Forklift accident claims solicitors - Forklift truck injury compensation

Common types of forklift truck accidents

Forklifts are used in many different types of workplaces and industrial settings, such as on construction sites, in manufacturing, distribution and warehouses. With very heavy and noisy machinery like this, in busy environments where lots of people are working in proximity, sadly accidents do sometimes happen, and people can be injured as a result. Some of the most common types of forklift accidents at work include, but are not limited to:

• When a worker or visitor is hit by a forklift at work
• When a forklift truck collides with another moving vehicle
• When a forklift hits a stationary object, storage shelves or other equipment
• When a forklift drives over someone’s foot
• When a forklift load is not properly secured and falls
• When a forklift truck malfunctions and/or the operator loses control
• When a crush injury is caused by a forklift either driven recklessly or if not under the full control of the operator
• When a forklift falls off a truck or other loading vehicle or otherwise topples over

The types of injuries that might be sustained as a result of a forklift accident at work will vary, depending on the circumstances, but commonly include broken bones or limbs, crush injuries, head injuries, muscle injuries and open wounds.

Who is responsible for forklift truck accidents?

The circumstances of every accident are unique, but workplace forklift truck accidents often occur to either a lack of care and attention by the operator, other workers or people in the vicinity, a failure to adhere to the correct processes or procedures in place in that specific setting or if the machinery isn’t properly maintained to a safe standard. 

In the UK, there are health and safety regulations that require employers to ensure forklift trucks and other machinery and vehicles to be well maintained and in safe working order. There is also a legal obligation for the areas in which forklifts operate to be clear of debris and clearly marked out to warn workers and visitors not to walk into or through these areas. There may also be a requirement for protective barriers in some settings. 

There is also a legal obligation for anyone driving or operating a forklift truck to have the appropriate licenses and training, as well as adhering to the respective health and safety practices in their specific workplace. There will be personal protective equipment (PPE) required, such as safety boots, high-visibility clothing and hard hats.

If a forklift accident and injury is caused by someone else failing to stick to the safety guidelines, is due to the failure of machinery that hasn’t been maintained properly, is due to a failure of an employer to provide the necessary PPE or is someone else’s fault for any reason, it may be possible for the person who was injured to make a forklift accident claim.

Making forklift injury claims

Making forklift truck claims, like any kind of workplace accident claim, can feel like a bit of an undertaking if you are the one who has been injured. Many people are hesitant to make a compensation claim against their employer, as they believe it might mean they will lose their job. However, employers are not legally allowed to sack an employee because they make a claim of this type against them. If the accident happened and you were hurt because your employer was negligent in their duty of care, you are entitled to make a claim. 

The first stage of any forklift accident claims process is to contact an experienced solicitor to find out if you are eligible to make a claim. The sooner that forklift claims are started after the accident, it’s often the case that the sooner you will receive compensation if your claim is successful.

Call our specialist accident claim team on 0161 696 6235 to find out more.

Am I eligible to make a forklift truck accident claim?

Forklift truck accident compensation claims can be complex in some cases, depending on the circumstances involved, so it’s not always possible to tell straight away if you might be eligible to make a claim. Our specialist accident at work team are very experienced in working on forklift truck injury claims, so will be able to assess the information you have about what happened to you and tell you if you are able to claim. Time limits for this type of claim usually apply, so it’s important to get expert legal advice as soon as possible to make sure you don’t potentially miss out on the compensation that you deserve.

How much compensation could I receive for a forklift injury?

Forklift accident compensation, as is the case with any type of work accident claim, is very much dependent on the individual situation. The amount of money awarded for a successful forklift truck injury compensation claim will factor in all of the circumstances, including the severity of the injury or injuries suffered and the impact of this on your life, both now and into the future. If your injury has meant that you are unable to work, either in the short or long term, any compensation awarded will take this into account. As every claim is different, we can only offer an accurate estimate of potential compensation value once we understand the particulars of what happened to you and instruct experts to look into the impact of the accident and injury on your life. Get in touch with our team so that we can start assessing your claim by calling 0161 696 6235.

Why should I choose Stephensons as my forklift truck accident solicitors?

At Stephensons, we are experienced forklift accident solicitors, with a team who understand exactly what is required to make a successful claim and secure the compensation that you deserve for what has happened to you. A forklift injury can be life-changing, affecting your ability to work and carry out daily activities that most people take for granted. Our accident at work team are dedicated to approaching all forklift accident compensation claims with the same professionalism, empathy and diligence that we do to all of our cases, working hard on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

Call 0161 696 6235 to find out about your options and the next steps.