New York City Forklift Accident Attorney
Forklift accidents are among the most common of construction site accidents. Each year over 20,000 workers suffer serous injury in forklift related accidents and many of these workers sustain life long injuries. Over 100 workers a year are killed in forklift related accidents.
The personal injury attorneys at The Orlow Firm have successfully represented victims of forklift accidents at construction sites throughout the New York City area, including The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.
Employers who are more concerned with getting the job done quickly than getting the job done safely may overlook safety standard requirements. Pushing a machine such as a forklift past its safety limits is bound to result in an accident. These are several types of construction forklift accidents:
- Tipping Over - carrying an excess load can cause a forklift to tip over, often crushing construction workers in the path of the overloaded material, or crushing the forklift driver if a "Roll Over Protection System" has not been installed.
- Falling Debris - construction site forklifts should have an "All Falling Object Protection System" installed to protect the operator from falling objects.
- Driver Ejection - The driver seats should be equipped with seat belts, arm rests, and "Grab Handles".
- Hitting Pedestrians - Often times a worker fails to notice an oncoming forklift if it does not have an automatic signal alarm installed.
- Elevating Workers - A forklift is not made for the purpose of elevating workers, who may fall if an operator losses control.
- Unsafe Driving Conditions - Low visibility, narrow or congested pathways, obstructed intersections are all unsafe conditions to drive in.
A forklift is an invaluable tool that requires proper training and licensing to operate. Attention needs to be paid to its maintenance and working environment.
OSHA has a standard training and evaluation program that all forklift operators must complete before they are can operate a forklift. If an employer chooses not to follow the OSHA guidelines they can be found negligent. It is the employer's responsibility to notify untrained and unlicensed employees that Forklifts are off limits.
If you have been injured in a forklift accident, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your rights to compensation. Even if you are receiving workers compensation, you may be eligible for additional damages if your injuries were caused by a third party (someone other than your employer or a coworker). Examples of third parties include manufacturers, a subcontractors, and landlords. Settlements and verdicts awarded to victims of construction accidents caused by third-party negligence are typically much greater than workers' compensation.
All fees to the law offices of The Orlow Firm are strictly on a "contingent" basis. A contingent fee basis means that the attorneys are paid only at the time when, and if, they recover money damages for the client. A contingent fee thereby allows an injured person with little or no financial resources to obtain competent legal assistance. At the time recovery is obtained, the attorney's fee is a percentage of the award in the case. If there is no recovery, there will be no attorney fees.*
You do have rights! Contact The Orlow Firm to talk to a New York City forklift accident attorney. Our qualified and experienced lawyers will offer a confidential and honest assessment of your case.
Learn More: Visit our Construction Site Accidents Information Center.
* Personal injury case expenses are advanced by our firm and are reimbursed to the firm by the client at the conclusion of the case.
