NC Contracting Company Sued in Crane Collapse

A Tennessee man has filed a lawsuit against a construction contracting company based in North Carolina, following a crane collapse earlier this year that left him severely injured.

The Wilson Post reports that Carroll Lee Williams, of Wilson County, Tennessee, is suing Mountain States Contractors, LLC, over an incident that occurred on May 21 at a new bridge construction site. A crane being used from a barge for the bridge work collapsed, falling onto Williams’ vehicle. The lawsuit claims that Mountain States Contractors, a North Carolina company, demonstrated “negligence and recklessness” with regard to the incident.

Williams was injured in the crane crash, and his vehicle was also damaged.

According to the Post, this is not the first time Mountain States Contractors has been involved in a serious violation of safety regulations and requirements. Since 2005, four people have been killed in accidents relating to working being done by the company or its affiliates: Britton Bridge, LLC; Jones Bros., Inc., and HMA Contractors Inc.

In December of 2005, Mountain States Contractors and its affiliates were cited by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) in a Nashville accident that resulted in a death. An employee of Mountain States was killed on a Memphis jobsite in November of 2010, and in 2011, a bridge construction project in Knoxville led to the death of two workers.

Following the 2011 fatalities, the Tennessee Department of Transportation suspended Mountain States and Britton Bridge from all state bids. However, the companies submitted safety compliance agreements and were reinstated to bidding privileges.

In the current lawsuit, Williams seeks punitive damages for sustained personal and property damages, including medical bills, in an amount to be determined by the jury.

The Raleigh personal injury attorneys at Kelly & West have extensive experience handling cases that involve negligence leading to injuries. If you or a loved one are considering a personal injury lawsuit, contact us to discuss the details of your case today.

Please note: Kelly & West is not representing the defendants in this case.