of every case.

Property Owners & General Contractors

Property owners and general contractors can be held liable under New York Labor Law even when they weren’t directly supervising the work at the time of the accident. Their control over the site, or their legal duty to maintain safe conditions, can be enough to establish responsibility.

Subcontractors

The subcontractor responsible for crane operations or rigging may bear direct fault for how the work was performed, how equipment was maintained, or how loads were secured and lifted.

Crane Manufacturers & Distributors

If a defective component or design flaw contributed to the accident, the manufacturer or distributor of that equipment may face a product liability claim separate from any negligence theory against the site parties.

Crane Owners & Maintenance Companies

When the crane owner is distinct from the contractor operating it, that party may bear responsibility for the equipment’s condition. Maintenance companies that serviced the crane can also face liability for failures tied to their work.

New York’s comparative negligence rules allow fault to be allocated across multiple defendants. Multi-party crane accident cases require thorough investigation into contracts, site responsibilities, safety practices, and OSHA crane safety regulation compliance. That investigative groundwork is where strong cases are built.

Why New York Crane Accident Victims Choose Godosky & Gentile

There’s a meaningful difference between a firm that settles cases and a firm that tries them. We prepare every case as if it will go to verdict, which strengthens our settlement position and puts us in front of a jury when defendants refuse fair compensation. That approach is backed by a litigation record spanning more than three decades of complex, high-stakes personal injury work in New York courts.

Trial Experience & Team Credentials

Our trial lawyers bring over a century of combined legal experience to every matter. Anthony P. Gentile alone has more than 50 years of personal injury litigation experience. Our team includes a former judge and a former prosecutor, and we maintain a selective caseload so every client receives consistent, individualized attorney attention throughout their case.

Record-Breaking Results

Our verdicts reflect what that depth of preparation has produced. We secured a $65 million verdict in a medical malpractice case, recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest personal injury recovery of its time. A $25 million verdict in an excessive force case and a $15 million verdict in an explosion injury case further define the caliber of litigation we bring to catastrophic injury claims.

Peer Recognition & Professional Standing

Our attorneys hold Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent ratings, the highest peer-reviewed distinction for professional excellence and ethical standards. We’ve been selected as Super Lawyers and named as Best Lawyers in America. Attorneys and judges across New York turn to us for their own legal representation, particularly in disciplinary matters, a level of trust from within the legal community that carries real weight when your case is in a New York courtroom.

There are no attorney fees unless we obtain a verdict or settlement for you.

New York Labor Law & Crane Accident Claims

Three provisions of New York Labor Law form the backbone of most crane accident claims against property owners and general contractors. Understanding how each one applies to your situation is critical to building a complete case.

Section 240(1): The Scaffold Law

Section 240(1) imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors for elevation-related injuries on construction sites. Strict liability means that if the statutory violation caused the injury, the defendant may be liable regardless of whether they were present or directly involved in the task. In crane accident cases, Section 240(1) may apply when a crane drops a load onto workers below, when a worker falls from a crane platform or basket, or when a worker is struck by an object that should have been secured during hoisting.

Section 241(6): Industrial Code Compliance

Section 241(6) requires property owners and contractors to comply with specific provisions of the New York State Industrial Code, which governs crane and hoisting equipment operations on construction sites. A violation of a specific Industrial Code provision that directly causes an injury can support a claim against the owner or contractor, even without proof that they controlled the day-to-day work.

Section 200: General Duty to Provide a Safe Workplace

Labor Law Section 200 codifies the general obligation to maintain a reasonably safe work environment. It applies when the defendant had supervisory control over the work or the premises and knew or should have known of the dangerous condition that caused the injury.

In most crane accident cases, claims under two or more of these sections are pursued in combination based on the roles each defendant played on the site. Certain one- and two-family homeowners who don’t direct or control construction work may be exempt from liability under Sections 240 and 241(6), though exceptions apply. We analyze the facts of each case to identify which theories apply and which defendants may be exposed.

Why Choose Godosky & Gentile?

Comprehensive Legal Support
From initial consultation to final resolution, delivering top-tier representation with skill, diligence, and a results-driven approach.
Recognized Expertise
Respected trial attorneys with a reputation for winning complex cases through precision, strategy, and an unwavering pursuit of justice.
Client-Centered Advocacy
Fiercely committed to securing justice and maximum compensation—because every client deserves a powerful voice in the legal system.
Decades of Proven Results
A legacy of success in high-stakes personal injury and catastrophic accident cases, built on relentless advocacy and exceptional legal strategy.

Injuries & Damages in New York Crane Accident Lawsuits

The scale of crane equipment means the injuries it causes tend to be severe. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, amputations, fractures, paralysis, electrocution injuries, and death are among the outcomes we see in these cases. For surviving family members, a wrongful death claim may be available when a crane accident proves fatal.

Through a third-party civil claim, we pursue the full range of compensation available under New York law. Workers’ compensation doesn’t cover everything, and that gap is where a civil lawsuit does its most important work.

Recoverable damages in a crane accident claim can include:

Past and future medical expenses
Future treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care costs
Lost wages and loss of future earning ability
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Disability or permanent disfigurement
Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

If you were injured in a crane accident in New York, or if you lost a family member to one, contact Godosky & Gentile for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7, and you owe us nothing unless we obtain a verdict or settlement for you. Call (212) 742-9706 to speak with a crane accident lawyer in New York today.

Filing Deadlines & Steps to Take After a Crane Accident in New York

New York sets firm deadlines for crane accident claims, and missing them can permanently bar recovery. Under CPLR 214, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death under New York EPTL 5-4.1. When a government entity is involved, a Notice of Claim must typically be filed within 90 days of the accident under General Municipal Law 50-e. That 90-day deadline is easy to miss without legal guidance.

Beyond deadlines, crane accident evidence moves fast. Equipment gets repaired or removed. Inspection records, rigging logs, and site contracts can be lost or altered. Witnesses become harder to locate. Prompt legal action is one of the most effective tools for preserving the record your case depends on.

If you or a family member was injured in a crane accident, take these steps as soon as possible:

Report the accident to a supervisor and ensure it is documented
Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor
Photograph the scene, equipment, and any visible conditions if it is safe to do so
Collect names and contact information for any witnesses
Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney

Insurance companies move quickly after serious accidents, and a recorded statement made without legal counsel can be used to limit or deny your claim.

Contact us before you speak with anyone from an insurance company. We offer free consultations around the clock, and there are no attorney fees unless we obtain a recovery for you. Call (212) 742-9706.

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