Forklift Accidents & Lawsuits

Forklift incidents commonly occur in the workplace and can cause serious injuries or even death. There are around 20,000 workers in the United States who suffer from these injuries each year. In an average week, there are approximately 700 serious injuries that occur in the American workplace caused by forklifts. 

Here at Van Law Firm, we can help you seek compensation if you or someone you know has been seriously injured or died from a forklift incident.

Types of Accidents Caused by Forklifts

Forklift accidents can range in severity. Some of the most common forklift injuries include:

• Tipovers
• Defective forklift designs
• Pedestrian impacts
• Lack of operator training
• Falling loads
• Truck falling off a dock or trailer
• Personnel falling from the forklift
• Blocked sight
• Mechanical failures
• Emissions poisoning
• Crushed by forklift

Tip-Overs

The biggest risk of death found with forklifts are tip-over incidents. Most of the time, when these incidents occur it is due to driver error. Certain factors are taken into account, such as whether the driver was speeding, whether they were driving on uneven or slick surfaces, or if the driver had adequate training. 

Tip-overs pose a significant risk when operating a forklift in the workplace. If you have been injured or know someone who has died due to a forklift tipping over, contact Van Law Firm to start a lawsuit.

Defectively Designed Forklifts

The following factors constitute a defective design in a forklift and can lead to a forklift accident lawsuit:

• The forklift did not have an installed compartment door.
• The forklift did not have an installed self-latching door.
• The operator was not provided with adequate restraints.
• The forklift did not have an installed rear door.
• There was a failure to warn of the risks associated with operating the forklift.
• The design of the forklift made it more susceptible to tipping over.

There are two industry tests used in the marketplace to see if a forklift is defective. First, there is the weight load test to determine the stability of the forklift. Then, there is the crush test, which is used to locate where deflection happens in the area that surrounds the operator. 

Contact Van Law Firm to start a lawsuit if you have suffered an injury due to operating a defective forklift. 

Lack of Operator Training

OSHA reported that proper training on operating a forklift could reduce accidents by up to 70%. With better training, mistakes become less likely, which in turn will cause fewer forklift accidents. 

Though employers might find training to be an excessive cost in the long run it’s a good investment and will further prevent this manner of forklift accidents from occurring. 

Pedestrian Impacts

One main cause of pedestrian impacts is an operator’s inattentiveness. This correlates to an operator experiencing fatigue, distracted driving, and/or just being plain careless. 

Another primary cause could be that the operator failed to give warning signals or pedestrians in the surrounding area. This could be prevented by providing operators with longer breaks between using the forklift and using care when operating a forklift around pedestrians.

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

Types of Lawsuits We File for Forklift Accidents

Product liability lawsuits arise when a defendant is liable for the plaintiff’s injuries when the plaintiff can prove the product was defective. Proving a product is defective can be enough for a successful product liability lawsuit. A product liability lawyer will have the burden to prove the following for your case involving a defective forklift:

1. That the forklift at issue was defective and unreasonably dangerous; and
2. That this defect was the proximate cause of your injuries.

Our personal injury lawyers will need to prove negligence on the part of those responsible, such as the employer, owner of the business, and/or the manufacturer of the forklift. At Van Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers can help win your lawsuit.

An Attorney Can Help with Your Forklift Accident Case

If you or someone you know has suffered any injury or has died from a forklift incident, please contact us at Van Law Firm for a free consultation. The Van Law Firm can help you attain the compensation that you deserve!