Crane Accident Attorney in Austin

Who Can Be Held Liable in an Austin Crane Accident

A single crane lift typically involves multiple companies: a crane operator employed by one contractor, a rigging crew from another, a general contractor overseeing the site, a rental company that owns the equipment, and possibly a manufacturer whose components are in use. When something goes wrong, liability depends on who had control over the equipment, the crew, and safety enforcement at the time of the incident.

Potentially responsible parties in a crane accident claim include:

• The crane operator or employer: Operators must hold valid crane operator certification. An uncertified operator, or one directed to exceed safe operating limits, creates direct liability.
• The rigging or signal crew: OSHA Subpart CC requires qualified riggers on construction crane operations, along with a qualified signal person whenever the operator’s view of the load is obstructed or site conditions call for one. A rigging crew that uses worn hardware or miscommunicates a signal shares responsibility for what follows.
• The general contractor: General contractors control site safety conditions and carry a legal duty to enforce them. Failing to identify a hazard or correct a violation can make a general contractor liable regardless of which subcontractor performed the lift.
• The crane rental or leasing company: A company that rents a crane is responsible for delivering equipment in safe working condition. Deferred maintenance or undisclosed mechanical defects can shift significant liability to the rental firm.
• The equipment manufacturer: Under Texas product liability law, a manufacturer can be held liable when a design flaw or manufacturing defect contributes to an accident.

Our investigations are designed to identify every party whose conduct contributed to an injury, not just the most visible one. We gather incident records, review site conditions, and trace the contractual relationships that determine who controlled what.

Workers’ Compensation vs. a Third-Party Claim

Texas doesn’t require most private employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, though many do. If your employer carries coverage, a workers’ compensation claim can provide medical benefits and a portion of lost wages without requiring you to prove fault. What it can’t provide is compensation for pain and suffering, disfigurement, or full lost income.

When a company other than your direct employer contributed to the accident, such as a rigging contractor, a crane rental company, or a manufacturer, you may have the right to pursue a separate third-party personal injury claim. That claim can recover damages workers’ compensation doesn’t cover. Many crane accident victims have both a workers’ compensation claim and a viable third-party claim running simultaneously.

Texas’s proportionate responsibility rule (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001) reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault if you share some responsibility for the accident. It bars recovery entirely only if you are found more than 50 percent responsible. If you were hurt and someone else was primarily at fault, the law may allow you to recover. Damages can include medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

How Briggle & Polan, PLLC Handles Crane Accident Claims

Crane accident evidence deteriorates fast. Maintenance logs, load charts, and site conditions can change the moment work resumes, which is why we move quickly to preserve what matters.

Investigation & Evidence Gathering

We gather incident reports and OSHA investigation records, visit the accident site, review photographs, and speak with witnesses. OSHA citations documenting which safety standards were violated can serve as evidence of negligence in a civil claim, and we know how to use them. We also consult with safety professionals who understand the industry standards governing Central Texas job sites. In complex multi-party cases, that technical grounding shapes how we assign liability and what we demand in a settlement.

Trial-Ready Representation

Attorney Hayden Briggle has been named to the Texas Super Lawyers list every year from 2019 through 2025 and served as an executive committee member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. That litigation background matters when a crane accident claim involves a general contractor, a rental company, and a manufacturer all pointing fingers at each other. Clients work directly with their attorney and are not passed off to an assistant or paralegal. We’ve secured millions in verdicts and settlements for injured clients, and we’re prepared to file suit in Travis County District Court when a defendant won’t offer reasonable compensation. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis and offer services in multiple languages, so communication is more accessible.