The parents of Michael Simermeyer—a construction worker who was killed in a crane accident last year—have agreed to a $1 million settlement with Liberty Mutual. Simermeyer’s parents filed suit in October of 2012 claiming negligence on the part of Yonker’s Contracting Company—the manager of the construction project. The parents claimed several inspections were missed resulting in the crane being “falsely certified.” According to the lawsuit, a proper inspection of the crane would have revealed numerous defects which may have prevented its approval for use. According to the Engineering News-Record Yonkers Contracting Company have received numerous citations and fines for violating U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) regulations.
The fatal accident occurred in April of 2012 during construction at an extension of Manhattan’s No. 7 subway line. Simermeyer, a rebar laborer for J&E Industries LLC, was fatally injured when a 160-foot-long lattice boom of a Manitowoc 4100 crawler crane fell into the job site. Unfortunately, the accident may have been avoidable as it appeared the wire rope which had been supporting the boom had shown signs of significant wear and tear. Furthermore, the crane had reportedly been making strange noises in the days leading up to the accident. The failures of Yonkers Contracting Company to properly inspect the crane before authorization and after it began making noises led to the filing of the lawsuit.
Crane accidents are not uncommon at construction sites and are often the result of negligence. According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 72 crane-related fatalities in 2006 alone. Many of these accidents could have been avoided had the proper safety precautions been taken. When a crane accident is caused by negligence, and it results in a serious injury, the victim may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the property owner or general contractor. As a result injured victims and their families should contact a skilled crane accident lawyer.
At Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool our attorneys handle all types of construction injury cases. We realize that an injury on the worksite can cause individuals to face severe hardships, such as lost wages or high medical bills. As a result, we pursue maximum compensation for all of our clients who were injured because of another party’s negligence. Our lawyers also handle wrongful death lawsuits for families who have lost a loved one to an on-site injury.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury or died in a crane accident, contact Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool for a free review of your legal options.
