WorkClaim UK Editorial · June 2026 · ~13 min read
Quick Summary
- Crane accident claims cover injuries caused by crane collapses, falling loads, overturning, falls from the cab, and strikes from swinging jibs or loads
- Multiple parties can be liable: the principal contractor, the crane operator's employer, the plant hire company, and the lift supervisor
- LOLER 1998 requires every lifting operation to be planned by a competent person. Failure to comply is a key basis for a claim
- Crane accidents often cause serious and life-changing injuries. Compensation reflects both the injury and all financial consequences
- Most crane accident claims are handled on no win no fee, with nothing to pay if the claim does not succeed
What are the most common crane accident claims?
Crane accident claims arise from a range of incidents on construction sites and industrial premises. The most frequently seen include:
Crane collapse: structural or mechanical failure of the crane itself, which can cause catastrophic injury to the operator and anyone in the vicinity. Collapse is most commonly associated with improper assembly, overloading, or inadequate maintenance.
Falling loads: loads becoming unsecured, breaking free from slings or attachments, or being dropped through operator error or mechanical failure. Falling objects from height are one of the leading causes of fatal injuries on construction sites.
Crane overturning: a crane becoming unstable and toppling due to poor ground conditions, incorrect setup, operating outside its rated capacity, or inadequate planning of the lift.
Falls from the cab or access: workers ascending or descending the crane cab or access ladder without adequate handrails, fixed points, or supervision. Falls from falls from height are the single largest cause of fatalities in the sector.
Jib or load strikes: the crane arm or a suspended load swinging into a worker on the ground or at height. Often caused by inadequate exclusion zones or failure to clear the area before and during a lift.
Electrocution: cranes working near overhead power lines without adequate clearance or isolation of the supply.
All of these incidents can form the basis of a claim under the construction accident claims framework, provided liability can be established.
Who is liable in a crane accident?
Liability in crane accident claims is often shared between multiple parties, which makes them more complex than standard single-employer workplace injury claims. The key parties to consider are:
The principal contractor holds overall responsibility for health and safety on a construction site under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. This includes ensuring that all lifting operations are properly planned, supervised, and carried out safely. Where a crane accident results from inadequate site management, the principal contractor is likely to carry primary liability.
The crane operator's direct employer owes a duty of care to the operator under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. If the operator was inadequately trained, not competent to carry out the lift, or was working excessive hours, the employer may be liable.
The plant hire company owns and supplies the crane equipment. If the crane was defective, poorly maintained, or supplied without adequate documentation and instructions, the hire company may be jointly liable alongside the site contractor.
The appointed lift supervisor or appointed person is responsible for planning and supervising each individual lift. Failure to carry out adequate pre-lift planning, risk assessment, or exclusion zone management may give rise to personal and corporate liability.
A solicitor experienced in construction site accident claims will investigate all parties involved and identify each one's contribution to the accident.
LOLER: the legal framework for crane operations
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) set out the legal requirements for every crane lift. These are the regulations most commonly relevant to crane accident claims.
Under LOLER, every lifting operation must be:
- Planned by a competent person: the appointed person must have the skills, knowledge, and experience to identify and manage the risks of the specific lift
- Appropriately supervised: a qualified lift supervisor must be present throughout the operation
- Carried out in a safe manner: the plan must account for ground conditions, load weight and centre of gravity, exclusion zones, and weather
Equipment must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at regular intervals, before first use on a new site, and whenever there is reason to believe deterioration has occurred. All examinations must be recorded. Defects must be reported immediately to the employer and to the HSE where there is a risk of serious injury.
An employer or contractor who fails any of these duties and causes an injury as a result may be held liable for the consequences.
What injuries do crane accidents typically cause?
Crane accidents are among the most serious categories of workplace incident. The injuries they produce are often severe and in many cases life-changing or fatal.
Common injuries include: crush injuries from falling loads or crane collapse; head injuries and traumatic brain injury from strikes or falls; spinal injuries causing paralysis or permanent restriction; multiple fractures, particularly to the legs and pelvis; amputations; serious burns from electrical contact; and psychological injury including PTSD following a traumatic incident.
Where injuries are this serious, the claim involves not only general damages for the injury itself but substantial special damages for long-term care, rehabilitation, adapted accommodation, assistive technology, and permanently reduced earning capacity. See our serious injury claims guide for how these cases are structured.
How do crane accident claims work?
Crane accident claims follow the same fundamental structure as other serious personal injury claims, but the investigation phase is typically more extensive.
Your solicitor will gather evidence from multiple sources: the accident book, the RIDDOR report submitted to the HSE, the lift plan (if one was prepared), LOLER thorough examination records for the crane, maintenance logs, witness statements from site workers, any CCTV or site camera footage, and in complex cases an independent lifting operations expert who can assess whether the lift was properly planned and carried out.
Where multiple defendants are involved, each party's insurer will be notified and each party will respond to the claim. Liability may be admitted by one party, denied by another, and disputed between them. Your solicitor manages this process on your behalf.
Most crane accident claims involve serious injury and are therefore handled as high-value claims with longer timescales than routine workplace injury cases. Complex multi-defendant claims can take two to four years to resolve. Interim payments may be available for claimants with urgent financial needs.
What compensation can you receive for a crane accident?
Compensation covers general damages for the injury and special damages for every financial consequence. Because crane accidents frequently cause severe injuries, the total award can be substantial.
General damages for serious head or spinal injuries range from £43,000 to over £320,000 for moderate to severe brain injuries, and from around £38,000 upward for serious spinal cord injuries. Crush injuries, multiple fractures, and amputations each have their own JCG bracket depending on severity and permanence.
Special damages in serious crane accident cases often include: future lost earnings over a working lifetime, the cost of professional care (which can reach hundreds of thousands of pounds in catastrophic injury cases), home adaptations, specialist equipment, and pension loss.
Fatal crane accident claims follow a different structure under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, covering bereavement awards, dependency claims by family members, and funeral costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim if I was a subcontractor, not a direct employee?
Yes. Your employment status does not necessarily prevent a crane accident claim. The principal contractor and other parties on site owe a duty of care to all workers, including subcontractors. A solicitor can assess which parties owed you a duty and whether it was breached.
What if the crane belonged to a hire company, not my employer?
You may be able to claim against the hire company if the crane was defective or not properly maintained. You can also claim against the principal contractor and your employer. Multiple defendants can be joined in a single claim.
What if I was not on the site when the crane accident happened?
Members of the public, pedestrians, and workers on adjacent sites have also been injured by crane accidents. You do not need to be employed on the construction site to bring a claim. You need to show you suffered injury as a result of negligent crane operation.
How long do I have to make a crane accident claim?
Three years from the date of your accident under the Limitation Act 1980. For fatal crane accidents, the family has three years from the date of death or the date of knowledge of dependants. Do not wait to take advice. Evidence from construction sites is time-sensitive and can be lost or destroyed.
What if the investigation is still ongoing?
You can instruct a solicitor and begin building your claim while any HSE or police investigation is underway. Your solicitor will liaise with the investigation and use any findings to support your claim. A criminal prosecution of a contractor does not prevent a parallel civil compensation claim.
Get advice on your crane accident claim
Crane accident claims are among the most complex construction site injury cases. A solicitor with experience in serious injury and multi-defendant claims can advise on your prospects and manage every aspect of the case.
Or call 01228 272395 to speak to Edward & Amaury Solicitors (SRA number: 800525). No upfront cost and nothing to pay if your claim does not succeed.
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