Forklift Accident – Forklift Accidents
Over the years, there have been several cases where a person was shopping in a store like Home Depot or Walmart and was killed or seriously injured due to a forklift operator’s mistake.
Forklifts have proven to be important in reducing a worker’s load by transporting materials from one place to another. They have also helped reduce the many common musculoskeletal injuries that occur due to repetitive heavy lifting and carrying.
However, forklifts that are improperly maintained or operated can result in accidents. OSHA estimates that over 680,000 forklift accidents take place each year. Approximately 9,000 people are injured as a result. Many occur in the workplace or construction zones, yet some forklift accidents involve unsuspecting shoppers or other passersby.
If you or a loved one have been injured due to a forklift injury, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who can build a strong case, protect your rights, and recover the compensation you need to move forward.
Types of Forklift Accidents
Over the years, there have been several cases where a person was shopping in a store like Home Depot or Walmart and was killed or seriously injured due to a forklift operator’s mistake. Stores like these often stack heavy merchandise up on high shelves. Forklifts are then required to get the products down, which has proven hazardous to some shoppers.
Other types of forklift accidents include:
- Being run over or backed over by a forklift
- Struck by falling materials
- Being hit by powered forklifts
- Forklift tipping over
- Falls from a forklift
When these accidents happen, big companies immediately involve their lawyers. They will often try to intimidate the injured person or their family into signing confidentiality agreements to protect themselves.
If you have been injured in a forklift or in a similar accident, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C., immediately to discuss your case.
Why Forklift Accidents Happen
Several factors contribute to forklift truck accidents. It is common that the person operating the forklift lacks training or has had improper training on how to run the machine. Poor maintenance and the age of the forklift are two other common contributing factors.
In a warehouse or store setting, customers have been injured or killed because the forklift operator was driving erratically, riding with an excessive load, or backing up improperly. In other instances, the pedestrians and the working forklift had not been properly separated. The operator had not kept people at a safe distance by restricting them from entering the area where the forklift was operating.
When the negligence or recklessness of another causes injury or death, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.
Contact a St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney
As one of the preeminent firms helping victims of St. Louis forklift accidents, we understand how to build strong cases. When you hire our firm, you can be confident that everything will be done to protect your rights and recover the compensation you need.
To increase the chances of a positive outcome, our firm prepares every case as if it will go to trial: investigating the forklift accident, interviewing witnesses, and gathering evidence to prove the other person was at fault. We are fully prepared to handle the most complicated cases.
If you were injured in a forklift or truck accident or lost a family member, call our 24-hour legal helpline at (314) 361-4242 or toll-free at (866) 763-6433.