Worker injured by a forklift – Consult our workplace injury lawyers

From grocery stores to warehouses to construction sites, forklifts are a standard method for moving materials from one place to another. Our team of workplace injury lawyers is here to help. 

Also called Powered Industrial Trucks or PITs, forklift operation is a skilled trade, as driving a forklift requires focus, training, and craftwork. 

A quick Google search will show you the high number of forklift injuries in the workplace each year. But what exactly should you do if a worker was just hit by a forklift? Getting the injured worker medical attention should always be your priority.

What To Do If A Worker Was Just Hit By A Forklift‌ — Key Takeaways

• Seek immediate medical assistance even if the injured worker doesn’t think they need it — the adrenaline rush an injury causes can hide the pain of severe injuries.

• Document the scene of the forklift injury, including pictures and witness statements. Get testimonies about what led up to the event, including any forklift operator negligence that may have contributed to the injury.

• Report the incident to the manager and have the injured worker file a worker’s compensation claim to cover their medical bills, lost wages, and future medical recovery costs, etc. 

• Before you accept the workers’ comp settlement and cash the check, book a free attorney consultation. An experienced forklift accident lawyer will look at the worker’s comp offer and the details and causes of the forklift injury to make sure your employer’s insurance is lowballing you.

Insurance companies will try to get away with paying the minimum coverage if they can. And when injured workers are recovering from being hit by a forklift at work, insurers assume they’re desperate for money and will cash the check without a second glance. 

At Zinda Law Group, we don’t believe in leaving your medical, emotional, and financial recovery in the hands of greedy insurance companies. 

To be sure you know your rights, this article explains exactly what to do if a worker is hit by a forklift at work. We’ll explain how to prove forklift operator negligence and other details leading up to the accident.

Finally, we’ll explain our no-fee guarantee and the benefits of a free attorney consultation with our experienced team.

A Worker Was Just Hit by a Forklift: What to Do If You Or Someone You Know Was Hit by a Forklift at Work

If you, a coworker, or a loved one were hit by a forklift operator at work, the actions you take right after the accident matter most. What you do following a workplace injury impacts your health and recovery and makes sure you’re fairly compensated for the losses it causes to your life. 

Seek medical assistance right away

Regardless of whether you feel like you may have contributed to the accident, it’s important to be honest about how severe your injuries are.  Unless you were intoxicated or intentionally endangering yourself or others, workers’ comp is responsible for covering your medical bills. 

If an ambulance doesn’t take you to the hospital, have a friend or coworker take you to the ER, an urgent care clinic, or your personal doctor. Adrenaline can make your injuries feel less severe than they‌ are right after an accident. Get checked by a professional, and be honest about your injuries in your reports. Insurance companies will dispute injury claims you make later if they weren’t included in your early medical records. 

Document the scene

If you aren’t physically able to get pictures or videos of the scene of the accident yourself, have a friend or coworker do it for you. You don’t need to prove it wasn’t your fault for a worker’s compensation claim. Still, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against your employer or the forklift manufacturer, depending on the nature of the accident.

Include photos of the forklift injuries, both when they’re fresh, after treatment, and in casts or bandages. Write down exactly what happened while it’s still fresh. Record any witness reports and their contact information.

Notify your employer

Inform your employer of the accident as soon as it happens. There are deadlines for reporting workers’ compensation cases in several states. Get a doctor’s note stating how long you’ll need to recover. Let your boss know how long the doctor says you’ll be out of work. Don’t disclose any medical information beyond that until you’ve spoken to a forklift accident lawyer in a free attorney consultation.

Know your rights

Unless the person hit by a forklift at work was intoxicated or intentionally reckless, you can’t be fired for reporting the accident. It’s illegal to fire an injured employee for reporting a safety violation or filing a workers comp claim, regardless of the fault. 

Workers have the right to file a claim for worker’s compensation and benefits. You also have the right to report forklift injuries, accidents, and any industrial safety violations that may have contributed. 

