While traveling along State Route 109 near Gallatin on May 21, two men suffered minor physical injuries after a crane fell onto the hood of their moving car. Operated by Mountain States Contractors, the crane was being used in a project to rebuild the Cumberland River Bridge. The two men are suing the company for nearly $2 million in compensation. The suit alleges that if the crane had fallen a second later, the two men could have been killed in the car accident.
Mountain States Contractors has a past history of safety violations. In less than 10 years, a total of five workers have been killed while working for the company. Other safety violations have resulted in TOSHA investigations and penalties totaling $162,000. The exact cause of the crane accident is still being investigated.
The two men who were in the car have cited past and future pain, loss of enjoyment of life, and vehicle repair costs in their lawsuit. The men are claiming that the pain caused by the incident will continue in the future. The lawsuit also states that it hopes to hold the company accountable. The men are reportedly concerned that other accidents will happen at Mountain States Contractors sites in the future.
Regardless of whether a person was physically harmed, a traumatic event can cause mental anguish. It’s not unusual for victims to suffer from stress following trauma, including nightmares, anxiety and flashbacks. If car accident victims wish to file a lawsuit, an experienced lawyer may help them build a strong claim. By citing both physical pain and mental anguish, a lawyer may help a victim receive compensation for all damage done.
Source: The Tennessean, “Injured men sue after May crane collapse”, Dessislava Yankova, August 01, 2013