Often when people hear the term "truck accident," they will assume the vehicle in question was an 18-wheeler or box truck. However, those people may not have considered the many specialized commercial trucks that often trigger serious accidents too. For instance, crane trucks used in construction sites create unique dangers that are in some ways distinct from other commercial vehicles. So how are accidents with crane trucks different from other truck accidents?

Answer: Crane truck accidents differ from other commercial truck accidents because crane operators are subject to crane specific regulations that don't apply to other commercial vehicles. These regulations impact how the case should be investigated and how an attorney should construct a wrongful death or serious bodily injury case.

Before we talk in more depth about the specifics of crane truck training and how it pertains to an accident victim's lawsuit, we should first define what a crane truck is and what purpose it serves.

What is a Crane Truck?

In many construction sites and work zones, crane trucks are used to lift large and/or heavy objects into the air for stacking or placement. A crane truck is identifiable by its large "boom" arm, made of several telescoping sections and usually reinforced by steel cables. The crane can usually pivot 360 degrees, controlled by an operator in a small cockpit next to it.

Most people who've driven by big work zones have seen a crane truck, either in action or standing by. Due to their size and the sometimes-dangerous tasks they perform, an accident caused by one—whether it's an object dropped from up high, the boom arm swinging unpredictably, or the truck itself causing a traffic collision—will typically cause serious damage.

Example: A few years ago, a work crew used a crane truck for construction along a highway in El Paso. At the end of the day the crew went home, but none of them thought to lock down the boom arm of the crane (a common safety precaution) so it wouldn't move overnight. The crane arm drifted into traffic lanes and was hit shortly afterward by a passing vehicle whose driver couldn't see it in the dark. The driver suffered fatal injuries in the collision.

With a clearer picture of a crane truck and its hazards in mind, let's say one caused a crash that hurt you or a loved one. How would that accident be any different than a wreck with some other kind of commercial vehicle?

What's Different about Crane Truck Accidents: Licensing and Training

The primary difference between a crane truck operator and the driver of a normal 18-wheeler or other commercial vehicle is that crane operators need unique training and licenses to do their jobs. Federal regulation from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)—29 CFR 1926.1427, to be precise—mandates that crane operators all get specific training to perform their duties safely. They must also be licensed through National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), which administers written and practical exams they must pass to prove they can do the job.

As you might guess from all that, there's a pretty big difference between operating a crane truck and its boom versus simply driving around an 18-wheeler. That's not to say semi-trucks are always smooth sailing, just that the hazards of a crane truck are serious enough—and unique enough—that its operator needs even more specialized attention and training than a CDL requires.

In short, more rules mean that there are more ways for a crane truck operator to screw up and injure someone. Moreover, there are countless ways specific to crane trucks that accidents can occur.

Why Does This Matter for a Crane Truck Accident Lawsuit?

The primary thing an attorney has to do when building a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is to prove that the person who hurt their client was negligent. The difficulty of doing so often depends on how complex the details of the accident are, including any laws and regulations governing the behavior of the people involved. Those rules tend to be stricter for professional drivers, and as we see above there are even more for crane truck operators.

The first hurdle that victims face when pursuing a negligence claim is proving that the person who caused their injury owed them a duty. Without getting too far into the weeds, a legal duty can be a general obligation, like the duty we all have to behave in a reasonably prudent manner so as not to injure people, or they can be specific to a particular act, i.e. all the safety regulations specific to operating a crane truck. The advantage of pointing to a regulation that was breached is that it allows the jury that decides your case to clearly connect A) a rule was broken to B) someone was killed or injured as a result. On the other hand, whether or not someone behaved in a reasonably prudent manner is far more open to interpretation. This can help to more clearly present your case.

Of course it's not just a matter of pointing to a supposed broken rule in the book; most of the time, industry professionals familiar with regulations and with safety protocol will have to weigh in. They also need to convincingly explain what those rules mean, and the cost of breaking them, to a jury of ordinary people. There aren't that many experts with both the regulatory knowledge of crane operations and the people skills to communicate that knowledge to a jury made up of everyday people, and an average crash victim won't necessarily know how to find one of the few who are available. Most accident victims are ill-prepared to do so, which is why it's so important to contact attorneys with the necessary experience handling these specific types of cases.

Grossman Law Is on Your Side

In short, crane truck accidents are typically more complex than standard truck collisions. Speaking frankly, few lawyers you could contact after a crane truck accident have any experience going toe-to-toe with a construction company and its insurer. Just about every personal injury and wrongful death attorney takes car accident cases, sure, but most may litigate just a single truck accident case in an entire career—and that statistic shrinks even further for crane trucks.

The truck accident attorneys at Grossman Law Offices have handled dozens upon dozens of commercial wrecks over the years, including many involving construction equipment like crane trucks. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident with a commercial vehicle, contact Grossman Law Offices today for a free and confidential consultation.