That said, if you can’t work due to a forklift injury, your employer isn’t required to hold your job for you. If that happens, your workers’ comp benefits continue until you recover and can work.

Hire seasoned workplace injury lawyers.

Workplace injury lawyers can help you make sure you’re getting the compensation you deserve. They’ll investigate the situation to find out whether the forklift driver or manufacturer’s negligence or the environment you work in contributed to the injury. Holding all liable parties responsible is vital to making sure no one else is hit by a forklift at work.

Here are some essential qualifications to look for when hiring a forklift accident lawyer:

• Experience in handling forklift accident cases
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations
• Strong negotiation and litigation skills
• Responsive and clear communication

File a claim for worker’s compensation and contact a team of workplace injury lawyers

Now that you’ve notified your employer and have the help of a seasoned forklift accident lawyer, it’s time to deal with the insurance companies. Your employer should give you all the necessary forms to file this claim. Your forklift accident lawyer will make sure they do and walk you through the process of filling it all out. Insurance companies will typically offer you the lowest amount upfront. They may even use scare tactics to make you feel responsible and guilty about your injury. They do this, so you’re content to take what they offer. 

At Zinda Law Group, we negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf. We know their game and how to beat them at it. Book a free attorney consultation with our team today, and we’ll let you know what to expect.

Common Causes of Forklift Injuries 

• Improper operation: Forklifts are steered from the rear wheels, making them difficult to turn. Improper turning is the most common cause of forklift injuries.

• Improper driver training: The physics used during forklift operation makes driving a forklift an acquired skill. The employer needs to train their forklift operators properly for their safety, as well as the safety of their coworkers. 

• Failure to employ parking brakes and wheel chocks when not in use: Chocking the wheels means placing sturdy wedges behind the wheels of a forklift when it’s parked. Forklifts have brakes, but they’re heavy. Keeping them stationary on an incline requires extra stopping power behind each wheel.

• Tiping over: If a forklift is overloaded with weight, it may tip over. Tipping over can cause forklift injuries, especially when driving down a hill or carrying a heavy load high up in the air.

• Faulty forklift maintenance: Sudden stops can cause forklift injuries to the driver and surrounding workers. Poorly maintained forklifts can break down and stop without warning, leak fluids, drop their loads, overheat, or catch on fire.

How to Seek Compensation with Workplace Injury Lawyers – Forklift Operator Negligence

If you, a coworker, or a loved one were hit by a forklift at work, you can receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering. If employer or forklift driver negligence was involved, you may even qualify for punitive damages.

In most states, workers comp laws don’t require proof of liability. Unless you were intoxicated, workers comp covers all injuries that happen at work.

Is a forklift injury covered under workers’ compensation?

Forklift injuries are covered by workers comp, and employers must carry forklift injury coverage for their employees. However, the filing process can be complex and confusing, so it’s important to work with experienced workplace injury lawyers who can help you navigate the system.

Suppose your employer or the forklift operator was negligent in some way, contributing to the accident. In that case, they may also be liable for damages beyond what workers’ compensation provides. Again, don’t accept the workers comp settlement without a free attorney consultation. A forklift accident lawyer will review the situation details and let you know your rights and options for compensation.

Our Experienced Workplace Injury Lawyers at Zinda Law Group Can Help You Get Maximum Compensation

If you, someone you know, or a coworker was just hit by a forklift at work, you know it’s a life-changing disaster. Workers comp insurance companies take advantage of the vulnerable state of injury victims and offer them low amounts. But once you cash the check, you surrender your rights to future compensation. 

That’s why it’s essential to have skilled and experienced workplace injury lawyers by your side. Our experienced team at Zinda Law Group will fight for your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. 

Having a professional on your side can make all the difference in the settlement the insurer offers you from the beginning. So contact us right away for a free attorney consultation. We work on a contingency-fee basis and have a no-win no-fee guarantee.

Don’t let the forklift injury ruin your life — contact Zinda Law Group today to get the justice you deserve!