New York City Forklift Accident Lawyer
Forklifts are essential at construction sites. The palette, which can be raised, extended, lowered, or retracted, has a weight-bearing capacity that ranges from 3,000–158,000 lbs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that one in six workplace fatalities are due to forklifts and 70 percent of accidents are preventable. Forklift accidents occur for many reasons, including the operator’s negligence, faulty manufacturing, poor maintenance, and inadequate supervision or training.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a forklift accident in New York, our team at Douglas & London is here to help you explore all avenues of potential compensation from negligent third parties. From law offices in Manhattan, we serve clients in all five boroughs of New York City and throughout the greater metro area. A skilled forklift accident lawyer will fight for your right to recover damages for your losses. Schedule a free consultation today.
Compensation Available to Victims
You are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if you are hurt. Pursuing workers’ compensation usually means employees forfeit the right to sue their employer.
However, injured workers can sometimes sue third parties whose recklessness or careless actions caused their accidents. Common defendants may include manufacturers of defective equipment, maintenance companies in cases of improper inspections, and negligent subcontractors. A personal injury claim can seek additional compensation to cover damages outside workers’ comp benefits.
Potential damages in a personal injury claim arising from a forklift accident:
- Medical expenses, past and future
- Wage loss, including wages you have already missed out on, as well as future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Diminished quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
Our firm is passionate about helping construction workers recover the compensation necessary to restore and maintain the best quality of life possible after an injury.
Statute of Limitations for Forklift Accident Lawsuits
The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in New York, including those arising from construction accidents, is generally three years.
Common Causes of Forklift Accidents
Forklifts can be dangerous because they are three times heavier than the average car. They are vertically oriented, making them unstable, susceptible to tipping over, and difficult to stop. Finally, the carrying capacity for a smaller forklift is around 3,000 pounds, while larger models can carry loads above 100,000 pounds.
Safely operating a forklift requires diligent adherence to safety protocols by site managers, operators, and other personnel working on or around them.
Common causes of forklift accidents include the following:
- Exceeding load capacity
- Inadequate supervision
- Manufacturing defects
- Failure to correctly assemble it
- Failure to properly train operators
- Improper inspections
A construction accident lawyer at Douglas & London in New York, NY, can investigate your claim–whether it occurred in Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx–to identify all responsible parties.
Serious Injuries in Forklift Accidents
Because of the size of forklifts and the loads they carry, forklift accidents often result in severe injuries and, all too frequently, fatalities, which can give rise to a wrongful death claim. When forklifts tip over or unexpectedly drop their loads, workers may sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, skull fractures, internal organ damage, and long-term disabilities.
While the hardships from such injuries are immense, the law provides avenues for compensation that can help you pay your bills and rebuild your life. Our attorneys will take all necessary steps to hold all liable parties accountable.
How Our Attorneys Approach a Forklift Accident Case
The legal team of Douglas & London is knowledgeable in all New York Labor Laws, which allow workers injured in a forklift accident case to potentially bring suit against owners, contractors, and manufacturers for violations of the NY State Industrial Code or failing to provide sufficient protection to employees on the site. Our approach includes the following:
- Build a Case: By gathering evidence that proves third-party negligence.
- Determine the Value of Your Claim: if we can establish liability, we may be able to recover a wide range of damages on your behalf.
- Negotiating a Settlement: We are skilled negotiators and will hold site owners, manufacturers, or contractors liable for their negligence.
At Douglas & London, we believe everyone has the right to work in the safest environment possible. Although the hazards of construction work are well-documented, most accidents can be easily avoided.
Contact Douglas & London
When you retain an injury attorney at Douglas & London, there are no upfront fees or costs. We don’t collect any payment for representation unless monetary damages are recovered in your forklift accident claim. To arrange a no-obligation, free consultation with an experienced forklift accident lawyer in NYC, contact us today.
