Operating a forklift isn’t something to take lightly. It takes proper training and equipment to do it safely. That doesn’t mean accidents don’t happen. They can lead to severe injuries and significant financial losses, but you may have legal recourse to help you with your recovery. Our Long Beach forklift accident lawyer can help you figure out what steps to take and explain what you’re entitled to. When you get injured in a forklift accident, call our workplace accident lawyers in Los Beach when you’re ready to get started.
Reasons to Choose Grey Law Following a Forklift Injury in Long Beach
Moving forward after an injury can feel overwhelming, but working with the right legal team can make it a little less stressful. Here’s why Grey Law could be the right choice:
- When we take a case, we’re confident we can win – we’ve been successful in more than 96% of the claims we’ve handled.
- Payment is simple and risk-free for you; you don’t owe us unless you get a settlement or win at trial.
- Injured people and their families have been relying on us for more than 40 years, and we’ve handled all types of accident cases.
Being injured is difficult, but you never have to handle it on your own. Grey Law is here for you.
How Legal Assistance Can Benefit You after a Long Beach Forklift Injury
A serious forklift accident can change everything, and you’re often left to deal with significant expenses. Here’s why working with a lawyer is always a good idea:
- Your lawyer will help you determine if you need to file for workers’ compensation benefits, file a personal injury lawsuit, or both.
- They will handle all paperwork and insurance forms, making sure you don’t make any mistakes that could delay payment or prevent you from getting compensation.
- Your legal team will talk to the insurance company to try to get a settlement so you don’t have to go to trial. They make sure you don’t accept an offer that won’t cover your losses.
No one expects a forklift accident to happen to them, but it’s a reality for many workers. The aftermath never has to be something you face on your own.
Common Causes of Forklift Accidents
When forklift accidents happen, they can lead to serious injuries and even death. And most of the time, they’re preventable. Here’s how they often occur:
- Tip-overs: These accidents can happen when drivers use the machine too quickly or drive on ramps or uneven flooring.
- Struck-by or Pinned Incidents: Forklifts can hit people or pin a person against a wall or another object by accident, leading to serious injuries.
- Mechanical Failures: Brake failure, bad hydraulics, or poorly designed machines put everyone at risk for these types of accidents.
- Lack of Training: Driving a forklift isn’t as simple as just getting in and going. People who are going to be using these heavy machines need to be trained. Without proper training, it’s more likely that an accident will occur.
A single oversight can lead to severe injuries, making it important to understand why these incidents happen.
Workers’ Comp and Personal Injury Lawsuits After a Forklift Injury
After a forklift accident at work, recovering compensation is possible, but how depends on the facts of how you were injured. Workers’ compensation will be involved in many cases, but personal injury lawsuits are an option under the right circumstances.
Workers’ Compensation
Most employees hurt in forklift accidents can claim workers’ compensation benefits, such as medical care and part of lost wages, through their employer’s insurance. You don’t have to prove anyone else was at fault to get these benefits. Even if there was some error by a coworker or a mistake made by the injured employee, you are still usually eligible.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
While workers’ comp covers these claims in most cases, there are situations in which someone might be responsible for your injury, and you could be able to file a lawsuit. This could include the following parties:
- Property Owners/Managers: These parties could be responsible when a hazardous condition created the risk that caused the accident, like unsafe loading docks or blocked pathways.
- General Contractors or Subcontractors: These parties may be held liable for a lack of supervision or ignoring safety procedures.
- Forklift Manufacturers or Distributors: You might be able to bring a claim if your accident was caused by a design flaw or mechanical problem with the forklift.
- Service and Maintenance Companies: When careless inspection or repairs lead to equipment breakdowns, these vendors can be found at fault.
Staffing Agencies: These agencies are sometimes responsible if temporary employees were not trained before assignment and ended up causing an accident, injuring another person.
When someone other than your employer is the cause of the accident, they can be held accountable for what happened. Make sure you talk to a lawyer to see which type of claim you should bring.
Get in Touch With Grey Law To Arrange a No-Cost Case Evaluation With a Forklift Accident Lawyer in Long Beach
Lasting effects are common for people dealing with forklift injuries and getting the compensation you deserve is essential for being able to recover appropriately. The best way to do this is to speak with a legal professional who has experience with these types of situations. if you’re ready to learn more, reach out to Grey Law today to schedule your free consultation.