Are you struggling to restore security in your life after a forklift accident? Have you been saddled with costly medical bills and other expenses you simply cannot afford? Do you need high quality legal representation from a law firm with a proven track record of success? If your answer is yes to all of the above, contact Wilshire Law Firm right away. Our experienced work injury lawyers can guide you towards a full recovery.
Call us today at (844) 979-0933 or submit an online contact form to receive a free, comprehensive case evaluation. After talking with us, you will know where you stand and be able to make an informed decision on how to proceed. If you decide to hire us as your legal representatives, our aggressive attorneys won’t stand down until you get the financial support you deserve. We have what it takes to lead you to success – let us fight for you!
Common Causes of Forklift Accidents
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), forklift operators must be 18 or older and complete an approved certification program before they can operate a forklift. The companies that hire them are obligated to uphold these employment standards as well as environmental safety standards. Sadly, this is not always the case – negligence all too often contributes to injury-causing, sometimes fatal forklift accidents.
The most common causes of forklift accidents include the following:
- Inadequate training
- Faulty equipment
- Unsafe working conditions, such as inadequate lighting or blind spots
- Excessive loads
- Improper maintenance
- Poor operating techniques
In order to prevent forklift accidents, employers as well as onsite supervisors and employees are expected to perform the following duties:
- All devices on the forklift, including safety mechanisms, are sufficient and functional;
- Controls and displays are well laid out and visible;
- Only trained operators are assigned forklift duties;
- All OSHA regulations are being respected;
- Any defects are repairs before a forklift is put back into operation;
- Employers undertake preventive maintenance of the forklift per manufacturer operations; and
- Paths are free of obstructions that impact visibility or otherwise present a hazard.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Forklift Accident?
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits from your employer if the incident occurred while in the scope of your job duties. These benefits include medical care, rehabilitation and disability coverage, and death coverage in case of a fatal accident. However, you cannot recover non-economic damages through workers’ comp or file an injury claim against your employer.
However, if a third party, such as an operator from another company or a manufacturer of defective forklift equipment, contributed to your accident, then you may pursue damages from them in a personal injury claim in addition to workers’ comp benefits.
Let Us Help You Obtain Maximum Compensation
At Wilshire Law Firm, our attorneys don’t just have years of experience handling these types of cases, but we also have the results to show for it. We have achieved more than $100 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Not only that, we are so confident in our abilities that we are willing to represent you on a no win, no fee basis. So there is no reason to delay – contact our offices today for immediate assistance.
With 20 offices throughout California, we service everyone in the Golden State. If you can’t come to one of our offices, we will come to you, whether you’re at home, in the hospital, wherever. We are more than happy to accommodate all of your needs. Why? Because we consider you a part of the Wilshire Law Firm family.
