Dallas Crane Accident Lawyers

Justice for Crane Accident Victims: A Record-Breaking Verdict

Arnold & Itkin represented the mother of a young woman tragically killed when a crane collapsed onto her East Dallas apartment building. On June 8, 2019, our client's daughter was cooking dinner with her fiancé when the crane toppled directly into their living room, ending her life and shattering her family’s future. The cause of this devastating accident was clear: a prominent real estate developer failed to secure the crane in preparation for the forecasted storm. 

Instead of taking responsibility, the developer pointed fingers at the crane operator and owner, using delay tactics in an attempt to avoid accountability. We refused to let our client endure this injustice. We took the developer to court, presenting a compelling case that exposed their failure to prioritize safety. 

The jury saw through their excuses and awarded our client a historic $860 million verdict—a record-breaking result that sent a powerful message to developers across Texas. 

Dallas Crane Accident Statistics: Why the Risks Are So High

Cranes are essential to Dallas’s booming skyline, but they also bring unique dangers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. averaged 42 crane-related worker deaths each year between 2011 and 2017. Nearly half involved workers struck by falling objects or equipment, while others were caused by transportation incidents and falls. Construction sites accounted for most of these tragedies.

No state has it worse than Texas. From 2011 to 2017, Texas recorded 50 crane-related deaths—more than Florida, New York, and California combined. That staggering number is why OSHA Dallas operates a dedicated Regional Emphasis Program for Cranes, targeting hazards like tip-overs, electrocutions, and struck-by incidents. In just three years (2015–2017), OSHA Region VI inspectors conducted 213 crane inspections, including 10 involving fatalities. 

Despite these efforts, fatal crane accidents continue to devastate Texas families.

Why Dallas Faces Unique Crane Dangers

Dallas sits at the center of one of the nation’s busiest construction markets. Each year, the City of Dallas Development Services issues thousands of commercial building permits, fueling nonstop high-rise, highway, and industrial projects. With so many cranes in operation, even a single oversight can cause catastrophic harm.

North Texas’s history of deadly crane collapses shows how preventable mistakes, from failing to secure equipment before storms to ignoring weight limits, can shatter lives in seconds:

• 2012 – 2 workers killed at the University of Texas Dallas
• 2013 – Worker in Alvarado struck and killed by crane
• 2015 – Dallas worker crushed between boom and truck
• 2017 – Multiple fatalities in Commerce, Royse City, and Dallas construction sites
• 2019 – A woman killed in her East Dallas apartment when a crane toppled into the building
• 2023 – Worker killed by a crane collapse at a Celina construction site

Cranes in Dallas are often operated under immense pressure to meet deadlines for new office towers, residential high-rises, and infrastructure projects. Contractors sometimes cut corners by using unqualified operators, skipping inspections, or pushing operations in high winds. OSHA investigations in Texas have repeatedly uncovered willful or repeat safety violations—evidence that too many companies still put profits ahead of lives.

Why Crane Accidents Happen in Dallas

Cranes demand meticulous planning, maintenance, and oversight. Unfortunately, accidents almost always trace back to preventable negligence. Some of the most common causes include:

• Improper crane setup or use of the wrong crane for the job
• Operator error or inadequate training
• Overloading and ignoring weight restrictions
• Poor maintenance or skipped inspections
• Falling debris from unsecured loads
• Boom collapses and tip-overs
• Contact with power lines
• Operating in unsafe weather conditions, like high winds or sudden storms

In Dallas, cranes often rise above congested neighborhoods, busy streets, and highways. This proximity to the public makes safety even more critical—but too often, deadlines and profit margins take priority.

Types of Crane Accidents We Handle

Cranes in Dallas take many forms—tower cranes rising over downtown high-rises, mobile cranes working along expanding highways, and overhead cranes used in local warehouses and industrial plants. Each type of crane comes with unique hazards, from collapsing booms to dropped loads, and when safety measures are ignored, the results can be catastrophic. At Arnold & Itkin, we’ve represented workers and families after every kind of crane disaster. No matter the type of crane or the circumstances of the accident, our Dallas crane accident lawyers know how to uncover the truth.

Our firm represents clients in Dallas and nationwide after all types of crane-related incidents, including:

• Collapses and tip-overs
• Struck-by accidents (falling or swinging loads)
• Falls from cranes or work platforms
• Electrocutions from contact with power lines
• Being crushed between a crane and another object
• Fatal incidents caused by boom failure or improper rigging

Every case we handle begins with a thorough investigation. We work with top experts to reconstruct what happened and prove exactly how the accident could have—and should have—been prevented.

Crane Safety Violations Lead to Serious Accidents & Injuries

Every crane accident is preventable. OSHA enforces strict standards for crane operation, inspection, and training, and employers are legally obligated to maintain safe workplaces—even in inherently dangerous industries like construction. That means choosing qualified operators, keeping equipment in top condition, and never cutting corners on inspections or safety protocols. When companies treat safety as optional, workers and bystanders pay the price. 

Frequent safety failures include:

• Using unqualified riggers or signalpersons
• Skipping required monthly or annual inspections
• Failing to maintain a safe distance from power lines
• Operating without proper operator manuals or documentation
• Ignoring deficiencies flagged during prior inspections
• Using cranes without replacing damaged or missing safety labels

At Arnold & Itkin, we’ve seen time and again how crane collapses and other tragedies happen only because someone failed to follow the rules. Our Dallas crane accident attorneys fight to expose these violations and hold employers accountable for putting profits ahead of people.

Steps to Take After a Crane Accident in Dallas

If you or someone you love has been injured in a crane accident, quick action can make all the difference:

• Seek immediate medical attention—go to an emergency room or trauma center, even if injuries aren’t obvious.
• Report the incident to your employer and local authorities so the event is officially documented.
• Gather evidence if safe: photos, video, witness contacts, and equipment details.
• Preserve records like medical reports, safety logs, and correspondence with your employer.
• Contact a Dallas crane accident lawyer before speaking to insurers or company representatives.

Our Dallas Crane Accident Attorneys Are Here to Help

If your life has been shattered by a crane collapse, you deserve more than apologies and excuses—you deserve justice. At Arnold & Itkin, we’ve built our reputation on taking on the toughest cases and winning record-setting results for workers and families across Dallas and beyond. We don’t back down from powerful companies or their insurers. We fight until our clients get the answers, accountability, and financial security they need to rebuild. 

Now is the time to take action. Call us today and let us stand up for you—no matter what. 

Call us today at (888) 493-1629 to schedule your free consultation. Let us help you pave the path to recovery.