Helping After Crane Collapses in Albuquerque & Nationwide
Cranes are central to construction and industrial operations in New Mexico. They achieve previously impossible feats, lifting and transporting massive loads and performing complex maneuvers in a range of different settings. But when a crane fails—collapsing, dropping its load, or suffering a structural breakdown—the consequences can be severe and sudden: significant property damage, catastrophic injuries, and even death. Those affected deserve immediate, powerful representation from a local firm that knows crane accident litigation and how to hold at-fault parties accountable.
At Arnold & Itkin, our crane accident attorneys in Albuquerque bring considerable technical, legal, and trial experience to every case. We move fast to preserve evidence, reconstruct what happened, and build the strongest possible claim. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a crane accident anywhere in New Mexico, we are here to help.
What Contributes to Crane Accidents in New Mexico?
Every region has specific factors that influence the frequency and occurrence of accidents involving cranes and construction, and New Mexico is no different. These local factors may include:
Desert winds and high altitude. Sudden gusts, downdrafts, or thermal winds in the New Mexico high desert can destabilize crane loads or outriggers if they are not properly planned and accounted for.
Urban development. Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe are constant sites for infill and vertical construction projects, meaning cranes must operate over tight sites and near power lines, roadways, and adjacent buildings.
Remote and rural jobs. In oil and gas, mining, or transmission line work far from major cities, operational oversight may be limited, and rescue operations or emergency medical care may be delayed.
Extreme temperature swings. Daytime heat followed by cold nights can affect material properties, cables, and hydraulic systems on cranes, causing wear and fatigue if not properly monitored and maintained.
Combined with negligent crane operation, lax maintenance, or any safety failure, these risks create a recipe for disaster.
Crane Accident Risks & National Trends
In March 2023, a wire broke on one of the largest land-based mobile cranes in the world at the Intel site in Rio Rancho, causing the top half of the massive machine to collapse. The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau opened an investigation to determine the cause of the incident, and the 450-foot crane was removed from the site for further inspection. Although no injuries were reported, the situation could have been much worse.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 297 crane-related fatalities from 2011 to 2017. Over 40% of those fatal incidents occurred in the private construction sector.
Even though crane fatalities have trended downward over recent decades—from an average of about 78 per year in the 1990s to about 42 in more recent years—the complexity and stakes of each case remain high.
Where Crane Accidents Happen
In Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico, crane accidents are prevalent at:
Exceeding operational thresholds, faulty crane designs, manufacturing defects, and operator negligence are all factors that can cause catastrophic crane failures.
Some of the common types of crane accidents we see in New Mexico include:
Boom Collapses & Structural Failures: Welding failures, exceeding weight limits, improper erection or extension, and metal corrosion or fatigue can cause a boom to bend or snap, sending thousands of pounds of equipment and cargo plummeting to the ground—and onto workers, vehicles, or buildings—below.
Overturn or Tipping Incidents: When cranes are not properly set up or secured, they may tip or overturn. Examples include improper outrigger placement, poor ground conditions, or overloading.
Dropped Loads: Faulty rigging or slings and balance shifts can drop crane loads on crews or bystanders. Considering that some cranes can lift hundreds and even thousands of tons, the results may be cataclysmic.
Contact with Power Lines: Even without direct physical contact, electricity can arc from a power line to a crane. Electrocution, severe burns, and crane failure may result from direct or indirect power line contact that energizes the metal parts of a crane, putting the operator and nearby personnel or passersby at risk.
Cranes Put More than Just Workers at Risk
Crane accidents affect crane operators as well as any workers nearby, not to mention motorists, passersby, or people living and working in buildings close to crane operations.
In April 2024, a tower crane collapsed while being extended in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A 27-year-old construction worker was killed, and three others were injured, including a woman whose car was struck by the crane when it fell. In June 2019, a young woman lost her life when a tower crane toppled and crashed into her apartment in downtown Dallas. Five other people were injured in the incident, which was attributed to a failure to properly secure the crane before a storm. In April 2019, a tower crane collapsed as it was being dismantled in downtown Seattle. It split apart and fell onto a city street, killing two ironworkers and two people in vehicles.
Our attorneys represented the mother of the young woman who was killed in the downtown Dallas crane collapse, securing an $860 million verdict on her behalf. The defendants tried to point fingers and deny accountability, but we built a case that cut through these tactics, exposed wrongdoing, and resulted in a jury verdict that showed they could not get away with such conduct.
How Our New Mexico Crane Accident Attorneys Build Cases
Successful crane accident cases are built on the details. They often hinge upon our attorneys’ ability to show exactly where standards were breached or where parties failed to uphold reasonable care in the circumstances. To accomplish this, we thoroughly investigate and build strong evidence that supports our claims.
