Crane Collapse Leads to Multiple Injuries and Deaths in Seattle

Posted Friday, May 3, 2019 by Chris Thayer

A construction crane collapsed on top of several cars this past weekend in Seattle. Four people were injured and four others were killed when the crane came crashing down, according to CNN. Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing, but officials say that the construction crew was dismantling the crane when it crashed. The crane hit at least six cars on the way down.

Although the investigation is ongoing and it could be a while until an official cause of the accident is determined, there is still speculation as to what caused this tragic accident. Some think that the accident could have been caused, at least in part, by human error. It could take up to six months to complete the investigation, officials say.

Human error is being brought up because it is not often that a construction crane will have a mechanical or structural failure and fall to the ground. Usually, it takes two to three days for construction crews to take a crane apart, piece by piece, until the entire thing is dismantled. Some speculate that pins connecting various parts of the crane were removed too early, leading to the collapse of the crane. It is important to remember that this is all speculation and there has been no cause given by the officials investigating this matter.

The question on many people’s minds following any tragedy like this is who is liable for the damages and injuries sustained by the victims of this accident. Currently, there are five companies under investigation in this accident. Generally, though, in an accident like this, a lot of people look to the owner of the crane for liability.

Cranes do not just fall out of the sky. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to think that some sort of negligence occurred, whether on the part of the individual workers, manufacturer of the crane, or owner of the crane. Even if the incident is purely human error and the fault of the construction workers, the crane owner could still be found liable for the damages. If more than one party is found to be liable, there may be discussion of comparative fault. Each party could be held liable for the percentage at fault they were in the incident. Other parties that might be liable are subcontractors hired to work at the site, the manufacturer of the crane, or in limited instances, an individual construction worker could be found liable.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crane accident, or any type of accident, the personal injury attorneys at Pivotal Law Group are here to help you. Freak accidents happen, but that does not mean the responsible parties should not be held liable for the damages and injuries inflicted upon you because of their negligence. Our skilled attorneys will fight to get you the best result and compensation for your injuries possible under the circumstances. Contact us today for a consultation.

(image courtesy of James Sullivan)