Crane Operator Impaled In Rockford Construction Accident

Industrial Accident - July 23, 2025

Crane Operator Impaled While Excavating Metal Truss on North Mulford Road in Rockford at Brynwood Square

Crane Operator Impaled In Rockford Construction Accident

ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS (July 23, 2025) – A construction worker was injured while operating a crane at Brynwood Square in Rockford on North Mulford Road.

Winnebago County officials are saying that the accident took place around 2:08 PM on Tuesday. A construction worker was operating a crane when he was impaled by debris.

Apparently the victim was using a crane to excavate a metal truss from the roof of a building. The truss fell and pierced the cabin of the crane, thereby injuring the worker.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to help the victim. It took them nearly an hour to eventually free the crane operator.

The crane operator was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. A full investigation into the Rockford crane accident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Winnebago County Crane Accidents

Operating a crane can pose a number of unique hazards to workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, “From 2011 to 2015, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reported 220 total crane-related deaths, an average of 44 per year over this 5-year period. Men accounted for 217 of the 220 fatal injuries involving cranes.” There are many ways that a worker could be injured by cranes.

  • Falling Loads: Cranes are designed to hoist incredibly heavy loads. If a crane has improper rigging or is overloaded, this could cause the load to come loose and hit someone.
  • Tip Over: Cranes are inherently top-heavy. They are therefore much more prone to tipping over. High winds or overloading can increase the odds of a crane tipping over.
  • Electrocutions: Cranes have long operating arms. They can easily come into contact with power lines if they are not being operated carefully.

When a construction worker is injured in Illinois, they will typically have recourse through a workers’ compensation claim. These claims are designed to help workers without taking into consideration fault. In other words, workers will be able to recover damages regardless of who may have been at fault for an accident. In addition to workers’ compensation, an injured worker may also be able to seek additional damages through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident.

There are numerous sources of potential third-party liability for any crane accident. For example, a general contractor or subcontractor could be liable if they failed to properly shore or support the steel structure of a crane. It is also possible that they failed to perform adequate pre-lift inspections. The operator of a crane could also be liable for an accident if a crane was not properly maintained in accordance with ANSI/OSHA guidelines. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any crane accident.

  • Medical records related to injuries should be collected.
  • The maintenance records of the crane involved should be reviewed.
  • Photos of the accident site should be taken.
  • A thorough investigation by OSHA should be conducted.

Crane operators need a commercial license. It is essential that they receive adequate training to handle the equipment that they will be using. In far too many situations, companies will fail to thoroughly train their workers. Construction workers are protected by a number of laws. They are able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim. These claims can help cover many of the ways that workers are harmed medically and financially.

Investigating Winnebago County Crane Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the construction worker injured in this Rockford Crane accident at Brynwood Square. Any person that may have more information should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar accidents can be averted. No worker should ever have to make a choice between staying employed and remaining safe in their profession.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Rockford crane accident? You may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.