Forklift Truck Accident Claims - Forklift Truck Accidents
Forklift truck accidents can involve large recovery bills and serious injuries. A recent study published by the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) found that workers in Scotland are twice as likely to be injured or killed in a forklift accident when compared to their counterparts south of the Watford Gap. This study also revealed that even after adjusting for the difference in workforce sizes, male drivers are five times more likely to be injured than their female counterparts. The FLTA’s chief executive was quoted as saying:
“With over 400 hospitalisations a year, major forklift truck accidents happen literally every day in the UK. Most are avoidable, and usually, the victim is NOT the truck’s operator. These are major, life-shattering injuries like crushing’s and amputations. Last year, ten people were killed – and with forklifts working on an estimated 100,000 UK sites, literally, anyone could be at risk. Wherever you are, please remember to keep an eye open for forklift trucks, and simply steer well clear. Don’t assume you’ve been seen by the operator, and make allowances for possible mistakes. Quite simply, look out for each other.”
You are eligible to receive compensation when another party’s negligence has caused you to sustain injuries. The expert team at Claim Solutions Scotland Ltd can help make the claim’s process stress-free. Contact us today for a straightforward assessment of your accidents compensation potential.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that there are over 5,000 vehicle-related workplace accidents a year in the UK. Forklifts are in use in all sectors of industry and because of their popularity, forklift truck accidents account for 25% of all workplace transportation accidents.
Types of Forklift Truck Accidents
Most forklift truck accidents can be avoided by simply following the safety guidelines put in place by the HSE. Forklift truck accidents can involve crushed bones, injured internal organs, and severe head injuries. In many cases, a lack of experience or licensing is the culprit. An untrained driver can wreak havoc in the workspace. When a forklift flips over it can roll onto other people as well as the driver. In most forklift accidents it is not the driver who is injured but rather a third party that was not seen by the driver.
Equipment Failure
Faulty equipment is another risk that must be mitigated. Your employer is legally responsible for maintaining forklifts and regular safety inspections should be conducted. Your employer’s behaviour can be considered as negligence if they asked you to use a forklift that is known to be unmaintained.
Collision
Forklift collisions can occur without warning and a collision with a vehicle can result in serious bodily harm to the drivers of both vehicles. Your employer needs to provide you with pathways that are free and clear of dangerous traffic. They must also provide you with training on how to avoid traffic whenever possible.
Impact Injuries
Impact Injuries involve objects falling from heights or knocked loose by a forklift. Falling items can cause serious head trauma, cuts, scrapes, and broken bones. In some cases, these injuries are sustained when a forklift pushes over an object such as shelving onto someone or the forklift driver.
Crushing Accidents
Crushing accidents occur when someone is caught between the forklift and an adjacent object. Injuries sustained in forklift accidents can be fatal or involve lifelong medical attention.
Legislation Regarding Forklift Truck Accidents and Usage
The HSE has set a number of safety and health guidelines in place to help reduce unnecessary exposure to risks. All forklift operators must adhere to these strict guidelines to operate within the limit of the law. Below are the most important pieces of legislation the HSE has set in place regarding forklifts.
- Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
This legislation dictates that all pathways must be free and clear of debris and that your employer must show a ‘duty of care’ to all employees and visitors. - Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Your employer must train all operators in the proper use of their forklifts. This includes providing expert supervision to ensure that the HSE safety guidelines are being followed. Maintenance is also listed as a priority under these guidelines and the court can view faulty equipment as neglect.
What Should I do If I Am Involved in A Forklift Accident?
There are some important things you should do if you are involved in a forklift accident. You should always seek medical treatment to ensure there are no unseen injuries such as whiplash that have occurred. Whiplash can take weeks before the symptoms are felt, so it is particularly dangerous. Next, you will want to make an entry into your company’s accident logbook. Your employer is required to keep track of all accidents that occur on their premises with this logbook.
You should try to gather any witness’ contact information in case you need them to corroborate your story later on. In some cases, you may be able to get video footage from CCTV cameras that were operating in the area of the accident. Claim Solutions Scotland Ltd can gather this information for you and take the stress out of the claims process.
How Claim Solutions Scotland Ltd can Help You to Achieve Your Compensation Goals
Claim Solutions Scotland Ltd can help you to determine if these safety standards were followed correctly. You are entitled to financial compensation when your employer fails to meet the HSE guidelines set in place regarding forklift usage. Claim Solutions Scotland Ltd can help you to determine the cause of your accident and who is liable for the incident.
Start your Claim
Contact us to start the claim’s process today. Your claim will be assigned a personal claim specialist who will advise you on the best compensation strategy to follow.