Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
A forklift does not need to be moving fast to cause catastrophic harm. A worker can be pinned against shelving, struck while walking through a loading area, or injured when a raised load falls. A forklift accident lawyer in Staten Island can help determine what happened and who may be responsible.
Shulman & Hill has recovered over $1 billion for injured New Yoirkers. A Staten Island workers’ compensation lawyer can review whether your claim involves wage benefits, medical treatment, or a separate case against another company at the worksite.
If the accident has kept you off the job or changed what work you can do, contact Shulman & Hill for a free consultation.
How Forklift Accidents Happen
Forklift accidents often happen in busy workplaces where speed and visibility problems create safety risks. These incidents can occur in warehouses, retail stockrooms, shipping yards, manufacturing plants, and construction sites.
You may be injured when a forklift tips over, drops a load, backs into a worker, or pins someone against a wall or rack. In some cases, poor maintenance, blocked aisles, broken alarms, or lack of training play a part in the accident.
A Staten Island personal injury lawyer can review how the incident happened and whether more than one party may be legally responsible. That review may affect the types of claims you can bring.
Common Injuries After a Forklift Accident in Staten Island
Forklift crashes can cause severe injuries because of the weight of the machine and the force involved. Even a low-speed impact may lead to lasting physical harm.
You may suffer injuries such as:
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Back, neck, and spinal injuries
- Head trauma and concussions
- Shoulder, knee, and joint damage
- Lacerations, amputations, or internal injuries
Some workers recover in weeks, while others face surgery, rehabilitation, or permanent work limits. A forklift accident lawyer in Staten Island can help document the full effect of your injury on your health and ability to earn a living.
Who May Be Liable for Your Injuries
Many forklift injuries happen on the job, which usually means workers’ compensation is the first source of benefits. That claim is often filed through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, no matter who caused the accident.
Still, some cases involve third-party liability. If someone other than your employer or a co-worker contributed to the accident, you may have a separate personal injury claim for damages that workers’ compensation does not pay.
Potentially liable parties may include the following:
- Property owners who allowed unsafe conditions
- Contractors or subcontractors on a shared worksite
- Maintenance companies that failed to repair equipment
- Manufacturers of defective forklifts or parts
- Loading companies that created unstable cargo conditions
We look at all available avenues because the right legal path depends on where the accident happened and who had control over the work area or equipment.
What Workers’ Compensation May Cover
If you were hurt while doing your job, workers’ compensation may provide medical treatment and partial wage replacement. These benefits can help while you recover, even if the accident was not your fault.
Workers’ compensation may cover hospital care, doctor visits, surgery, medication, physical therapy, and travel related to treatment. It may also provide payments for temporary or permanent disability if your injury affects your ability to work.
These claims can still become disputed. Your employer or the insurance carrier may question how the injury happened, whether you need more treatment, or whether you can return to work sooner than your doctor recommends.
When You May Have a Third-Party Claim
Workers’ compensation is not always the only claim available after a forklift accident. Someone outside your employer may have contributed to the unsafe condition or event that caused your injuries.
A third-party claim could involve a property owner, outside contractor, maintenance company, or another business working at the site. It may provide damages that workers’ compensation does not cover, including pain and suffering.
A Staten Island forklift accident attorney can review contracts, site responsibilities, maintenance records, and other evidence to determine whether another company may share fault.
Steps to Take After a Forklift Injury
The actions you take after a forklift accident can affect both your medical recovery and your legal claim. If you are physically able, try to protect your health first and then preserve information about the incident.
Seek medical care as soon as possible and report the accident to your supervisor right away. Prompt reporting creates a record that can support your claim and reduce later disputes.
You should also try to:
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
- Keep records of symptoms and appointments.
- Save photos of the scene and your injuries.
- Get names of witnesses if possible.
- Avoid giving detailed statements to insurers before legal advice.
A forklift accident attorney in Staten Island can step in early to help protect your rights and deal with insurance issues.
Returning to Work After a Forklift Injury
A doctor may release you to full duty, keep you out of work, or allow you to return with restrictions. Those restrictions may limit lifting, standing, walking, bending, or operating equipment.
Your employer may offer temporary or modified work. Compare the assigned duties with the restrictions from your medical provider and report any work that causes new or worsening symptoms.
Keep records if your injury reduces your hours or earnings. Pay stubs, schedules, and work restrictions can help document the financial effect of returning at a lower wage.
Deadlines for a Forklift Workers’ Compensation Claim
New York workers generally must notify their employer within 30 days of a workplace injury. The Workers’ Compensation Board recommends giving notice as soon as possible, preferably in writing.
A workers’ compensation claim generally must be filed within two years of the workplace injury or illness.
Do not treat those deadlines as a reason to delay. Video may be erased, equipment can return to service, and witnesses can become harder to locate long before the filing period ends.
Talk With a Forklift Accident Lawyer in Staten Island
A forklift accident can affect your health, income, and ability to return to physical work. Records from the workplace, medical providers, and equipment inspections can help establish what happened and which claims may apply.
Shulman & Hill brings more than 200 years of combined legal experience to injury cases across New York. A forklift accident lawyer in Staten Island can review your injury, workers’ compensation benefits, site evidence, and possible third-party claims.
Contact Shulman & Hill today for a free consultation.
