Forklift Accident Claim
Though forklift trucks (FLT) are incredibly useful pieces of equipment together with reach and stand up trucks, they can also be very dangerous. Around 10 people a year are killed in forklift accidents, and a further few thousand are injured. Though singularly they are less dangerous than HGVs and cars, more people are hurt by FLTs. Most of these accidents can and should have been prevented by employers. If you have had an accident involving a forklift truck, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim against your employer.
Forklift Trucks Hazards and Risks
The Forklift Truck Association has cited that accidents tend to occur when pedestrians are present in the same area as the trucks. This is mirrored by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who recommend that pedestrians and FLTs are separated by traffic routes and barriers.
Common accidents involving forklifts include:
- An overturning forklift truck crushing a person
- A person becoming trapped against an object, the ground or a wall by an FLT
- An unsecured load falling from a tuck and landing on a person
Employer responsibilities
Employers have a responsibility to keep you safe, through following legislation that requires them to risk assess every job role with the company. The HSE has cited poor supervision and lack of training is the underlying cause of most of the accidents involving a forklift truck.
To that end employers should ensure:
- FLT drivers are trained and competent
- The trucks are well maintained and in good working order
- Pedestrians and trucks do not mix
- The premises is safe and adequate for both people and FLTs
Claiming compensation for a forklift truck accident
If you have been injured in a forklift truck accident then you are entitled to make an accident claim against your employer. Injuries, no matter how minor, should have been prevented by your employer, especially as there are rafts of advice on the subject which is freely distributed by several organisations.
Making a claim on a no win no fee basis means that even should you be unsuccessful you will not be out of pocket as there is no cost to you. Injury solicitors will fight your case for you, and you will be entitled to 100% of the compensation should you be successful. Injuries from forklift trucks can be severe and result in death. A recent case where a man died as a result of being involved in a FLT accident, saw his family awarded £50,000 in compensation after they claimed on a no win no fee basis.
To discover what personal injury compensation you may be entitled to, contact us today either by calling us or filling in our online claim form.