Aerial Lift/Scissor Lift Accidents

SMB has represented more victims of aerial lift accidents than any other law firm in the United States.

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Aerial lifts—including boom lifts, scissor lifts, and vertical mast lifts—are increasingly popular at construction sites and in other workplaces. Yet about 30 construction workers die each year in accidents involving aerial lifts, and an estimated 150 more are injured. Given the sheer size and weight of these giant pieces of equipment, the injuries are often catastrophic.

A major factor in dozens of aerial lift accidents we’ve investigated has been the failure of lift manufacturers to properly design the lift to minimize foreseeable hazards and the failure of lift dealers to properly train operators.

David L. Kwass

SMB has successfully represented victims of all of the most common types of aerial lift accidents, including:

  • Aerial lift tipover or collapse
  • Aerial lift contact with overhead power lines
  • Aerial lift operator entrapment, where the lift operator is crushed in the operator basket
  • Worker fall from a lift after it is struck by other equipment

Unmatched Results

SMB has secured numerous multi-million verdicts and settlements for our clients, including:

  • $4,200,000 – Settlement for a worker crushed by a boom lift
  • $3,400,000 – Settlement for the operator of a scissor lift that tipped over
  • $9,000,000 – Electric Shock Case
  • $5,500,000 – Scaffold Accident Suit
  • $4,200,000 – Pipefitter Injured on Aerial Lift While Welding I-Beam
  • $3,000,000 – Aerial Lift Accident
  • $2,400,000 – Worker Who Fell from Defective Lift
  • $1,350,000 – Aerial Bucket Truck’s Cable Snaps, Causes Worker Injuries

Unmatched Experience

Headed by partners Robert Mongeluzzi and David Kwass, SMB’s aerial lift accident practice draws upon both their first-hand construction site experience. Dave is a certified lift operator and with the help of top experts in the fields of operator training and lift design, we use their expertise to prove our clients’ cases. To cite one example of the technical issues involved in these cases, if a scissor lift tips over on a concrete slab, we want to know: Was the scissor lift equipped with a pothole protection device to prevent tip-overs caused by uneven surfaces?

Bob is a nationally known advocate for aerial lift safety. He writes about lift safety and both he and Dave have lectured trade groups who operate lifts on construction sites and elsewhere. Bob also founded and, with Dave, co-chairs the American Association for Justice’s Crane and Aerial Lift Accident Group, which teaches other lawyers across the country how to represent the victims of these tragic accidents.

Unmatched Compensation

Aerial lift manufacturers, dealers, rental companies, construction companies, and public utilities may all be liable for aerial lift accidents. SMB can help you get all the compensation to which you may be entitled–including payments for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, past, and future medical expenses, lost income, and future earnings.

If you have been injured, or a family member has been injured or killed, in an aerial or scissor lift accident, SMB is committed to obtaining all the results you need and deserve.

Ready for a free confidential case evaluation?

Contact us TODAY. Timing is critical for your case.