Forklift Accidents
Construction workers are familiar with forklifts. They make your job easier. Instead of carrying heavy items around, you can pile many heavy items at once on a forklift, reducing the strain on your back and body.
Unfortunately, forklift accidents are frequent occurrences. In fact, each year, there are nearly 10,000 non-fatal forklift accidents resulting in injuries. When operators of forklifts are not properly trained, accidents can happen. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from a forklift accident, you may be entitled to compensation under the law for your suffering. To find out, speak with an experienced forklift accident attorney today in Suffolk County, Long Island.
Common Forklift Accidents and Injuries
Forklift accidents happen countless ways. The most common include:
- Struck by a falling load
- Knocked over or run over
- Forklift overturning
- Falling from the forklift
- Electrocution
The injuries resulting from these accidents can be serious. They may include:
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputation
Each of these is a serious injury that not only affects your quality of life, but may also affect your ability to earn a living and support your family. Ultimately, that is not your burden to bear. The person who caused your forklift accident should be held accountable for your injuries and your suffering, including your financial suffering. Working with the right forklift accident lawyer in Suffolk County, Long Island, can help you collect maximum compensation.
Forklift Guidelines
Consequences for unsafe forklift operation can be deadly. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets out guidelines for safe forklift operation. These guidelines include:
- Driving at a safe speed
- Driving in reverse if the load in front obstructs the driver’s view
- Stopping when reversing direction
- Using the forklift horn liberally
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If you were driving a forklift when you suffered an injury and some of these guidelines are new to you, your employer may be liable for your injuries. Improper training of forklift operators is a big cause of accidents and injuries resulting to the driver. If you suffered injuries when someone else was driving the forklift, your employer could still be liable if they failed to properly train the forklift driver.
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No matter what, your injuries are not your fault. So you should not bear any responsibility for paying your medical expenses. That should be the sole burden of the at-fault party, whether the driver, the company, or both. Your Long Island forklift accident lawyer can help you determine who is at fault and work to hold them liable.
Steps to Take After a Forklift Accident
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Suffering a forklift accident injury can be a traumatic experience. You may be dazed and not sure of what comes next. That’s why the first step you need to take is to get medical attention. Your health and well being is top of mind and you need to be certain that your body is well. Letting emergency medical personnel evaluate you at the accident scene can help determine if you need further medical attention. These medical professionals along with your doctor will keep detailed records. These records can be helpful to show you were not at fault for your accident.
You should also report your injury to your employer. They should have procedures in place to handle workplace accidents. No matter how minor, you want to report your injury so your manager can document what happened.
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Your last step is to speak with an experienced forklift accident attorney in Long Island, New York. You need to focus on your health and recovery. Your lawyer can work to hold the negligent party liable for your accident and injuries, letting you focus all of your effort and energy on your recovery.
Forklift Accident Costs
Depending on the severity of your forklift accident injuries, you may face a long road to recovery. You may encounter:
- Multiple surgeries
- Extended hospital stays
- Time out of work
- In facility rehabilitation
- In home care
Each of these items comes with a vast cost. Medical bills are not cheap. In fact, two-thirds of all bankruptcy filings each year result from an inability to pay medical expenses. But you can work to avoid falling into this financial trap by speaking with an aggressive forklift accident lawyer in Long Island as soon as possible after your accident.
Your lawyer may try to get you compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Present and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Home renovation costs
What many victims fail to realize is that the vast majority of their financial needs will come in the future. You may see the medical bills sitting on your coffee table. But what you do not see are the bills yet to come. Surgeries and rehabilitation are extremely expensive but necessary for your physical recovery and well being.
Besides those fixed costs, you will also miss work, hindering your ability to earn a living and provide for your family. This additional financial burden may fall on your loved ones who may try to work overtime or take additional jobs to cover the loss of your income. That is not their burden to bear.
Working with the right forklift accident attorney in Suffolk County, you can work to hold the negligent party liable for your accident and your financial losses. Your lawyer will work tirelessly to try to collect maximum compensation so you do not have to pay a penny out of your own pocket.
Speak with a Lawyer
Understanding what comes next after a workplace accident can be confusing. That’s why you can trust your forklift accident lawyer to guide you through the complex legal waters and work to help you collect every dollar you deserve so you do not have to cover any of the medical expenses or financial losses you face because of your forklift accident injury.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a forklift accident, you need to speak with an experienced and aggressive forklift accident attorney in Long Island today.
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