Bethlehem Lawyer for Forklift Injuries at Work

Forklift operators are supposed to have proper training, and the facility should have enough space for a forklift to maneuver.  While the forklift is operating, other workers should be out of the path so they do not get run over or hit by a turning machine.  However, many accidents happen because of mistakes in these safety rules, resulting in serious work injuries.

If you were hurt at work, you should have one of our lawyers review your case.  We can help you file for Workers’ Compensation, getting you coverage for your medical bills and lost wages caused by the forklift accident.

Call Cardamone Law at (267) 651-7945 for a free review of your potential case with our Certified Bethlehem Workers’ Compensation Specialists.

Workers’ Compensation for Forklift Injuries in Bethlehem

If you were hurt at work in a forklift accident, you could be entitled to benefits through Workers’ Compensation.  Employers throughout Pennsylvania are required to have Workers’ Compensation insurance that will cover their employees’ medical expenses and a portion of their lost wages.

Filing a Workers’ Comp claim means reporting the accident to your employer so they can file a claim with their insurance carrier.  When you do this, it is important to make sure they have all the information currently available.  Make sure to report your accident to your supervisor or manager in writing, if possible.  Also save any medical records, incident reports, and other records you have about the accident and the injuries you suffered.

Your injuries should be covered as long as the accident was “work-related.”  A forklift accident that happened at work while you were doing work tasks should quite clearly fit into this category, requiring your employer’s insurance to cover you.

However, just because your injury should be covered does not mean your employer’s insurance carrier is going to willingly provide full coverage.  Our lawyers for forklift injuries at work can help you provide full information in your report and challenge any denials or delays if the insurance carrier tries to keep you from getting the benefits you should be entitled to.

Common Forklift Accidents at Work in Bethlehem

Forklift accidents can happen in different circumstances to different people, some of whom might not even be involved in the forklift’s operation:

Falling Items/Materials

If the forklift is not properly loaded before lifting pallets or materials, it could fall off the lift and hit someone.  In many cases, this comes down to improper loading, where the operator might be trying to pick up something that is an odd shape or has no pallet secured to it.

Crashes

While forklifts are not particularly speedy, it can be difficult for an operator to see where they are going.  Crashes involving forklifts can cause pretty serious injuries, especially if you get hit by the metal forks or run over by these weighty vehicles.  Being struck by the forks at speed could cause devastating injuries, even though these kinds of accidents are quite rare.

Tipping and Falling

Operating a forklift on a ramp or near an edge can be quite dangerous.  If the vehicle falls or tips over, it can injure anyone in the landing zone as well as the driver.  Forklifts can also become unstable or unbalanced if the materials being lifted are too heavy, potentially causing the whole forklift to tip forward after reaching a certain height.

Clearing Jams/Mechanical Issues

If there is a mechanical problem or the lift gets jammed, workers might simply try to clear the jam or otherwise fix the machinery – and their methods might not be very technically sound.  Hitting or slamming something into the machine might get it unstuck, but if the jam clears while your body is in the way, the injuries could be severe.

Pinning Injuries

Operators are not always looking out for other people when maneuvering in tight spaces.  If a forklift backs into you and pins you against a wall, you could face very serious injuries.

Falling Out

Falling out of the driver’s seat while operating a forklift could cause you serious injuries in the fall – especially if you had no hard hat or other protective gear.  This could also leave the forklift uncontrolled, potentially causing it to tip, fall, or crash.

Workers’ Compensation Requirements for Forklift Accidents in Bethlehem

Accidents at work often cannot be grounds for a lawsuit – at least not against your employer.  Workers’ Comp is designed to be the primary way that injured workers get damages for their injuries, and workers are not usually allowed to sue their employer for an accident.

Workers’ Comp does not require you to prove fault before you get compensation.  Your injury just needs to be considered work-related for it to qualify you for benefits.  The only causation issues that might be considered are whether you caused the “accident” on purpose.  Insurance carriers can also deny claims if the injured worker caused their own accident because they were drunk or high.  If a coworker crashed into you with a forklift because they were drunk or high, that should not be enough to ruin your claim; your employer should be screening workers for these types of risks.

Lawsuits are often allowed against third parties, such as the manufacturer of defective safety gear or a defective forklift.  However, most forklift accidents are going to be caused by someone on-site on the day of the accident, and a lawsuit usually cannot cover that.  Moreover, many people are injured either by their own actions or by an employer’s mistakes, both of which cannot be grounds for a lawsuit anyway.

Call Our Workplace Forklift Accident Lawyers in Bethlehem Today

Call (267) 651-7945 for a free case assessment with the lawyers for forklift injuries at work in Bethlehem at Cardamone Law.