Crane Accident Info Center
Local Risks Affecting Crane Operations in Baton Rouge, LA
Baton Rouge sits at the heart of Louisiana’s industrial corridor and along one of the South’s busiest travel arteries. Refineries, chemical plants, and fabrication yards line the Mississippi River. I-10 and I-12 funnel constant construction and maintenance projects through tight, congested jobsites. Turnarounds, bridge work, and plant expansions involve intensive crane activity in confined footprints, often near active traffic lanes, live units, and overhead utilities.
In these conditions, even small mistakes in ground prep, radius planning, or rigging can have catastrophic results.
Severe Gulf weather also adds risk. Sudden storms and high winds can destabilize booms, outrigger pads, and suspended loads. Contractors who fail to secure equipment ahead of storms—or who push lifts when winds exceed limits—put entire crews and surrounding communities in danger. Weather monitoring, securing equipment during storms, and decisions to cease operations aren't optional in extreme weather. They're lifesaving.
Louisiana’s coastal and offshore economy utilizes cranes in a wide range of capacities. Pedestal cranes on Gulf platforms and at dockside facilities handle blind lifts, heavy modules, and complex load paths —all while exposed to corrosion and marine weather. Without proper maintenance and safety precautions, crane operations can turn deadly.
Because cranes are used so frequently in the area, OSHA's Birmingham Regional Office and Baton Rouge Area Office operate a Regional Emphasis Program for cranes. Over three years, the program logged 213 crane inspections with 10 fatal accidents.
Cranes & Their Uses
In Louisiana and nationwide, cranes come in many varieties, each designed for specific tasks and environments.
Workplace cranes commonly found in U.S. industries include:
- Mobile Cranes: These may include wheel-mounted telescoping and hydraulic cranes, lattice boom truck cranes, crawler cranes, and commercial truck-mounted cranes. Mobile cranes are often used on construction sites, in petrochemical facilities, and for infrastructure projects due to their versatility and lifting capacity.
- Overhead Traveling Cranes: Often found in factories and warehouses, overhead (or bridge) cranes run along fixed runways to lift and transport loads. Common types of overhead traveling cranes include double-girder, single-girder, monorail, under-hung, and gantry cranes.
- Tower Cranes: Seen frequently in high-rise construction projects, hammerhead tower cranes provide a long horizontal jib and are anchored to concrete foundations for stability. Tower cranes dominate skylines in highly industrial and urban areas like New Orleans.
- Straddle & Cantilever Cranes: These cranes are able to straddle or cantilever over areas that may be difficult to access, such as in port operations, industrial yards, and at factories or warehouses.
- Floating & Barge Cranes: Utilized in offshore operations and at Louisiana ports, floating and barge cranes are capable of lifting and moving heavy loads from waterborne vessels and platforms.
Regardless of the type of crane and the operation, our Baton Rouge crane accident lawyers have the resources and skill to represent survivors and families who have lost loved ones. We handle complex maritime injury claims involving cranes, accidents involving road construction, commercial crane operations, crane-related incidents at plants, and more.
Types of Crane Accidents
Crane Collapses & Tip-Overs
Collapse occurs when the crane’s structural integrity is compromised or its load exceeds safe limits. In Baton Rouge’s industrial sector, heavy refinery components and oversized pipe spools make load calculations critical. Improper crane operation, unstable ground, or high winds can also lead to tip‑overs.
Struck by Falling or Swinging Load
The most common cause of fatal crane injuries nationally, struck-by and falling object incidents involve materials swinging or dropping from slings, hooks, or baskets. In Baton Rouge area petrochemical plants, for example, dropped loads may release hazardous chemicals or cause fires.
Electrocution
Contact between a crane’s boom and overhead power lines can electrify the equipment and kill workers. Mobile cranes moving through Baton Rouge construction sites must observe required clearance distances and use tag lines or spotters.
Boom or Jib Failures
Structural defects, worn cables, or improper maintenance can cause booms or jibs to collapse. Improper assembly or exceeding load capacity for the boom's length or angle can also cause these serious crane accidents.
Improper Rigging or Overloading
Using inappropriate rigging gear, failing to balance the load, or lifting more than a crane’s rated capacity can cause components to fail. Overloading is a particular risk when operators are under pressure to complete lifts quickly.
