Hi-Lift Bucket Falls with Employee Inside

John Doe was trimming tree branches from the bucket of a hi-lift truck 20 feet off the ground when the boom suddenly collapsed and John and the bucket crashed to the ground.

John's colon and liver were lacerated in the fall and required surgical repair. John also suffered significant psychiatric injuries.

Pajcic & Pajcic's investigation and reconstruction of the accident showed that the boom had collapsed because of missing and loose screws. Although the boom was less than a year old, the manufacturer blamed the collapse on poor maintenance by John's employer.

Pajcic & Pajcic discovered that the manufacturer had only recently eliminated a steel wire that tied the screw caps together and prevented loosening. The manufacturer claimed its new enamel seal was better, but Pajcic & Pajcic proved that there had never been a failure with the old tie wire system and the new seal system was only a warning system which required inspections of hidden screw caps.

The manufacturer paid $300,000 to settle the case at mediation in November 1997.