If you were injured while operating a crane, working near crane equipment, or struck by a load or boom on a job site in central Missouri, you may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits — and in some cases, additional compensation through a third-party claim. Crane accidents cause some of the most catastrophic workplace injuries, and the claims that follow are rarely straightforward.
Bur Oak Injury Law represents injured crane workers throughout Columbia, Boone County, and surrounding central Missouri. Attorney Chris Miller previously served as a government attorney in the Missouri Department of Labor and administered the Division of Workers' Compensation — the same administrative body that hears disputed claims. That inside knowledge is what separates a well-prepared claim from one that gets delayed, denied, or undervalued.
Call (573) 499-0200 — Free ConsultationCrane accident claims are among the most complex in workers' compensation law. A single incident may involve multiple contractors, equipment manufacturers, third-party rental companies, OSHA investigations, and an insurance carrier actively looking for reasons to dispute or reduce what is owed. Without legal representation, injured crane workers frequently receive settlements that fail to account for their full medical needs, long-term disability, and lost earning capacity.
Missouri's workers' compensation system operates through the Division of Workers' Compensation, an administrative body where disputed claims are heard by Administrative Law Judges. Insurers know the process well — and they use it to their advantage. Chris Miller spent years working inside that system as a government attorney. He knows the forms, the hearing procedures, the tactics carriers use to delay medical care, and the evidence that actually moves cases.
Crane cases may also give rise to third-party personal injury claims separate from workers' compensation. If a subcontractor, crane rental company, equipment manufacturer, or site supervisor contributed to the accident, civil litigation may allow recovery for damages — including pain and suffering — that workers' comp does not cover.
A denied or undervalued crane injury claim can leave you without authorized medical care, without income during recovery, and without compensation for permanent impairment. Early legal intervention — before recorded statements, before IMEs, before the employer's story is established — protects your rights when it matters most.
Crane accidents occur across construction sites, industrial facilities, ports, and infrastructure projects throughout central Missouri. Each accident type raises different legal questions about causation, liability, equipment maintenance, and OSHA compliance under OSHA crane and derrick standards and ASME B30 safety standards. Bur Oak Injury Law handles all of the following:
Structural failure, improper assembly, overloading, weld failure, or inadequate inspection can bring a boom down on nearby workers with catastrophic force.
Falling materials strike workers below crane operations when hooks, slings, rigging, or load securement equipment fails — often due to improper rigging or overloaded capacity.
Unstable ground conditions, improper outrigger deployment, excessive load weight, or side-loading can cause a complete crane collapse, injuring operators and ground workers alike.
Crane contact with overhead power lines during operation or setup is a leading cause of fatal crane accidents and severe electrical injury on job sites.
Defective slings, worn cables, damaged hooks, or improper load ratings can lead to preventable drops and strikes — often traceable to inadequate inspection or defective equipment.
Workers may be crushed between crane components, moving loads, vehicles, walls, or job site materials during crane operation or repositioning.
Swinging loads, moving booms, falling parts, and crane counterweights can cause traumatic impact injuries to workers in the swing radius.
Workers can fall from crane cabs, booms, ladders, elevated platforms, or maintenance areas when fall protection is absent or inadequate.
Hydraulic system failures, brake malfunctions, hoist defects, and control failures may point to maintenance negligence or a defective equipment products liability claim.
Insufficient operator training, poor supervision, lack of signal communication, or rushed procedures can create hazards that injure crane operators and nearby workers.
Missouri workers' compensation provides several categories of benefits to injured crane workers. Under §287.140 RSMo, employers are required to provide all reasonably necessary medical care. Lost wage benefits, disability awards, and death benefits may also apply depending on the nature and severity of the injury.
All reasonable and necessary medical care related to the crane injury — doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and equipment — at no cost to the injured worker when the claim is accepted.
If you cannot work during recovery, you may receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage (subject to Missouri's maximum rate) until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI).
When a crane injury causes lasting impairment but you can still work in some capacity, you are entitled to a disability award based on the body part affected and the degree of functional loss. Under §287.190 RSMo.
For catastrophic crane injuries — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, amputation, or severe crush injury — that prevent substantial gainful employment, PTD benefits may continue for life.
When a crane accident results in a fatality, surviving dependents — including spouses and children — may receive burial assistance and ongoing weekly death benefits under §287.240 RSMo.
If a party other than your direct employer contributed to the accident, a civil claim may allow recovery for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other losses that workers' compensation does not cover.
Chris Miller personally handles every crane injury case at Bur Oak Injury Law. No handoffs to associates or paralegals — your case stays with one attorney from the first call through final resolution. Here is how we work:
Missouri workers' compensation is governed by Chapter 287 RSMo. The statute creates an exclusive remedy against your direct employer for most on-the-job injuries, but it does not bar claims against third parties who contributed to the accident. Understanding the key deadlines and standards is critical.
Notice requirement: Under Missouri law, you must notify your employer of a work-related injury within 30 days of the accident or discovery of the injury. Failure to give timely notice can jeopardize your claim. Written notice is always preferable.
Statute of limitations: Under §287.430 RSMo, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a workers' compensation claim. This extends to three years if the employer fails to report the injury to the Division. For third-party personal injury lawsuits, Missouri typically allows five years under §516.120 RSMo.
Prevailing factor standard: For occupational disease claims — including hearing loss, repetitive trauma, or gradual injury from long-term crane operation — §287.067 RSMo requires that the work exposure be the primary, or "prevailing," factor in causing the condition. For most sudden crane accidents, causation is more straightforward — but insurers still challenge it, particularly when pre-existing conditions are present.
Comparative fault in third-party claims: Missouri uses a pure comparative fault standard in civil lawsuits, meaning an injured worker can recover even if partially at fault for the accident — but the damages are reduced by the worker's percentage of responsibility. This does not affect workers' compensation benefits, which are available regardless of fault.
Central Missouri's construction industry — including residential and commercial development in Columbia, Jefferson City, and surrounding Boone and Cole counties — relies heavily on mobile cranes, tower cranes, and overhead lifting equipment. Workers injured while operating or working near this equipment may face complex legal questions about employer liability, OSHA standards compliance, and crane operator certification requirements. Whether the injury involves a certified crane operator, a rigger, a signalperson, or a general laborer in the load path, Bur Oak Injury Law evaluates the full legal picture — including workers' compensation benefits and any available third-party claims against equipment manufacturers, rental companies, or subcontractors.
Many crane accident victims do not realize that workers' compensation and a personal injury lawsuit can proceed simultaneously when different parties are responsible. Workers' compensation pays regardless of fault for your direct employer's role. A third-party personal injury claim holds outside parties — crane rental companies, maintenance contractors, or defective equipment manufacturers — accountable for economic damages and noneconomic damages including pain and suffering. Chris Miller coordinates both tracks of recovery so that pursuing one claim does not inadvertently harm the other. If a crane accident has left you with a traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, amputated limb, severe crush injury, or other catastrophic workplace injury in Columbia, Missouri, call Bur Oak Injury Law at (573) 499-0200 for a free consultation.
No fee unless we win. One attorney handles your case from the first call through resolution. Call (573) 499-0200 or submit a case evaluation online.