If you have a job working with or around forklifts, you could be at risk of suffering significant injuries in a related accident. These vehicles can be dangerous – especially if their operation involves safety violations or operator errors. If you get hurt in a forklift accident, a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio can help you understand your legal rights.
Common Forklift Accident Injuries
When a forklift is involved, a victim’s injuries can be life-changing. According to the National Safety Council, forklifts were involved in 24,960 injuries that required days away from work and 67 fatalities in 2023.
Forklift accidents often result in serious and catastrophic injuries, such as:
- Bone fractures
- Strains, sprains and tears
- Crush injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Lacerations and contusions
- Amputations
- Fatal injuries
The most common types of forklift accidents are collisions, rollovers, struck-by objects, falls, and overexertion or bodily reaction. The industries where these incidents are most common are service providing, transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade, and retail trade.
What Causes Forklift Accidents?
Identifying the cause of your forklift accident is necessary before you can pursue financial compensation, as the at-fault person or party will become the defendant, or the accused party, in your claim.
While every case is unique, common reasons behind forklift accidents include:
- Operator error
- A lack of worker training
- Collisions with objects or vehicles
- Collisions with people on foot
- Speeding or reckless operation
- Forklift tipping over
- Unbalanced or unsecured loads
- Poorly maintained equipment
- Forklift defects
- Dangerous workplace conditions
In some cases, forklift accidents are the fault of an individual operator, while in others fault is traced back to negligent employers, contractors or companies. An investigation of your accident by an attorney can provide answers regarding who or what caused your injuries.
Most forklift accidents in Texas are preventable. They occur because someone is negligent, or fails to exercise proper care. In these situations, injured victims have the right to seek financial compensation from the at-fault person or party. This could be an employer, a coworker, an equipment manufacturer or a third party.
A successful forklift accident case could result in compensation for losses such as:
- Past and future medical bills
- Losses of income and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional or psychological trauma
- Loss of consortium
- The wrongful death of a loved one
To hold someone liable, or financially responsible, for your San Antonio forklift accident, you must prove fault. This requires evidence that the defendant is more likely than not responsible for causing your injuries. An attorney who specializes in forklift accidents can help you prove your case.
When to Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in San Antonio
If you were recently injured in a forklift incident in or around San Antonio, Texas, hiring an attorney can significantly improve your legal experience and the outcome of your claim. A lawyer will help you maximize your physical, financial and emotional recovery with tailored legal services. If you wish to discuss a specific case with an attorney at no cost, contact Hill Law Firm Accident and Injury Lawyers today.