After a Crane Collapse in San Antonio
In the minutes and days after a crane accident, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Sirens, injured coworkers, and questions from supervisors or investigators can make it hard to think clearly. Knowing a few key steps can help protect your health and your future claim.
Here are practical steps to take after a crane incident:
- Seek emergency medical care right away, even if you think you are fine, because some injuries do not show symptoms immediately.
- Report the incident to a supervisor or site manager and make sure the basic facts are documented, but avoid speculating about the cause or accepting blame.
- If you can do so safely, take photos or videos of the scene, equipment, and conditions, and ask a trusted coworker to help if you are taken for treatment.
- Write down names and contact information for witnesses, including other workers, subcontractors, and anyone who saw the collapse from nearby buildings or streets.
- Don't sign any documents, releases, or settlement offers from an employer, insurer, or equipment company before talking with an attorney you trust.
- Contact a crane accident lawyer that San Antonio residents rely on to review what happened and to advise you before important evidence is lost or altered.
On large projects in and around the city, multiple contractors and companies may appear at the scene quickly. Each will focus on protecting its own interests. Our job is to protect yours. When we are called early, we work to move fast, preserve critical records, and handle communications with employers and insurers so you are not pressured or misled.
Who May Be at Fault for a Crane Collapse
One of the most confusing parts of a crane accident case is figuring out who is responsible, or liable. On a major construction site, there can be a general contractor, several subcontractors, a crane owner or rental company, separate operators and riggers, maintenance crews, and the property owner. The crane manufacturer may also have designed or built defective parts. Each may try to point the finger at someone else.
Sorting out this web of responsibility takes work and a clear strategy. As trial lawyers, we prepare these cases as if we will explain them to a jury in Bexar County. That means we review contracts that define who controlled the crane and the jobsite. We study safety manuals, training records, inspection reports, and maintenance logs. We consider how decisions were made about where to place the crane, how much weight it would lift, and whether wind or weather limits were followed. Our goal is to hold every responsible party accountable so our clients are not left paying the price for corporate shortcuts.
Common Crane Accident Causes & Injuries
Crane incidents rarely come out of nowhere. They are usually the result of decisions, shortcuts, or oversight failures that build up over time. Understanding what commonly goes wrong helps explain why these cases are so serious and why a strong legal response matters.
Crane collapses and other incidents can be caused by:
- Improper assembly and setup, where outriggers or supports are not used correctly
- Overloading the crane beyond its rated capacity
- Poor signaling practices
- Ignoring wind or weather limits
- Rushed construction schedules that mean skipped inspections or working through known equipment problems
When a crane fails, the injuries are often catastrophic. Families may face the sudden death of a loved one who never came home from a job.
Workers and bystanders who survive a crane accident can still suffer:
These injuries require extensive surgeries, rehabilitation, and sometimes lifelong care. They can permanently change a person’s ability to work in construction or any other field. At Arnold & Itkin, we focus on recoveries that account for future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and the human impact of pain, disability, and grief, not just the bills that have already arrived.
How Our Trial Lawyers Handle Crane Accident Cases
When you hire our firm after a crane collapse, our goal is to take control of the legal fight so you don't have to. We start by learning what happened from you and any available records, then we work to gather the documents and information needed to understand how the collapse occurred and who may be responsible.
Crane cases often involve technical issues, complex corporate structures, and aggressive defense strategies. We prepare each case as if we will present it to a jury, which means we organize evidence carefully, challenge unsafe company practices, and develop clear explanations of what rules were broken and why it matters. This trial-ready approach often helps us achieve strong results, whether a case resolves in court or before trial.
We also keep our clients informed, explain key decisions, and answer questions as the case moves forward. At the same time, we shoulder the heavy work of litigation so injured people and families can focus on medical treatment, daily needs, and healing. When you work with a crane accident attorney San Antonio trusts, you should feel that your team is fully invested in your future.
Why Injured Workers & Their Families Choose Our Firm
Crane collapses are not minor accidents. Choosing the right legal team is critical. Our firm has secured record-setting verdicts and settlements in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, including multi-billion dollar results and numerous recoveries in the hundreds of millions. These outcomes reflect how seriously we approach high-stakes litigation and how hard we work to tell our clients’ stories in court.
Clients also choose us because of how we treat them. People come to us after the worst days of their lives. We treat them with dignity, respect, and the kind of care we would want for our own families. We listen, we explain options in plain language, and we stay by their side from the first call through resolution, no matter what.
FAQs for Crane Accident Lawyers
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Your Firm?
There is no upfront cost to hire us. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we are paid only if we win a verdict or settlement for you. Our firm also advances litigation expenses. This structure lets injured people and families get strong legal representation without having to pay out of pocket.
Do I Have a Case After a Crane Collapse at Work?
You may have a case even if the collapse happened on the job. Workers’ compensation might not be the only path for you. Many crane incidents involve negligent third parties, such as crane owners, contractors, or manufacturers. We review the facts, identify potential claims, and explain your options in a free consultation.
How Long Will a Crane Accident Case Take?
The timeline depends on factors such as injury severity, number of defendants, and how hard companies contest the claims. Some cases resolve in negotiations, while others may go through trial in Bexar County courts. We prepare early as if we will go to trial and keep you updated about progress and timing.
What Makes Your Firm Right for Serious Crane Failure Cases?
We are trial lawyers who thrive on complex, high-stakes cases. Our firm has recovered more than $20 billion for injured people and families nationwide. We have a history of taking on major corporations and winning, and we treat every client with the No Matter What commitment that guides everything we do.
Talk to Our Team About Your Crane Collapse Case
If a crane collapse has changed your life or taken someone you love, you shouldn't have to face the next steps alone. Our attorneys can review what happened, explain your rights, and discuss how we work to hold companies accountable for unsafe decisions that cause harm.
When you contact Arnold & Itkin, you get a free, confidential consultation with a team that has handled some of the largest catastrophic cases in the country. You pay nothing upfront, and you do not owe us anything unless we win. If after the worst has happened, you're looking for a crane accident lawyer San Antonio can turn to, we are ready to talk.
Call (888) 493-1629 to speak with our team today.
