Crane Operator Defends Cause of New York Crane Collapse

David Perecman, New York construction accident attorney, comments on OSHA violations and faulty equipment used during crane operation that killed seven.

October 02, 2008 - New York, NY - David Perecman, New York construction accident attorney, is speaking out on the cause of the New York crane collapse in March. According to the New York Times, Rapetti Rigging Services, Inc. could face fines of $220,000 due to violations. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has accused the rigging company of "failing to follow the crane manufacturer's specifications when raising the crane and failing to use padding to protect the slings from the sharp edges of the crane part."

"I'm glad to see investigators have found the cause for the crane collapse in New York, but it's also very sad to see that a company overlooked all the safety measures needed to prevent tragedy like this," said David Perecman, New York construction accident attorney. "New York needs to take a stronger stand on contractors to ensure workers have the proper equipment to get the job done in a safe manner."

Lawyers for the defendant claim they will try and defend against the OSHA violations and show they were "issued in error." However, it's been speculated that the construction accident might not have occurred if the crane operator had been properly following OSHA standards. There have been several construction accidents over the past several months involving deaths of construction workers and innocent bystanders. These incidents have raised concerns throughout the Department of Building, which oversees construction contracts.

About David Perecman and The Perecman Firm, PLLC:
For the past 25 years, New York construction accident attorney David H. Perecman, has championed all types of personal injury and construction cases in New York State. David Perecman is the current Secretary of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and a chair of its Labor Law (Construction Accident Law) Committee and an expert on OSHA violations. Mr. Perecman's achievements, often in the construction accident field, have brought him recognition as an Honoree in the National Law Journal's 2008 Hall of Fame, in New York Magazine's 2007 publication of ‘The Best Lawyers in America" and has earned him the votes by his peers as among the top 5% of lawyers in the New York region as published in The New York Times Magazine "New York Super Lawyers, Metro Edition".

He has recovered millions of dollars for his clients over the course of his career. Among his more recent victories, Mr. Perecman won a $15 million verdict* for an injured NYC construction worker who fractured his arm and injured his knee. Mr. Perecman has spent much of his career advocating for injured victims' rights and addressing safety issues in the workplace including his recent statements regarding New York City crane construction accidents. The New York personal injury attorneys at The Perecman Firm have a depth of expertise in and breadth of knowledge well recognized in NYC, while their record and reputation speaks for itself.

*later settled while on appeal for $7.940 million.