Brooklyn Forklift Accident Lawyer

Brooklyn is known for its industrial buildings. There is quite a number of factories, stores, and warehouses, all of which commonly use forklifts to organize and move their goods effortlessly. Using a forklift can be more efficient, eliminating the need for tough, manual labor.

Working with forklifts can be hazardous. A forklift accident can occur when the operator is not properly trained on how to use the equipment. Issues can also arise when there are malfunctions with the equipment itself. In either case, the injuries suffered can be severe and even fatal.

A qualified and experienced attorney in Brooklyn can help you recover the workers’ compensation you may be entitled to. To learn more about your legal options, review your case with a Brooklyn forklift accident lawyer at Shulman & Hill.

Brooklyn Forklift Accidents: What You Need to Know

If you work in Brooklyn and your job involves working with a forklift, you most likely know how important it is to prioritize safety and adhere to all guidelines and policies to avoid accidents. Your employer must also take reasonable steps to ensure you and your coworkers are safe.

Even when exercising caution, forklift accidents can still happen. These accidents are relatively common. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the course of a six-year period, 614 workers lost their lives in on-the-job accidents involving forklifts in the U.S. Additionally, approximately 7,000 American workers sustain injuries resulting from forklift accidents every year that are severe enough to prevent them from returning to work, at least temporarily.

Brooklyn forklift accidents can take many forms. They include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following:

• Falling loads striking workers
• Workers being struck or run over by forklifts
• Forklifts overturning, injuring anyone operating a forklift, as well as those nearby
• Electrocution accidents
• Falls from forklifts

There are many common causes of forklift accidents, such as lack of training or negligence. Other common causes of forklift accidents are:

• Forklift defects
• Improper forklift maintenance
• Failure to communicate safety procedures
• Overloading a forklift
• Failure to provide necessary safety gear
• Failure to prepare worksites according to safety standards

Brooklyn Forklift Accidents: Potential Injuries

The types of injuries you may sustain in a Brooklyn forklift accident are wide-ranging and may include:

• Broken and/or fractured bones
• Head trauma, potentially resulting in cognitive difficulties and memory problems
• Spinal cord injuries, which may result in paralysis
• Crush injuries
• Lacerations

Most injuries sustained in a forklift accident usually require medical treatment. Depending on the severity of your injury, along with the medical care you receive in the immediate aftermath of the accident, you might also need to undergo long-term rehabilitation.

Medical bills can pile up, making your financial situation more difficult. Your injuries may prevent you from work until you are recovered, resulting in lost wages.

What to Do After a Brooklyn Forklift Accident

If you are involved in a forklift accident in Brooklyn, report the incident to your supervisor right away. It is important that there is a report of the incident on file.

Next, seek medical attention even if you do not notice any signs of injury. Not only may it prevent you from developing a serious condition over time, but it will also potentially help your future claim.

Seeking Compensation After a Brooklyn Forklift Accident

Brooklyn forklift accidents often occur at work. If you are ever injured in such an accident, you can likely seek compensation for your losses by filing a claim for workers’ compensation.

The process of securing what you are likely eligible for in these circumstances can be more challenging than you might expect. Strongly consider working with a law firm in Brooklyn to help you pursue workers’ compensation benefits.

How a Brooklyn Forklift Accidents Law Firm Can Help

Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer may not approve your claim right away. There are several arguments they can make to suggest you are not entitled to compensation. They may argue that:

• Your accident was not work-related.
• Your accident happened because you intentionally tried to injure yourself in hopes of a payout.

This highlights one of the primary reasons why hiring a forklift accident attorney can be beneficial. We can investigate the accident and collect evidence to show that you are genuinely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

If you work with an insurer directly instead of hiring an attorney, they may try to convince you to settle for a payout that does not fully compensate you for your losses. Their main goal might be to protect their own financial interests. This is another reason it is wise to seek representation from the experts at our forklift accidents law firm in Brooklyn.

Our attorneys will negotiate aggressively on your behalf. They can handle all major correspondence with the insurance company, as well as the many administrative tasks the claims process involves. This gives you more time to focus on your recovery.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

It may seem difficult to find a lawyer in Brooklyn you can trust to deliver results. Most attorneys will promise they are qualified to handle your case. At Shulman & Hill, we have a proven track record of success and have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients over the years.

Call us today at 718.852.4700 or schedule a free legal consultation online to learn more about how we can assist you. We can take on all the paperwork, file the claim on your behalf, and negotiate with the insurance company while you spend time recovering from your injuries.