Crane accidents on busy construction sites can change a life in seconds. If you or someone you care about was hurt in a crane incident in Austin, you may be facing severe injuries, time away from work, and confusing questions about who is responsible. You should not have to face powerful companies and insurers on your own. When you need a crane accident attorney Austin based, our team is here to step in.
Howry Breen & Herman, LLP is an Austin trial firm with nearly 25 years of experience in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay us upfront for legal services. Our attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients across Texas, and we bring that same trial-focused approach to crane accident cases.
If you were injured in a crane collapse, struck by a falling load, or lost a family member in a crane incident, we invite you to learn how we can help. You can call(512) 430-4844 for a free consultation with our team.
Why Crane Accidents Are So Devastating
Crane operations combine enormous weight, height, and complex mechanics in tight spaces. On high-rise projects in downtown Austin or large infrastructure jobs across Central Texas, cranes work above crews, nearby structures, and public roads. When something goes wrong, the margin for error is small and the consequences can be catastrophic.
Crane accidents can occur in many ways. Loads may be lifted beyond rated capacity. A tower may be assembled incorrectly. A mobile crane can tip on unstable ground or swing into nearby power lines. In busy urban environments, a single mistake can harm workers on the ground, subcontractors, inspectors, or people passing close to the site.
The injuries from these incidents are often life changing. Victims may suffer severe burns, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, or crushing injuries. Families may lose a primary wage earner in a matter of seconds. These are not minor claims that can be resolved with a quick phone call. They often involve long hospital stays, extensive rehabilitation, and permanent changes in ability to work.
What To Do After A Crane Accident
In the moments and days after a crane accident, it can be difficult to know what to do. You may be in the hospital, worried about your health and your job, while others are already gathering information for the company or its insurer. The steps you take now can affect both your recovery and your legal options.
Here are important steps to consider after a crane incident:
Seek emergency and follow-up medical care, and describe all symptoms, even those that seem minor at first.
Report the incident as required, but avoid speculating about the cause or accepting blame.
If it is safe, preserve what you can, such as photos or videos of the crane, the load, the surrounding area, and visible injuries.
Do not sign releases, waivers, or settlement papers from any company or insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
Keep copies of medical records, incident reports, and contact details for witnesses or coworkers who saw what happened.
Contact a qualified attorney promptly so an independent investigation can begin while evidence is still available.
We know that many crane accident victims in the Austin area are focused on healing and caring for their families, not on paperwork and deadlines. Our firm helps clients get in touch with appropriate medical providers and works to protect evidence related to the crane, maintenance history, and site safety rules. When you call Howry Breen & Herman, LLP, we can explain your options and help you understand how Texas law applies to your situation.
Liability In Austin Crane Accident Cases
One of the most difficult questions after a crane accident is who can be held legally responsible. Many sites in the region involve several layers of companies, including developers, general contractors, crane owners, subcontractors, and equipment suppliers. Each may have played a role in how the crane was selected, assembled, inspected, or operated.
Depending on the facts, potential liability may extend beyond a single employer. Some injured workers may have a workers' compensation claim, while also having the right to pursue a separate negligence claim against a third party. Others may work for employers that are not part of the workers' compensation system, which can change how legal claims proceed. The right path depends on the contract structure, insurance coverage, and where and how the accident occurred.
Crane accidents often involve failures such as overloading, operating in unsafe wind conditions, using the wrong crane for the task, or skipping required inspections. There can also be issues with defective parts, poor communication between site supervisors, or ignoring manufacturer instructions. Sorting out these causes typically requires reviewing project documents, safety policies, and, in some cases, consulting qualified engineering or safety professionals.
Our attorneys are used to handling complex, multi-party litigation in Texas courts. We examine the relationships between companies, contract terms, and the sequence of events that led to the incident. Our experience managing large dockets and conducting extensive depositions helps us handle the volume of information that can arise from construction and crane cases. When we represent you, we work to identify all potentially responsible parties and build a detailed picture of what went wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do anything beyond workers’ compensation after a crane accident?
In some cases, yes. It depends on who caused the accident and how the jobsite was structured. You may have a workers' compensation claim and also a separate claim against a negligent third party. We review contracts, insurance, and facts to identify potential options.
