Morici, Longo & Associates secured a recovery exceeding $6 million on behalf of a Local 1 Ironworker who suffered a traumatic brain injury when a suspended load fell from a tower crane during the construction of a downtown Chicago high-rise.
The veteran ironworker, with more than 30 years of experience in the trade, was performing steel reinforcement work on a lower deck adjacent to an elevated crane pick point when an improperly rigged load became dislodged from the crane hook. The load struck the worker, rendering him unconscious and causing him to fall to the deck below.
The incident resulted in a mild traumatic brain injury with life-altering consequences. To this day, the worker continues to experience chronic headaches, dizziness, balance issues, speech difficulties, personality changes, cognitive deficits, and other symptoms commonly associated with traumatic brain injury.
Falling Loads Remain One of Construction's Most Dangerous Hazards
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), struck-by incidents remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in the construction industry. OSHA specifically identifies falling and suspended loads as a significant hazard and requires that crane operations be planned so workers are not exposed to the dangers posed by overhead lifts.
OSHA's crane and steel erection standards emphasize that:
- Routes for suspended loads should be planned so employees are not required to work beneath suspended loads.
- Loads must be properly rigged to prevent unintentional displacement.
- Qualified riggers must perform rigging operations.
- Appropriate communication and signaling procedures must be utilized when crane operators cannot maintain a clear line of sight.
For additional information, see:
- OSHA Struck-By Hazards
- OSHA Steel Erection and Crane Safety
- National Safety Council: Struck by Objects
Extensive Investigation Revealed Multiple Safety Violations
During years of litigation, Morici, Longo & Associates partners James J. Morici, Jr. and Lisa M. Longo developed evidence demonstrating that numerous safety rules and industry standards had been violated before the incident occurred.
Discovery revealed that the crane operator was effectively working “in the blind” during portions of the lift and was dependent upon workers on the ground to provide proper signaling and communication. Evidence further established that those responsible for rigging and directing the lift failed to provide adequate spotters, signal personnel, and safeguards necessary for a safe operation.
The firm's investigation also showed that:
- The load was inadequately secured to the crane hook.
- The designated pick point was situated dangerously close to active ironworker operations.
- Workers were allowed to perform tasks in an area exposed to overhead lifting operations.
- No adequate controlled access zone had been established to keep personnel clear of the fall zone associated with the lift.
- Critical communication procedures between riggers, signal persons, and the crane operator were not properly implemented.
Industry safety standards consistently recognize the importance of controlled access zones, exclusion zones, competent signal persons, and clear communication whenever crane operations occur near active work areas.
Expert Testimony Established Preventable Causes
The plaintiff retained nationally recognized experts in construction safety and crane rigging who concluded that the incident was entirely preventable.
A construction safety expert testified that allowing loads to travel over or near workers presents an extraordinary hazard and should occur only under limited circumstances and with significant protective measures in place.
A crane rigging expert further opined that the manner in which the load was attached to the crane hook demonstrated inadequate rigging practices, insufficient training, and failures in supervision. According to the expert, proper rigging and appropriate safeguards would have prevented the load from becoming dislodged.
Through extensive depositions and document review, Morici and Longo secured admissions from defense witnesses that significantly undermined the defendants' positions and helped establish liability.
A Firm With a Proven Record in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases
Representing individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries remains a significant area of concentration for Morici, Longo & Associates.
The firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of construction workers and others whose lives have been permanently altered by brain injuries. Among those recoveries:
- A $7.5 million settlement for a worker who suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling from the top of a pipe into a trench during an industrial construction project.
- A $5.9 million settlement for a pipefitter who sustained a traumatic brain injury and career-ending cognitive deficits following an explosion at a public utility facility.
The firm is also actively involved in complex litigation arising from catastrophic industrial accidents, including cases involving ironworkers injured in a blast furnace explosion at an Indiana steel mill.
Dedicated to Protecting Injured Construction Workers
Morici, Longo & Associates devotes a substantial portion of its practice to representing injured construction workers, victims of traumatic brain injury, and individuals harmed by unsafe worksite conditions.
The firm works closely with nationally recognized experts in construction safety, engineering, human factors, vocational rehabilitation, life-care planning, economics, and medicine to fully develop every aspect of its clients' claims.
When corporations, contractors, and project owners fail to follow established safety rules, the consequences can be devastating. Morici, Longo & Associates is committed to holding negligent parties accountable and obtaining the compensation necessary to help injured workers rebuild their lives.
Contact Morici, Longo & Associates
If you or a loved one has been injured on a construction site, in a workplace accident, in a motor vehicle collision, or as a result of a dangerous product, contact the experienced trial attorneys at Morici, Longo & Associates.
Call (312) 779-0366 or visit www.moricilongo.com. Consultations are always free, and no attorney's fees are charged unless a recovery is obtained on your behalf.
Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Each case depends on its own facts. This post is general information and is not legal advice.