Lift trucks are also known as forklifts and have become very essential equipment in many industries. These are the sites that employ heavy lifting, transporting, and placing of materials in warehouses, construction sites, and factories. However, their widespread use comes with significant risks. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) reports that forklift incidents result in approximately 34,900 severe injuries annually.
If you have been hurt in a lift truck accident, you may have a legal recourse to seek damages. This is especially true if the crash was due to someone’s negligence. At Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, we have held individuals accountable for their negligence in the past, winning significant settlements for our personal injury clients.
Discover more about the most common types of lift truck accidents and what to do in case of such incidents.
A lift truck denotes a powered industrial vehicle designed to lift, move, and place heavy loads. These vehicles come with a hydraulic lifting system, forks, and sometimes additional attachments to handle various materials. They are indispensable in warehouses, manufacturing plants, and construction areas where heavy materials need to move efficiently.
Despite their utility, lift trucks can pose significant hazards if not operated correctly or if safety protocols are ignored.
The most common type of lift truck accident is a tip-over, which accounts for 42% of forklift-related injuries. A tip-over occurs when the lift truck becomes unbalanced and falls over, often trapping the operator or other nearby workers. In fact, over a quarter of all deadly forklift tip-over accidents result in the victim being trapped and crushed between the lift truck and the surface.
Several factors can contribute to a tip-over accident, including:
Determining the cause of a lift truck accident is a crucial part of establishing negligence. A lift truck accident lawyer can help establish the cause by gathering and analyzing evidence. Accurate cause determination also helps prevent future accidents by addressing and rectifying safety issues.
Besides tip-overs, several other types of lift truck accidents are all too common in industrial settings. These include the following:
Forklifts operating in areas with foot traffic can pose significant risks to pedestrians. These accidents account for 20% of forklift accidents. They often occur due to poor visibility, lack of awareness, or failure to follow designated pathways.
Loads that are improperly secured can fall from the forklift, endangering the operator and nearby workers. Driving too fast with a load can also cause it to tip over and fall off. This type of accident often results from improper stacking or overloading.
OSHA requires operators to possess certification to operate any machine. Inadequately trained or uncertified operators lack the basics of safe forklift operation, making them more likely to cause accidents. Training mishaps can include improper use of controls, misunderstanding load limits, and failure to recognize hazards.
Proper forklift operation requires maintaining clear visibility of your driving path. However, when lift trucks carry large or bulky loads, it can obscure the operator’s line of view, leading to collisions with other objects. Proper load management and the use of spotters can help mitigate this risk.
Mechanical failures, such as brake malfunctions or hydraulic system issues, can lead to accidents. The owners of lift trucks ought to undertake regular maintenance and inspections to ensure the forklift is in good working condition.
Lift truck accidents can result in injuries ranging from minor to severe and sometimes fatal. The nature and severity of injuries often depend on the type of accident and the circumstances surrounding it. Common injuries involving lift truck accidents include:
A lawyer can help determine the level of injury in a lift truck accident. They will coordinate with medical professionals to obtain detailed evaluations and reports and collect evidence of the impact on the victim’s daily life and ability to work. Accurately assessing the severity of injury strengthens your case in negotiations or court proceedings.
Every day, lift truck accidents occur on worksites throughout the United States, particularly in industrial settings like warehouses and construction sites. While they most commonly occur in the workplace, they are not confined to these environments.
Lift trucks can be involved in traffic accidents while on public roads. For instance, a tragic incident occurred in Florida in 2019 when an unlicensed forklift operator collided with a car, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old man. Following this event, the man’s family sought $25 million in damages from those implicated.
Depending on where the accident took place, it could involve workers’ compensation, premises liability, or personal injury law that demands due diligence to operate the lift truck. In this case, you must work with a lift truck accident lawyer, regardless of where the accident occurred. Your attorney will assess your forklift accident case, including the conditions under which it occurred, to seek proper compensation.
If you are involved in a lift truck accident, it is advisable to take immediate and appropriate action to ensure your safety and protect your legal rights. Here are the steps to follow:
Preventing lift truck accidents requires a combination of precautionary measures, adherence to safety protocols, and regular maintenance of equipment. Studies show that lift truck operators can reduce forklift accidents by up to 70% if they can follow these tips.
Here are some key tips to avoid lift truck accidents:
When a lift truck accident occurs, the aftermath can be overwhelming, with medical bills, lost wages, and potential long-term disability. Engaging a truck accident lawyer can be invaluable in filing a claim and securing fair compensation.
For instance, a worker’s compensation lawyer has rich knowledge of the OSHA regulations governing workplace safety. If they need to file a third-party claim, they can help identify negligence and liability and conduct investigations to build a winning case.
Contact our Ohio Tiger attorneys at Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz today for your free consultation and more information.
Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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