How soon should I contact a lawyer after a crane accident?
It is usually best to speak with a lawyer as soon as your medical situation allows. Important evidence at a crane site can change or be removed quickly. Texas law also sets deadlines for filing claims. Early legal guidance can help protect your rights and preserve key information.
What information should I bring to my first meeting with you?
Bring any documents you have, such as medical records, incident or OSHA reports, employer communications, and photographs from the scene. If you have contact details for witnesses or coworkers, those can help as well. If you do not have much paperwork yet, we can still talk through the facts.
Will your attorneys actually take my crane case to trial if needed?
We prepare serious injury and wrongful death cases for trial from the beginning, and many of our notable results come from courtroom verdicts. Whether a case ultimately settles or goes to trial depends on many factors. Our commitment is to be ready to try your case when that is in your best interest.
I could not have found more caring people, better lawyers or a better law firm than Howry Breen & Herman.
M.A.
“We are so grateful they believed in us and partnered with us to handle this case!”
We don’t have enough words to describe how thankful we are for everything HBH did to win our business case for us. We are so grateful they believed in us and partnered with us to do it. They are amazing at what they do and we could not have had a better team. They made an enormous, positive difference for us and our business. I could not recommend them more highly.
J.K.
“We were always one step ahead!”
My lawyers at HBH were so smart and aggressive – we were always on offense and one step ahead. They just kept hammering and the other side had no answer.
T.B.
“Best in the Business, Strongly Recommend”
HBH went above and beyond to help out following a crisis. Over the course of a 3 year case, I was always kept in the loop by their amazing team. Their preparation and execution was flawless and made the whole process run smoothly. Cannot speak highly enough of their team and how they care for their clients. Will never recommend another personal injury firm besides HBH.
Since 1997, the "Lead Counsel Verified" status has been granted to attorneys who possess:
- The Right Professional Experience
- A Spotless Record
Law.com: Top 100 Verdicts 2024
Howry, Breen & Herman is proud to have been named a Tier 1, 2 and 3 Austin “Best Law Firm” in 9 practice areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® (“U.S. News” and BL Rankings, LLC). Law firms are selected for inclusion in this prestigious ranking based on a series of quantitative and qualitative criteria. Our specialty and tiers are listed here: https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/profile/howry-breen-herman-llp/overview/36628
The Austin Bar Association was founded in 1893 as a nonprofit professional organization for attorneys. Its mission is to enhance the legal profession, administration of justice, and the community through education, networking, and public service.
Abota Foundation Patriot
Howry Breen & Herman, LLP was selected the Top Personal Injury Law Firm in Austin by Texas Lawyer, “Best of 2020”. The annual special supplement contains the results of Texas Lawyer readers’ poll, wherein readers cast their votes for the best providers of services and goods to the legal profession.
Attorney Sean Breen and Attorney Chris Lavorato placed in California’s Top 100 Settlements for 2019, as tracked by The Recorder and VerdictSearch.
Our law firm is proud to have been recognized in the Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame. Texas Lawyer in conjunction with VerdictSearch, recognize attorneys and law firms for their verdicts of $10 million or more. In 2011 Sean Breen was a Hall of Fame Award Recipient for the #1 Premises Liability Top Texas Verdict, awarded by Texas Lawyer, for the jury verdict award in the case VanDusen v. Aspen Square Management. In 2016 Sean Breen was inducted into the Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame, awarded by Texas Lawyer, for an outstanding verdict in Nester v. Textron.
Selection to America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys® is by invitation only and is reserved to identity the nation’s most exceptional litigators for high-value personal injury, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, product liability, and medical malpractice matters. HBH is proud that Sean Breen has been selected for this award. Less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States will receive this honor — truly the most exclusive and elite level of attorneys in the community. (2017-2022)
Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year | Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (by BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC)
Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year | Litigation - Trusts & Estates (by BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC)
Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year | Personal Injury - Plaintiffs (by BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC)
Lifetime Achievement selection to America’s Top 100 Attorneys® is by invitation only and is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional attorneys whose accomplishments and impact on the legal profession merit a Lifetime Achievement award. Selection is not achieved based on a single accomplishment or a single great year of success, but rather on a lifetime of hard work, ethical standards, and community enriching accomplishments that are inspiring among the legal profession. Both Sean Breen (since 2017) and Randy Howry (since 2018) are honored to receive this award.