Operator Error & Inadequate Training
Operators without proper certification may misinterpret load charts, misjudge distances, or fail to account for wind speed. OSHA requires certified crane operators, but enforcement and refresher training vary among employers.
Incidents like these have specific, identifiable causes—and all can be traced to some form of negligence or wrongdoing on the part of an individual or company. As crane accident lawyers in Baton Rouge who have handled cases of this kind across a wide range of industries, we have seen it all. We know how to investigate crane-related incidents, build compelling cases, and push for recoveries that help our clients build better futures.
Why Louisiana Crane Accidents Are So Serious
The BLS counted 297 U.S. crane-related worker deaths from 2011-2017, with construction accounting for the largest share. 59% involved a worker struck by a falling object or equipment, most often falling from or set in motion by the crane.
Crane-involved accidents and injuries are severe for two key reasons:
- Enormous forces. Mobile and tower cranes routinely lift tens to hundreds of tons. In Louisiana, fleets range from 17-ton boom truck cranes to 500-ton hydraulic and lattice-boom machines, all the way to the 3,000-ton VersaCrane™ or the Mammoet PTC140-DS, which has a lifting capacity of 5,000 tons.
- Height and exposure. Cranes operate high above workers, public streets, roadways, and worksites in Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana. A single dropped load or boom failure can injure dozens of workers, motorists, or passersby, damage residential buildings, or jeopardize entire plants or refineries.
The power involved and complexity of crane operations do not excuse accidents of any kind. Most crane failures can be traced to setup errors, overloading, inadequate training, poor maintenance, bad weather operations, or missing safety devices—all preventable hazards that OSHA rules are designed to prevent.
When Crane Accidents Happen: Who to Call in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
When a crane collapses, a load drops, or a boom makes contact with power lines, companies mobilize fast. Their goal is to control the narrative and limit responsibility. Your goal is different: protect your health, your rights, and the evidence.
After a crane accident:
- Call 911 and get medical care now. This is important for your physical health and also to provide the foundation for any resulting claim or lawsuit. Put your well-being first by seeking medical attention.
- Report the incident. If you were working at the time, report the incident to your manager or supervisor. Make sure you keep a record of your report and any related communication and information.
- Document what you safely can. Photos and videos (even from your cellphone) of the crane setup, load, weather conditions, signage, and barricades can help with accident reconstruction and determining cause.
- Collect names and contact information. Gather contact information from witnesses and workers at the scene, such as the crane operator, signalperson, rigger, or the site superintendent.
- Do not give recorded statements. Do not sign anything, accept a settlement, or make a formal statement to an insurer or company representative until you've spoken with an attorney about your options.
- Call a Louisiana crane accident attorney. Seeking legal counsel quickly can make a difference in preserving evidence, getting care and support, and ensuring your rights are put first every step of the way.
At Arnold & Itkin, we work fast to secure the scene, investigate, and work with experts to determine exactly what led to the accident—and who's responsible. We review inspection and maintenance records, lift plans, crew qualifications, and more. We've gone toe-to-toe with developers, crane owners, and insurance companies—and won record-setting results.
Record-Breaking $860 Million Verdict After a Tower Crane Collapse
We represented the mother of a young woman who was killed when a tower crane toppled into her apartment. The developer failed to secure the crane ahead of a forecasted storm, then spent four years blaming everyone else. We took the case to trial. The jury saw through the excuses and returned a $860 million verdict.
$44 Million for a Superintendent After a Mobile Crane Failure
Attorney Kurt Arnold tried a three-week case involving a stuck auger and a collapsed crane. The operator had attempted to stop the job multiple times. Our client—standing behind a safety fence—suffered an above-the-knee amputation when debris struck and pinned him down. We proved repeated safety violations, poor inspection practices, and reckless pressure to “get it done,” winning $44 million, including $8.5 million in punitive damages.
$16.5 Million for a Rigger Crushed During Plant Construction
We represented a worker crushed by a falling load during the construction of a massive plant in Louisiana. The company tried to pin the blame on him. Our investigation showed the owner was behind schedule, using uncertified workers for critical rigging tasks. The $16.5 million recovery changed the company’s practices—and our client’s future.
$9.55 Million for a Longshoreman—Plus a Public Apology
In a case where even 1% fault would have barred recovery under Virginia law, our team (led by attorneys Jason Itkin and Cory Itkin) proved the company was 100% responsible for an industrial crane incident that led to an amputation. In addition to issuing a formal apology and creating a safety award that honored our client's decades of service, the company assumed responsibility for $500,000 in past medical bills—and agreed to a $9.55 million settlement.
