Those working in the construction industry are at high risk of workplace injuries. Among the many dangers faced by those in this line of employment is the risk of being involved in a crane accident. This heavy machinery can cause significant damage when it fails to perform properly or if the crane operator behaves negligently.
If you were injured in a crane accident on a worksite, collecting compensation from the at-fault party is a critical step on the road to recovery. At the Morelli Law Firm, our team of crane accident lawyers in the Bronx has helped our clients recover millions of dollars in damages. Learn how we can help you by completing our online contact form or giving us a call.
Figuring Out Who Is Liable in a Crane Accident
Before filing an insurance claim or submitting a personal injury lawsuit to the court, you must first figure out who is to blame for your injury. Unfortunately, determining fault is rarely easy. Even if you are reasonably certain about who is responsible, proving liability can still be quite challenging.
Fortunately, you can enlist the help of an experienced crane accident lawyer in the Bronx. When you hire an attorney, they thoroughly investigate your case and know exactly what to look for as they attempt to prove fault.
Damages You Can Collect for a Crane Accident Injury
If you have endured a significant injury in a crane accident, there are various types of damages you will likely be eligible to recover. When determining what damages apply to your case, you must realize that all crane accident cases are different. The damages you are eligible to pursue will depend on the details of your case.
All compensatory damages fall into the two overarching categories of economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Any monetary losses that resulted from your crane accident are deemed economic damages. When claiming economic damages, you recover compensation for any income your accident prevented you from earning, as well as any money you were compelled to spend. In addition to the current losses you face, your Bronx crane accident lawyer can also claim economic damages for projected future losses.
Some of the economic damages most commonly claimed in crane accident cases include:
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Lost ability to earn
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
Non-Economic Damages
All other losses that were caused by your crane accident fall into the broad category of non-economic damages. Instead of being monetary in nature, these losses are usually far more personal. Because of the deep nature of these losses and the fact that they are often irreplaceable and irreversible, the money awarded for these damages tends to be substantial.
Some of the non-economic damages most commonly claimed in crane accident cases include:
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent disability
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are reserved for a small portion of crane accident cases. A judge will only award these damages if the actions of the at-fault party were performed with the purpose of causing harm or if their negligence reached the level of criminal negligence.
Bronx Crane Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Make Sure to File Your Bronx Crane Accident Lawsuit Before the Deadline
When attempting to recover damages by means of a personal injury lawsuit, you must be mindful of the statute of limitations. In New York, victims of crane accidents have three years to submit all the necessary paperwork to the court. Letting the deadline pass without filing your lawsuit will likely result in the loss of your ability to pursue compensation.
Although missing the deadline will prevent you from suing the liable party in most instances, you need to understand that exceptions could potentially apply. The details of your accident may allow you to file a lawsuit long after the typical three-year deadline has passed. At the same time, you could also discover that you have less than three years to file.
To avoid letting a deadline of which you were unaware sneak up on you, it is critical that you hire an experienced crane accident attorney in the Bronx shortly after your crash. Your lawyer will be able to determine whether you face further limitations regarding the time available to file and ensure that you meet all applicable deadlines.
Don’t Trust the Insurance Company
One of the most important things to realize when dealing with an insurance company after an accident is that they do not have your best interests at heart. Despite the way these companies try to portray themselves and the fact that they are supposed to serve as a safety net, they care far more about protecting their profit margins than they do about protecting injury victims.
Insurance adjusters have dozens of tricks they will use to attempt to deny or devalue a claim. While they go to great lengths to make you feel like they are working to help you, they are merely attempting to lower your guard so that you don’t hire an attorney before you make a mistake that allows them to take advantage of your situation.
The best way to protect yourself is by refusing to speak with an insurance adjuster until you have hired a lawyer. Once you have legal representation, the insurer will be unable to contact you directly. By forcing them to deal with your attorney, the tricks they are accustomed to using will be useless, and your chances of recovering fair compensation will greatly increase.
Get a Free Consultation From a Bronx Crane Accident Attorney Today
When trying to recover fair compensation after sustaining an injury in a crane accident, finding the right lawyer to represent you is critical. You must choose an attorney with a history of recovering favorable results for their clients in cases similar to yours. At the Morelli Law Firm, our team of Bronx crane accident attorneys is ready to fight for the money you need.
Complete the contact form on this site or give us a call to schedule a free case evaluation today.