Norristown Lawyer for Forklift Injuries at Work

Forklifts are used in many industries, and the workers who operate them often need training and practice on these machines.  However, even with proper training, accidents can happen, potentially affecting the operator or others in the area.

If you get hurt because of a forklift accident at work, you may be entitled to benefits through Workers’ Compensation.  Our attorneys can help you understand what kinds of accidents are covered and how much you could receive in benefits.

For a free case evaluation, call Cardamone Law’s Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at (267) 651-7945.

Common Forklift Accidents Covered Under Workers’ Compensation in Norristown

When you get injured in the course of your job tasks, that usually allows the injury to be covered under Workers’ Comp.  This should mean that any forklift injuries – as long as they occurred as part of your job – should be covered.  Common forklift accidents can potentially affect the driver or others nearby, allowing our lawyers for forklift injuries to help you file Workers’ Comp claims for any of the following accidents regardless of your role in the accident:

Tipping/Flipping Forklifts

Forklifts are built to lift materials quite high in the air before the vehicle becomes unstable, but one of the most common accidents that happen is still flipping or tipping a forklift.  Once the forks are lifted in the air with cargo on them, the center of balance of the vehicle rises, making the vehicle more prone to tipping forward or to the side.  Driving a forklift could also result in tipping or a forklift flipping onto its side if you go over an awkward bump or miss a ramp, causing the forklift to tip toward its side.

Operators and others near the vehicle can all be injured in a tipping or flipping accident, especially if you try to exit the cab and get crushed under the vehicle.

Falling Cargo

Sometimes cargo is not properly loaded, and it can fall off of the forks.  If you are on the ground when it hits you, you could be left with serious injuries depending on the weight and size of what was dropped.  Stacks of pallets could easily cause permanent or traumatic injuries.

Being Run Over

If a forklift operator is not looking where they are going, they could easily crash into you.  Sometimes forklift accidents involve multiple vehicles – whether they be two forklifts or a forklift and another vehicle.  These accidents could injure the operator or passengers in either vehicle, potentially resulting in serious harm.

Being Pinned

If a forklift backs up into you in a tight space and pins you against a wall, a shelf, or other materials, it could result in serious crushing injuries.  Broken ribs, broken bones, back injuries, and soft tissue injuries could all result in hospitalization and time away from work.

Impalement

Although this injury is rare, a forklift moving at speed could easily impale someone, causing substantial injuries that need immediate medical attention and could become fatal.

Other Fork Injuries

When a forklift turns, it is possible for the forks to trip someone, knock them over, or strike them in the head, depending on how high they were set.  These accidents all might seem somewhat mild, but any fall could cause back injuries, broken bones, or head injuries, and impact from the hard metal forks of a forklift could also cause head, skull, and brain injuries.

Falling from Cab

Even if the vehicle does not tip over, uneven surfaces, high speeds, and accidents could cause an operator to fall from the vehicle.  This could result in the operator suffering serious injuries during the fall or getting caught in or run over by the vehicle.  As mentioned, falls – especially from the height of the seat – could result in serious back, head, and brain injuries or other broken bones.  If the forklift lands on you, the injuries could be worse.

Runaway Vehicle

If the driver does fall out, the cargo and vehicle are unattended, and the forklift could keep rolling, potentially causing a crash.

How Workers’ Comp Covers Injuries and Benefits for Norristown Forklift Injury Victims

If you are injured in a forklift accident, Workers’ Comp generally covers you in three areas of damages.  You can start your claim by reporting your injuries to your employer, who should then contact their insurance carrier and start you on benefits after they accept the claim.  However, insurance carriers often deny claims by arguing that the injury was not work-related or that the driver caused their own injuries through intoxication or drug use.  Ultimately, it becomes the job of our lawyers to fight to get our clients these three major areas of benefits:

Medical Expenses

The cost of all medical care related to your injuries should be covered.  In most cases, the hospital can bill the insurance carrier directly, though some medications and services ultimately have their bills sent to you, and you submit them to the insurance carrier for payment.  This should cover emergency care, ongoing follow-ups, rehabilitation, and other care needs, including mental health care.

Lost Earnings

If your injury kept you from working while you recovered or resulted in lost earnings down the line because of a disabling injury that reduced your pay or kept you from working for a while, then you can get benefits for your lost earnings.  These benefits usually equal 2/3 of your average wage before the accident.  If you can still work, then partial benefits are paid, usually equal to 2/3 of the difference in old and new wages.

Specific Loss

If you suffered an amputation, total loss of function, lost sight, lost hearing, or serious facial scars, Workers’ Comp pays you additional benefits, with a different number of weeks of benefits assigned to each specific injury.  These benefits are separate and added on top of any other benefits.

Call Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers for Forklift Injuries in Norristown, PA Today

For a free case evaluation, call our lawyers for forklift injuries today at Cardamone Law at (267) 651-7945.