America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional trial attorneys in high value, high stakes legal matters. To be considered for selection, an attorney must have litigated (for either plaintiff or defendant) a matter (1) with at least $2,000,000 in alleged damages at stake or (2) with the fate of a business worth at least $2,000,000 at stake. These minimum qualifications are required for initial consideration. Thereafter, candidates are carefully screened through comprehensive Qualitative Comparative Analysis based on a broad array of criteria, including the candidate’s professional experience, litigation experience, significant case results, representative high stakes matters, peer reputation, and community impact in order to rank the candidates throughout the state. HBH is privileged to honor Partners Sean Breen (2017- 2022) and Randy Howry 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021 for selection of this award.
Expertise - Howry Breen & Herman was recognized and featured in an article by expertisecommunity.com as one of the Best Real Estate Lawyers in Austin. 2020
America’s Premier High-Stakes Trial Lawyers®” – 7 Figure Litigators®, 8 Figure Litigators®, is meant to recognize the nation’s most respected and preeminent high-stakes trial lawyers based on their verifiable verdicts and/or settlements. It is a tremendous honor for Sean Breen (member since 2019) and Randy Howry (member since 2020) to be recognized among this elite group.
America’s Premier High-Stakes Trial Lawyers®” – 7 Figure Litigators®, 8 Figure Litigators®, is meant to recognize the nation’s most respected and preeminent high-stakes trial lawyers based on their verifiable verdicts and/or settlements. It is a tremendous honor for Sean Breen (member since 2019) and Randy Howry (member since 2020) to be recognized among this elite group.
The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100, a highly respected legal organization that limits its members to premier trial attorneys who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature and public profile measured by strict qualification requirements. Sean Breen Top 100 Civil Plaintiff, since 2009.
Top 10 Business Tort Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers. Randy Howry 2012-2013; Sean Breen since 2016.
The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes the top 5% of the most skilled attorneys in the nation. The robust selection process requires attorneys to nominate and review fellow lawyers based on their ethics, skill, knowledge, and ability to obtain results for their clients. The Best Lawyers in America® list is a way for plaintiffs to identify the leading attorneys in their region, known for their ability to get results with honesty, strength, and skill. Tim Herman, Sean Breen & Randy Howry have been featured by The Best Lawyers in America® (consecutively from 2006-2023) running alongside some of the most qualified firms in the nation. More info here.
Top Attorneys As Published In Texas Monthly
Sean Breen has been recognized for obtaining the Number 1 Verdict in Texas for electrical injury and utility negligence. This win underscores his relentless commitment to achieving justice for his clients and showcases the firms dedication to exceptional advocacy.
Sean Breen was honored by TopVerdict.com for recovering one of the Top 50 Verdicts in Texas in 2017. This is an honorable distinction, reserved for those attorneys that achieve the highest settlements and verdicts in the state.
Sean Breen was honored by TopVerdict.com for recovering one of the Top 50 Verdicts in Texas in 2016. This is an honorable distinction, reserved for those attorneys that achieve the highest settlements and verdicts in the state.
Sean Breen has been a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2011, a renowned legal organization whose membership is restricted to trial attorneys who have achieved seven-figured settlements and/or jury verdicts.
Martindale-Hubbell® is widely regarded as one of the most renowned peer-review rating organizations in the legal field. Randy Howry (2018), Sean Breen (2001), Tim Herman (1998), and Glen Wilkerson (2014) at Howry, Breen & Herman have achieved the organization’s highest distinction of AV Preeminent®.
Each year, Super Lawyers® magazine publishes its list of peer-nominated/evaluated and independently reviewed attorneys. We are proud to have attorneys who have been selected for inclusion in the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers® List, by Thomas Reuters since 2003, running through 2020.
Membership in Top American Lawyers is limited to only 1% of all attorneys in the United States. Randy Howry is proud to be honored with a Lifetime Charter Membership in this exclusive organization (2017).
Randy Howry was honored by Austin Monthly’s Top Attorneys in 2023.
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