Philadelphia Forklift Accident Lawyer

What Are the Leading Causes of Forklift Accidents?

Heavy equipment, such as forklifts and cranes, plays an important role in both commercial and residential construction. These powerful machines are required to lift and move heavy materials and goods.

Unfortunately, crane, lift, and forklift accidents are common and cause thousands of work-related injuries yearly. According to the National Safety Council, 15,480 forklift accidents occurred in 2022.

Forklifts need to be handled with caution. Whether through reckless behaviors or improper maintenance, these are just a few of the causes of serious injuries and even deaths. Here are a few of the leading causes of forklift accidents:

Improper Usage

While most forklifts are designed to handle large loads, there are times when they can tip or roll over. When the machine’s center of gravity shifts outside the wheelbase, it can become unbalanced and overturn.

When someone speeds and turns a corner, that can shift the center of gravity. Even sudden starts or stops lead to destabilization.

Poorly balanced loads are also a contributor to rolling over forklifts. All workplaces have safety standards in place to prevent these accidents. However, without the proper training and supervision, incidents can occur.

Poor Maintenance

If a forklift is not properly maintained, it can malfunction and cause an accident. Poorly maintained vehicles might not be safe. For example, a driver could become injured when lifting a large pallet.

Employers must ensure that all equipment is adequately maintained and repaired as required. To keep everyone safe, they need to perform regular checks on the brakes, steering, controls, and warning devices.

Additionally, workers should also be trained to identify signs of equipment failure. If there are any issues, there should be clear protocols to report any issues immediately to prevent any potential accidents or injuries.

Reckless Behavior

Unsafe behavior, such as operators performing stunts, showing off, or disregarding established safety practices, can cause accidents and injuries. Poor supervision or the lack of training can lead to these incidents at a worksite.

Once again, it is the personality of the managers to make sure their workers are trained and understand how to operate these machines safely.

Is It a Workers' Compensation or a Personal Injury Case?

Workers’ compensation provides benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses, such as a forklift-related accident.  In Pennsylvania, most employers are obligated to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

When workers are injured in a forklift accident while performing job-related duties, they have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. The injured workers can receive coverage for:

• Medical expenses related to the injury
• Compensation for lost wages due to time missed from work
• Additional compensation for the permanent loss of use of a body part, such as in amputation cases.
• Surviving family members may receive death benefits if the accident results in a fatality.

Workers’ compensation is based on a no-fault system. As a result, employees can receive benefits regardless of who was at fault for the accident. In these cases, injured workers can receive the assistance they need without unnecessary legal battles.

However, there are situations when a third-party lawsuit may be necessary to recover compensation for damages related to the accident.

Sometimes, injured workers may have grounds to seek additional legal action against third parties. These responsible parties could include: