New York Forklift Accidents Lawyer
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Forklifts and forklift drivers are a common sight on virtually all construction projects here in New York. Without forklifts, moving heavy loads from trailers to their intended location becomes much slower. However, forklifts being common is actually a big part of the reason so many forklift-related injuries occur.
If you’ve worked on construction sites, you know time is rarely on your side. There’s always pressure to get work done quickly – and this can lead to complacency around proper safety precautions. When these shortcuts are taken with these pieces of heavy machinery, people’s health and well-being is put a risk.
If you’ve been injured in a New York forklift accident, call Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP at 212-571-7171. We’ll arrange a free consultation to help you understand the kind of financial compensation you might be entitled to.
What Makes Forklifts Dangerous?
There are specific safety rules that relate to operating forklifts. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) put these rules in place because forklifts are extremely common – whether you work in construction, retail, warehousing, trucking, or many of the other settings where forklifts are found.
There are many different types of accidents involving forklifts, including:
Dropped loads
Simply being able to drive a forklift is not enough to stay safe. Operating a forklift involves a significant amount of skill relating to the proper movement of a load.
If someone misjudges a load or doesn’t lift it carefully, it can drop – sometimes from significant heights. Obviously, being under such a dropped load to lead to catastrophic injuries – but even debris from a dropped load can represent a significant danger to life.
Collisions with workers
Forklifts can maneuver in ways that are often unfamiliar to those nearby. Unlike many other vehicles, they can move backward just as easily as forwards – and they can often turn in extremely tight spaces.
This means other workers are often in a dangerous area without realizing it. If an operator isn’t completely aware of their surroundings in all directions, workers nearby can be struck with huge force.
Tip-overs
While some loads moved by forklifts are predictable, others are not. If the weight of a load shifts as it’s being moved – or it begins its journey unbalanced, it can tip off the machinery quickly and without notice.
In other cases, heavy loads can actually unbalance the forklift itself, meaning the load and the vehicle tips, injuring those in or around it.
Falls
Forklift controls are very sensitive – so people working around them are vulnerable to sudden movements. People helping to load or unload a forklift will often be working at height – making sudden movements and falls especially dangerous.
Complacency
While virtually every forklift operator is highly skilled and focused on safety – there are some who are not. Negligent forklift operation, even just for a moment, can lead to significant accidents and injuries.
What Are Some Typical Forklift Injuries?
As you can see, NYC forklift accident attorneys deal with lots of different forklift accidents – and serious injuries can result from every different kind of error.
Some forklift injuries our attorneys have worked with include:
- Crush injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Head and brain injuries
- Broken arms and/or legs
- Paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Amputations
Sadly, our forklift accident lawyers have also represented people who have lost loved ones due to injuries caused by forklift vehicles. While we can never fix the hole that person will leave in your life, we can fight hard to make sure you get financial compensation – so you’re not left struggling into the future.
We Represent Construction Workers And Members Of The Public
Often, a forklift incident will be considered a ‘construction accident’ – but this isn’t always the case. Sadly, the spaces that forklifts operate in sometimes mean members of the public can find themselves injured.
If you’re a member of the public who’s been injured by a forklift, there should have been safety measures in place to protect you. We’ll get to the bottom of what’s happened to you, find out who is responsible, and make sure you get the financial compensation you deserve.
Workers’ Compensation and New York Labor Law
If you are injured while working on a construction site, you should be entitled to workers’ compensation for your injuries. The law is very clear that this is a “no-fault” system – so even if you are to blame for the incident, you should still be protected.
However, the benefits offered by workers’ compensation are somewhat limited. It’s unlikely that lost wages will be made up completely and there are little or no ‘non-economic’ damages covered – for instance, compensations for the pain and suffering you have experienced.
In New York, there are several laws that let injured workers seek further compensation following a forklift accident. If you decide to speak to a forklift accident attorney here at Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP, we’ll explore these laws and help you understand if you could be due further damages.
For example, there are laws in place to make sure proper safety measures and safety equipment are in place and available. If they are not, it may be possible to explore a lawsuit highlighting these failings. Likewise, there are additional laws that cover falls and falling objects on construction sites. Since these kinds of issues often happen around forklift vehicles, we may be able to explore a lawsuit for violations of state labor laws.
While the amount of compensation you can receive under a workers’ compensation claim is capped, a personal injury lawsuit will not be capped – meaning we may be able to explore further damages for you and your family.
Talk To A New York Forklift Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured and the accident has involved a forklift, you should speak to a New York forklift accident lawyer here at Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP today.
We’ll arrange a free case evaluation. This gives you an opportunity to talk to us about what’s happened. In return, we’ll be able to explain whether we think you have a case – and the kind of financial compensation you may be entitled to. Of course, a free consultation also gives you the chance to decide if we’re the kind of firm you want fighting for you.
At this stage, try to worry about who is to blame, what’s happened, or why it happened – that’s our job. The law protects workers like you – so we’ll do everything we can to make sure you receive compensation for your suffering. We’ll leave no stone unturned when it comes to fighting for justice. Call Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP at 212-571-7171.