Our approach often includes:
Reviewing and preserving maintenance records, inspection logs, load charts, lift plans, and design specifications.
Analyzing operator qualification records, training, and supervision.
Downloading control and telematics data from the crane (if available).
Bringing in experts in structural engineering, crane mechanics, and more.
Reconstructing the circumstances leading up to the accident and the accident itself.
Evaluating which party (or parties) may be held responsible: crane owners, contractors, rigging companies, equipment manufacturers, and others involved in the operation, design, maintenance, or construction of the crane.
The Arnold & Itkin Difference
For a person who has been injured or a family that has lost a loved one, a crane accident is extremely personal. In court, these cases become technical. It takes a rare type of attorney who treats clients like people, not numbers, while tackling the technical side of these cases to determine cause, fault, and liability. At Arnold & Itkin, we do both.
After a plant explosion left her with catastrophic injuries, a worker turned to our firm for help. She had this to say about her experience with Arnold & Itkin:
“They step in and help you. They help you through showing you love. I felt like family because they were there to listen and hear—not just brush you off because ‘you’re a client.’ They let me know when I met them that everything was going to be alright.”
Our clients pay no upfront costs and no fees at all unless we win.
Over the past two decades, our firm and our attorneys have been recognized by prestigious organizations for our results, professionalism, and commitment to our clients. In 2025 alone, 15 of our attorneys were selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Our firm is proud to hold 10 Best Lawyers in America® awards and 5 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards. Founding attorneys Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin are members of The Inner Circle of Advocates, which is limited to 100 of the best plaintiff lawyers in the country. They were also included in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America and are members of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC), which includes just the top 1% of attorneys in the United States.
You Need an Albuquerque Crane Accident Lawyer
If a crane accident has left you catastrophically injured or has claimed the life of someone you love, the decisions you make now may have a tremendous impact on your well-being and your financial stability. The at-fault party should be held accountable, but seeking justice and fair compensation is not easy. Insurance companies and large corporations will fight to reduce payouts and deny liability. You need an attorney on your side who can protect your interests by determining the full and fair value of your claim—and then pursuing this through negotiations or in court.
As crane accident lawyers in New Mexico with considerable experience in this complex area, we know what negligence to look for and the strategies or arguments the defense may make in an attempt to avoid liability.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Crane Accident in New Mexico?
Right after a crane accident, your priority is medical safety—call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. Prompt treatment preserves both your health and legal claim. Request that all equipment, load remnants, rigging, and site conditions remain untouched. If safe, photograph the scene, note wind conditions, record equipment positions, and get names of witnesses, contractors, and onsite personnel. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before consulting a lawyer. The faster you call a New Mexico crane accident attorney, the sooner we can issue preservation letters, protect evidence, and launch an independent investigation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Crane Accident Lawsuit in New Mexico?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of injury or death to file a lawsuit under New Mexico law. But if a government entity or public works project is involved, you may need to file a notice of claim or satisfy shorter time deadlines before full suit. Also, evidence can deteriorate quickly—cranes get dismantled, rigging destroyed, and sites altered. That’s why calling a crane accident attorney in New Mexico early is critical: we lock down evidence, preserve critical machinery, and ensure no limitations bar your claim.
What Types of Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Crane Disaster?
Victims of crane accidents often suffer catastrophic, lifelong injuries. You may claim damages for past and future medical care, surgeries, rehabilitation, prosthetics, home or vehicle modifications, lost wages, future earning capacity, and vocational retraining. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death cases, eligible survivors can recover funeral expenses, loss of support, and loss of companionship. When a company’s conduct was especially reckless, you may also pursue exemplary (punitive) damages under New Mexico law.
What Makes a Crane Accident Case Strong Enough to Go to Trial in New Mexico?
To succeed at trial, your case must show: (1) someone owed you a duty of care (safe operation, inspection, planning), (2) that duty was breached (e.g. negligent inspection, poor maintenance, inadequate training), (3) that breach directly caused your injury, and (4) the full measure of damages you suffered. With cranes, strong trials depend on detailed technical evidence: maintenance logs, engineer reports, lift studies, metallurgical testing, load reconstructions, and expert testimony. Our trial-ready approach ensures every document, expert, and strategy is in place, so defendants know we won’t settle for less than what you deserve.
Can I Recover Compensation for Lost Future Earnings After Severe Crane Injuries?
If a crane accident leaves you permanently disabled or unable to return to your prior occupation, you can claim loss of earning capacity or future wages. That means not just what you already lost, but what you would have earned over your working life. To prove this, we partner with vocational economists, life-care planners, and your medical team to build projections that reflect your injuries and realistic employment limitations. In New Mexico crane cases, these future-loss claims often form a substantial portion of the recovery—and we fight to secure them.
