$36.0M
Recovery for a pedestrian who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a vehicle.
Personal Injury
California Forklift Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in a forklift accident on the job? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help injured California workers pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Construction & Workplace Accident Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team that has recovered compensation for thousands of injured Californians. Our attorneys investigate how your forklift accident happened, identify every responsible party, handle the insurance companies, and build your case for maximum recovery — all with personalized attention. There are no fees unless you get paid.
Most forklift accidents trace back to preventable negligence or unsafe conditions. The leading causes we see include operator error or inadequate training, unsafe workplace conditions, mechanical failures and poor maintenance, and overloading or improper use of the equipment. Federal and state rules for powered industrial trucks (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 and Cal/OSHA standards) set out training and safety requirements, and a violation can be central to proving your claim.
Forklift accidents frequently cause severe, life-altering injuries. Common examples include broken bones and fractures, head and traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, and in the most tragic cases, fatal accidents. Because these injuries can require long-term or lifetime care, a legal professional can review your current and future losses during a free case review. Learn more about a brain injury claim or a back injury claim.
Liability depends on how the accident happened and who was at fault. Beyond a workers' compensation claim against your employer, you may have a separate third-party claim against a negligent equipment manufacturer, a maintenance contractor, a property owner, or another company on the worksite. Our attorneys investigate every potential source of recovery, including product liability claims for a defective forklift and other workplace accident claims.
Injured workers in California can generally recover through workers' compensation and, where a third party is at fault, through a personal injury claim. Recovery commonly includes medical expenses (current and future), lost wages and lost earning capacity, disability benefits, and — in a third-party claim — pain and suffering. Because every case is unique, a legal professional can review your losses during a free case review.
It depends on the type of claim. For a third-party personal injury lawsuit, you generally have two years from the date of the accident (California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). For workers' compensation, you should generally report the injury to your employer within 30 days and file a claim within one year. Because missing a deadline can end your case, it's best to speak with a legal professional early.
Meet Our Construction & Workplace Accident Attorneys
Nationally-Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. GuestPartner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.Partner$28.5M
Recovery for victims of a rear-end collision involving a commercial truck.
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Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have a Forklift Accident Claim in California?
You likely have a valid forklift accident claim if you were injured on the job and either your employer carries workers' compensation or a third party's negligence contributed to the accident. Workers' compensation generally covers medical care and lost wages regardless of fault, while a third-party claim — against a forklift manufacturer, maintenance company, or another contractor — can add compensation for pain and suffering. California deadlines apply, so contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case review.
Start Your Free Construction & Workplace Accident Case Review
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Record breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
1–1 of 17
#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Construction & Workplace Accident FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
Workers' compensation is usually your primary remedy against your own employer, but you can often bring a separate third-party lawsuit when someone else contributed, for example, a forklift manufacturer, a maintenance contractor, or another company operating at the site. A third-party claim can recover losses workers' comp does not, such as full pain and suffering. An attorney can identify who may be responsible.
If a design flaw, manufacturing error, or missing safety feature caused or worsened your injury, you may have a strict product liability claim against the forklift's maker or seller. You generally recover by showing the product was defective and caused your harm, without proving carelessness. This can be pursued in addition to workers' compensation.
California employers must follow Cal/OSHA rules on forklift training, maintenance, and safe operation, and a documented violation can support a negligence claim against a responsible party. A citation does not decide your case by itself, but it can be useful evidence. The specific standards are not summarized in our reference materials, so an attorney should confirm which apply.
A third-party personal injury lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the accident, while workers' compensation follows its own timeline. Deadlines have exceptions, so confirm yours promptly. If your injury also involved a car or truck, see our guide on hiring a car accident attorney.