Elk County, PA – Man Killed in Crane Accident
Elk County, PA (February 12, 2025) – A man was pronounced dead at the scene of a crane accident in Elk County on February 10.
According to news reports, the Elk County Coroner confirmed the death happened on Carlson Road in Jones Township around 6:10 p.m. During the retraction of an outrigger on a crane, the man suffered a head injury.
His death was ruled accidental by the coroner.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Crane Accidents in Pennsylvania
Construction site accidents involving cranes can lead to devastating consequences. When such accidents occur, multiple parties may bear liability, including the crane operator, the construction company, equipment manufacturers, and site supervisors. Under Pennsylvania law, injured workers or their families can pursue various legal remedies, with cases often involving both workers’ compensation claims and potential third-party liability suits against entities other than the direct employer. The complexity of crane operations, combined with Pennsylvania’s strict safety regulations, means that investigations into these accidents often reveal multiple points of failure, from inadequate maintenance to improper load calculations or insufficient operator training.
In fatal crane accidents, Pennsylvania workers’ compensation provides death benefits to dependent family members, including the spouse and dependent children. These benefits typically include burial expenses up to a state-mandated maximum and ongoing weekly payments calculated as a percentage of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage. For 2025, burial expenses are covered up to $7,000, and weekly death benefits can be up to two-thirds of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage, subject to state maximums. However, workers’ compensation benefits are often insufficient to fully compensate for the loss of a loved one. In such cases, families may have grounds for additional claims against third parties whose negligence contributed to the accident, such as equipment manufacturers if the crane had design defects, or subcontractors responsible for crane maintenance or site safety. These third-party claims can provide compensation beyond workers’ compensation benefits, including damages for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and future lost earnings that wouldn’t be covered under workers’ compensation.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires thorough investigations of crane accidents, which often become crucial evidence in both workers’ compensation and third-party liability cases. Pennsylvania courts have consistently recognized that crane accidents present unique challenges in personal injury law due to the complex interplay of multiple contractors, subcontractors, and equipment providers typically present at construction sites. This has led to the development of specific legal precedents regarding the allocation of liability in crane-related accidents. For example, general contractors may be held liable for failing to ensure proper crane operation certifications or for allowing operations during unsafe weather conditions, even if they didn’t directly employ the crane operator.
Moreover, construction companies in Pennsylvania must carry specific insurance coverage for crane operations, which can become a critical factor in securing adequate compensation for victims and their families. The state’s comparative negligence laws may also come into play, particularly in cases where multiple parties share responsibility for the accident. This means that even if the deceased worker was partially at fault, their family may still be able to recover damages from other negligent parties, though the amount may be reduced based on the percentage of fault assigned to the worker. Understanding these nuances is crucial for attorneys representing families in crane accident cases, as it affects both the strategy for pursuing claims and the potential compensation available to survivors.
If you lost a loved one in a crane accident in Pennsylvania, our construction accident lawyers at Munley Law can help with your workers compensation benefits as well as any third party claims your family may have. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Note: Our team of writers uses secondary sources to produce this post, including local and state media and news sources, regional and state police incident reports, social media platforms, and eyewitness accounts about serious accidents in Pennsylvania. For that reason, if you find any information that is not correct, be sure to contact Munley Law as soon as possible so that we can update the post with the most exact information available. A post will be removed upon request. All information in this post is informational and not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.
Disclaimer: The photos used in this post were not taken at this accident scene. All information in this post is informational and is not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.
