CRANE EXPERTS INTERNATIONAL
Post Office Box 461, Fairhope, AL 36533 (251) 533-0498
Independent crane expert witness testimony, accident investigation, and accredited inspection — built on more than two decades in the field. Retained by plaintiff or defense, the analysis follows the evidence to the same place.
A crane expert who shades testimony toward the client is worth nothing on cross-examination — and worse than nothing to the client. The independence below isn't a promise; it's the structure of the work.
We assist the trier of fact, not the retaining party. The role is to present a complete and unbiased picture of what the evidence shows — including the parts that don't help the side that hired us.
Compensation is for the work performed — hourly or a fair flat fee — and is never contingent on the outcome of the case. There is no version of our findings that pays better than another.
We form the opinion from the standards, the equipment, and the facts. If the analysis doesn't support a theory of the case, you hear that early — when it's still useful, not on the stand.
Forensic crane and rigging analysis for construction, industrial, maritime, and offshore matters.
Reconstruct what happened from site evidence, inspection records, deposition testimony, and manufacturer data — and explain why.
Tower, crawler, mobile, overhead, harbor, and offshore cranes — distinguishing operator decisions from mechanical and structural failure.
Load control, sling and hardware selection, signal-person duties, communication breakdowns, and engineered-lift review.
Conduct measured against OSHA 1926 / 1910 and the governing ASME B30 volumes — what the standard required, and whether it was met.
Clear written reports and testimony that translate technical crane operation into terms a judge and jury can follow.
Independent crane and rigging-gear inspection performed to recognized accreditation requirements, separate from any repair interest.
Plain answers to the questions that shape a crane case — shared the same way whether or not we're ever retained.
Decades of experience in crane safety, accident investigation, and expert-witness testimony — grounded in hands-on crane operation, inspection, and international standards work.
James Pritchett has been in business since 1987 under Crane Inspection Services, Inc., a recognized private agency accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor under 29 CFR Part 1919 to inspect, test, and certify shore-based material handling devices, floating cranes, and derricks under the OSHA Maritime Safety Regulations (29 CFR Parts 1915, 1917, and 1918). The firm performs load testing, inspection, and operator training for all types of general-industry and construction cranes, and has held accreditation with California OSHA and Washington State OSHA.
As President of Crane Experts International, Inc., he has conducted root-cause investigations, expert depositions, and expert-witness testimony across many high-profile accidents over the past twenty-plus years. His expertise draws on more than 27 years of crane and equipment operation and maintenance experience across industrial manufacturing, maritime shipping, and heavy construction. He performs inspections, teaches training seminars, and conducts accident investigations for companies and corporations on an international level, and is comfortable with travel and open to relocation.
A full list of past cases is available upon request. For additional information, references, or details about crane operator training, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we look forward to serving you.
A short, confidential note is enough to tell whether the matter is one we can help with — and whether the timeline still allows it.
P.O. Box 461 · Fairhope, AL 36533
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