Alabama Man Awarded $1.7 Million In Construction Accident

Christopher “Brock” Hill, an Alabama man who suffered multiple injuries after a tragic construction accident, has been awarded $1.7 million against international construction company ThyssenKrupp and several other companies.

The award comes after Mr. Hill fell 25 feet from a manlift on October 30, 2009.  Mr. Hill was using the manlift to install an overhead crane 80 feet in the air, when wire ropes in the manlift failed.  The boom – the part of the manlift that extends and lifts the operator into the air – retracted suddenly.  As Mr. Hill fell, he was violently thrown around, snapping his right leg in half and sustained a concussion after his head was thrown into the machines control panel.  Mr. Hill was suspended 60 feet in the air unconscious for 45 minutes before he was rescued.  Mr. Hill required multiple major surgeries, including the insertion of a steel rod in his hip and knee.

An investigation revealed that the company who owned and leased the machine – All Crane Rental of Alabama – failed to maintain regular inspections of the manlift, which would have exposed the damage that caused the accident.  It was required by law that maintenance inspections be conducted every three months or 150 engineer hours to prevent accidents like the one here. However, it was found that All Crane skipped several inspections to save money, so as not to pay overtime costs.

Mr. Hill was awarded $1 million in compensatory damages and All Crane was ordered pay another $700,000 in punitive damages.  Punitive damages are generally awarded to a plaintiff when the jury finds that one or more of the defendant’s conduct was malicious, oppressive or fraudulent.  In this case, the jury found that All Crane Rental fraudulently represented to Mr. Hill’s company that the machine they leased was without defect, even though they did not do proper inspections.

Generally, businesses are responsible for the injuries suffered by individuals working on their premises.

Rental equipment may be used over and over by many different people, often without proper maintenance, checks, and safety reviews.  If a rental company does not take proper care to inspect and maintain rental equipment, wear and tear may compromise the safety of the tool or machinery. Rental centers have a responsibility to their customers and all potential users of the equipment that their machines work properly.

If you or anyone you know has been injured by failing rental equipment, contact Khorrami, LLP for a confidential consultation.