Forklift Accidents Are More Common Than You Think
With Pennsylvania's massive warehouse and distribution industry - especially along the I-78 and I-81 corridors and throughout the Lehigh Valley - forklift accidents happen every day. These injuries can be devastating: crushed limbs, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and worse.
If you were injured in a forklift accident while working, you likely have a workers' compensation claim. And if someone else's negligence caused or contributed to the accident - a coworker, another company's employee, or a forklift manufacturer - you may also have a third-party claim for additional compensation.
"Forklift accidents are some of the most serious workplace injuries I see. Whether you were operating the forklift, struck by one, or injured when a load fell - remember that fault isn't relevant in Workers' Compensation. Even if you made a mistake, you still have a Work Comp case. For potential third-party claims against a coworker's employer, equipment manufacturer, or maintenance company, we need to show their negligence. Don't let anyone tell you that you have no options."
Common Forklift Accident Scenarios
- Struck by forklift - Pedestrian workers hit by moving forklifts
- Tip-over accidents - Forklift overturns due to overloading, speed, or uneven surfaces
- Falling loads - Improperly secured cargo falls and strikes workers
- Crushing injuries - Workers pinned between forklift and racking/walls
- Loading dock falls - Forklift drives off dock edge
- Mechanical failure - Brake failure, steering failure, hydraulic failure
- Inadequate training - Operator not properly certified or trained
Pennsylvania Warehouses & Distribution Centers We Serve
We represent workers at facilities throughout Pennsylvania, including:
Two Potential Claims After a Forklift Accident
Workers' Compensation
No-fault system - you get benefits even if you were partly responsible
- 100% medical coverage
- Partial wage replacement
- Specific loss benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation
Third-Party Claim
When someone else is negligent - equipment maker, another company, etc.
- Potential pain & suffering
- Full lost wages
- Future earning capacity
- Additional damages
Who May Be Liable in a Third-Party Claim?
- Forklift manufacturer - Defective design or manufacturing defects
- Maintenance company - Failure to properly inspect or repair equipment
- Another company's employee - If a contractor or vendor caused the accident
- Property owner - Unsafe conditions in the facility
- Parts manufacturer - Defective components (brakes, steering, hydraulics)