Other Notable Crane Accident Results
- $5.6 million for a mother after her son died in an offshore crane accident.
- $5.5 million for a Jones Act seaman injured evacuating a crane barge after a collision.
- $3.5 million for a Mississippi River crane-barge worker with serious back injuries.
- $2.95 million verdict for a Louisiana crane mechanic struck by a falling anti-two block weight.
- $2.8 million verdict for a rigger whose foot was crushed by a landing load.
These outcomes reflect the same pattern we see across Louisiana and the Gulf: tight deadlines, missed inspections, unqualified crews, and weather risks ignored. Our Baton Rouge crane accident lawyers know how to secure the crane, capture the data, and prove the truth—so you can get the medical care and financial security you need.
“If you want to be on a winning team, you have to pick Arnold & Itkin because they are the best…They let me know when I met them that everything was going to be alright. Ever since the day I met them until today that I'm sitting here, they have always had my back.”
- Veronica, work accident survivor
How Crane Accidents Happen & How We Prove It
OSHA’s crane standard requires safety devices, operational aids, qualified personnel, inspections, and strict power-line clearances. When those aren’t in place, people get hurt.
We uncover safety breakdowns such as:
- Improper setup or load calculations (outriggers, mats, radius, wind)
- Unqualified operators/riggers/signalpersons or missing documentation
- Skipped monthly/annual inspections or ignored defects
- High-wind operations and inadequate storm securing
- Electrocutions from contact inside the minimum approach distance
- Rigging failures and dropped loads over work areas/public streets
OSHA emphasizes simple, lifesaving practices—competent-person inspections, fully extended outriggers, swing-radius barricades, and 10-foot (or more) power-line clearances. We know how to use these standards to prove negligence.
What to Expect During Your Case: How Our Louisiana Crane Accident Attorneys Help
After a crane accident in Louisiana, you may face steep medical bills, missed paychecks, and concern for your future. Our attorneys can step in immediately to help you build a case, handling the legal and practical challenges unique to Louisiana job sites. As a team of trial lawyers, we recognize the tactics large contractors, crane manufacturers, and insurers may use to avoid responsibility. We focus on representing your interests—from communicating with insurance carriers to preparing the matter for trial if needed. Our experience with catastrophic injury cases throughout Louisiana allows us to pursue results under both state and federal law.
Crane collapse cases often involve complex engineering issues and changing safety regulations. Our attorneys stay up-to-date on laws, local ordinances, and the chain of accountability that can extend across contractors, project owners, and equipment suppliers. We can help you identify all responsible parties, making sure no potential liability or insurance coverage is overlooked. Many industrial job sites in Louisiana involve multiple employers, and we can help clarify how joint or several liability and workers' compensation might affect your options.
Here is what you might expect if you move forward with a claim:
- Initial Consultation: We listen to your story, review the details, and outline what comes next.
- Investigation: Our team reviews site reports, collects witness statements, examines maintenance and inspection records, and gathers all key documentation related to the incident to conduct an independent investigation.
- Determining Liability: We assess if equipment failure, improper assembly, inadequate training, or safety violations contributed to the malfunction or collapse and who may be held responsible (this may be multiple parties).
- Negotiation: We communicate with at-fault parties and insurance companies to seek a fair resolution.
- Preparation for Trial: We build every claim as if going to court, so your case is always ready for litigation if negotiations stall. We push for a trial if that is the best way to secure a fair outcome.
Louisiana applies a one-year statute of limitations to most personal injury matters. Acting quickly after a crane collapse protects your right to compensation and avoids common delays. Our attorneys can clarify which records, reports, and medical information are most valuable, so families stay organized throughout the case. By proactively preparing from the start, we help you navigate each step.
Contact Our Louisiana Crane Accident Firm & Start Your Recovery Today
If you or someone you love was harmed in a crane collapse or any crane-related incident in Louisiana, our crane accident lawyers in Baton Rouge are ready to act. We are standing by to preserve evidence, hold every responsible party accountable, and pursue an outcome that gives you the means to rebuild and move forward.
Call (888) 493-1629 to reach a team that stands ready to fight for your interests and guide you through every step.
Recommended Reading:
