Forklift accidents at marine terminals and ports are often deadly. In fact, so far this year, two port/terminal workers have been killed in forklift accidents.
Last month, a 40 year old man was killed in a port accident in Seattle, Washington when he was pinned between a forklift and container. In March, a woman was killed at the Ocean Terminal in Savannah, Georgia when she was struck by a forklift near a carrier ship.
Ports and terminals are notorious for forklift accidents due to the number of contractors present and the high levels of activity which occur. Common causes of forklift accidents at ports and terminals include:
- failure to provide delineated power industrial truck lanes and pedestrian/worker lanes,
- failure to have a safety manager,
- failure to train forklift operators, and
- failure to provide forklift operator certifications.
In these kinds of accidents, multiple parties can be held liable, such as forklift operating companies and the terminals or ports.
Our lawyers have represented countless forklift accident victims. Just this year, our lawyers represented a New Jersey dock worker who was struck by a forklift, caught underneath and dragged for several feet. The forklift operating company, New York Shipping Association, had policies which violated OSHA forklift operator training requirements. We alleged that the failure to have these policies in place was the cause of the accident. The case settled for nearly $3 million with additional, confidential amounts against other defendants.
To submit your case for review by our Pennsylvania and New Jersey forklift accident lawyers, call (215) 399-9255. Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation, and can obtain special admission in other states, such as New York or Delaware, on a case by case basis.
Our forklift accident attorneys serve accident victims in the following areas: Allegheny County, PA; Berks County, PA; Bucks County, PA; Chester County, PA; Delaware County, PA; Lehigh County, PA; Montgomery County, PA; Northampton County, PA: Philadelphia County, PA; Atlantic County, NJ; Burlington County, NJ; Camden County, NJ; Cumberland County, NJ; Gloucester County, NJ; Salem County, NJ; New Castle County, DE; he County, DE; Atlantic City, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Newark, NJ; Doylestown, PA; Media, PA; West Chester, PA; Norristown, PA; Camden, NJ; Wilmington, DE; Newark, DE; Georgetown, DE; and New Castle, DE. Our lawyers can obtain special admission in other states on a case by case basis.
**This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is crucial to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
Published: June 3, 2012