Forklift Accidents Claims Lawyers

Statistics say that about 100 workers are killed and about 20,000 are seriously injured by forklift accidents every year. Inadequate safety standards, including inadequate training, over zealous employers, and poor maintenance, are the primary cause of these accidents. Forklift accidents can be life altering or deadly, and they can be prevented.

Forklift accident causes

Inadequate safety standards involving training, setting, equipment, or production expectations are almost always the root of forklift accidents. Forklift accident causes include:

• Inadequate training
• Inadequate supervision
• Inadequate maintenance
• Inadequate safety devices
• Defective equipment
• Improper tools, accessories, and/or attachments
• Toxic chemicals
• Dust
• Inadequate lighting
• Narrow work areas
• Congested or cluttered aisles
• Poorly surfaced ramps
• Inadequate loading docks
• Overweight loads
• Damaged pallets
• Unstable loads
• Workers on foot too close to forklifts
• High traffic areas
• Malfunctioning safety devices
• Blind spots or loads that obstruct vision
• Improper uses (such as elevating people)
• Operating in appropriate conditions (such as in retail settings with customers present)

Forklift accidents

• Some of the most common types of forklift accidents include:
• Forklift tipping over
• Bystanders hit by forklifts
• Load falling off of the forklift
• Other items knocked down by forklift ( falling merchandise )
• Forklifts driven off loading docks
• Loss of control

Responsibility

Substandard safety conditions involving forklift operation are typically profit driven. Employers cut corners on safety by failing to maintain equipment, using under-qualified workers (often for lower wages), and pushing for higher productivity requiring workers to:

• Overload forklifts
• Work unreasonable hours
• Skip safety procedures (such as properly securing loads)
• Operate forklifts in the presence of the unknowing public

In the process they endanger the lives of forklift operators, other workers, and the general public, often violating OSHA and other regulations.

Even when forklift accidents are caused by irresponsible acts of the forklift operator, such as intoxication, the responsibility often falls on the employer for improper employee screening, training, and/or supervision.

Forklift accidents can also be caused by defective equipment which is the responsibility of the manufacturer.

Forklift accident injuries

Although there are over a million forklifts across the country, many without incident, they are dangerous pieces of heavy equipment, capable of causing serious and even deadly injuries. When forklift accidents take place injuries can include:

• Electrocution
• Broken bones and fractures
• Crush injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brain injuries
• Amputation
• Decapitation
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Death

Compensation

If you or a loved one has been injured in a forklift accident you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future loss wages
• Pain and suffering
• Long tem disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship
• Burial expenses

If your forklift accident occurred on the job, you should file a worker's compensation claim, even if you do not intent to pursue a lawsuit. All employers are required to carry worker's compensation insurance. A worker's compensation claim is not a lawsuit against you employer, and it is not welfare. It is an insurance claim. The sooner you file the sooner you can start to receive benefits which can help you and your family while you are out of work. Benefits which you may receive include:

• Temporary disability
• Current and future medical bills
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Permanent disability

If you or a loved on has been injured or killed in a forklift accident, contact an experienced forklift accident attorney today.