Operating heavy machinery comes with risks. Not only is the equipment large, but people are often using it to move dangerous and heavy loads. When accidents involving heavy machinery occur, they can lead to severe damage. Most of these accidents occur at the workplace, so people may believe that workers’ compensation will cover their claims. However, those protections do not apply to all workers, and in some cases, third parties also share liability.
If you have suffered injuries due to a heavy machinery accident and need to file a personal injury claim to recover damages for those injuries, contact Berkowitz Hanna. Our Stamford heavy machinery accident lawyers can help you take legal action.
Heavy machinery is a broad term that covers a variety of tools. Some examples of heavy machinery on construction sites include cranes, bulldozers, backhoes, forklifts, and tractors.
Sometimes, whether something is considered a vehicle or a piece of heavy machinery depends on its use at the time of the accident. Tractor trailers, dump trucks, and cement mixers are all types of vehicles. However, they have a dual purpose, and injuries that occur while their operators are performing construction duties may fall outside of standard auto insurance policies.
Understanding the facts of a case can help an attorney handling a Stamford heavy machinery accident claim decide the best way to approach the claim. Cases that fall under an auto insurance policy often lead to easier recovery because insurance companies are more likely to settle and have deeper pockets than most individuals. However, if a company’s negligence is to blame, pursuing a claim against them can be the best way to ensure a victim gets adequate compensation.
Heavy machinery accident claims can vary greatly. Collisions, collapsed loads, and falling objects are three of the most common causes of heavy machinery claims.
Collisions are frequent on construction job sites, especially smaller sites where equipment operators may not have enough room to maneuver their vehicles or their loads. Inadequate training, pressure to rush a job, and poorly established or missing safety protocols all increase the risk of these types of accidents.
People use heavy equipment to transport heavy objects. It is vital to observe load capacities and other safety regulations. Failure to do so can result in the load collapsing. A collapsed load can break off part of the heavy equipment, resulting in the vehicle tipping over or otherwise simply falling to the ground. Often weighing thousands of pounds, a collapse spells disaster for anyone in its way.
Falling objects also involve potentially heavy things falling from a distance. However, they are usually due to failure to use safety equipment to secure the loads. Part or all of the load may fall, which can lead to head injuries and worse for anyone below the load.
While people on construction sites are at the highest risk for these injuries, they can also impact anyone in the vicinity. A Stamford attorney can help anyone injured by a heavy machinery accident.
Injuries from heavy machinery accidents are often catastrophic. They can include head, brain, and neck injuries, amputations, internal injuries, broken bones, paralysis, and even death. Recovering from those injuries is expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally complex.
A Stamford heavy machinery accident lawyer can help you get the financial compensation you need to make your recovery process as easy as possible. Contact Berkowitz Hanna today to get started.
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