New York Forklift Accidents Lawyer

Does your job involve working with forklifts in New York? If so, you likely already know how critical it is that you exercise caution when operating this equipment. Like many types of heavy machinery, forklifts can cause accidents that can result in severe injury when misused.

While you will hopefully never be injured in a New York forklift accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for your losses if you are. Review your case with a New York forklift accident lawyer at Shulman & Hill to learn more about your options.

New York Forklift Accidents: What You Need to Know

Research shows that forklift accidents are relatively common. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, forklift accidents claimed 64 American workers’ lives between 2011 and 2017. Additionally, they left upwards of 7,000 workers with significant enough injuries to keep them away from work, at least for some time. These findings highlight the importance of adhering to all proper safety guidelines and regulations when operating a forklift. Unfortunately, even if guidelines are followed, New York forklift accidents may still occur.

Common Forklift Accidents in New York

There are a wide array of ways that New York forklift accidents can occur. According to OSHA, the following are among the most common:

• A forklift strikes someone
• Someone falls from a forklift
• Materials loaded onto a forklift fall on someone
• Someone accidentally drives a forklift off a loading dock
• A forklift falls between a loading dock and a nearby trailer

These examples serve as a reminder that you do not need to be the one operating a forklift to be involved in a New York forklift accident. Other potential causes of New York forklift accidents include (but are not limited to) the following:

• A defective forklift
• A forklift that has not been properly maintained
• Negligent supervision
• Failure to properly train forklift operators
• Failure to enforce safety policies or effectively communicate them

New York Forklift Accident Injuries: Essential Information

Much like the possible causes of a forklift accident, the types of injuries you might sustain are wide-ranging as well. These injuries may vary depending on the nature of the accident itself. Examples include:

• Concussions or other forms of traumatic brain injury
• Back injuries
• Paralysis
• Injuries that require the amputation of a limb
• Internal organ injuries
• Blunt trauma

The injuries above (as well as those not included) will likely require at least some degree of medical treatment. As a result, being injured in a New York forklift accident could lead to costly medical bills. Additionally, your injuries could prevent you from returning to work in a temporary (or even permanent) capacity. Depending on your profession, this may mean that you will not be able to earn a paycheck.

It is also worth noting that not all losses that stem from your accident may be financial. If you have been injured in any type of forklift accident, there is a relatively good chance that you may have to endure some pain as you recover. An accident could even have a long-term negative impact on your overall quality of life.

You may be entitled to compensation for these losses. However, your chances of collecting may be much greater if you enlist the help of a forklift accident injury law firm in New York.

Forklift Accidents: Pursuing Compensation in New York

If your accident occurred while you were working, you would typically pursue compensation by filing a workers’ compensation claim. In New York, employers must have workers’ compensation insurance to cover the losses their employees may face in the aftermath of work-related accidents. However, filing a claim does not automatically lead to a payout. If you have complications surrounding your workers’ compensation claim, you should enlist the help of one of our New York workers’ compensation attorneys.

Sometimes, injured workers can also file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent party that helped caused their accident. While you cannot sue your direct employer, you can hold negligent property owners or contractors financially accountable for your losses.

The following are among the most significant reasons to work with a forklift accident law firm in New York when seeking compensation:

Investigating the Accident

Unfortunately, some insurance companies employ a range of tactics in the hopes of minimizing the amount of money they need to pay out to claimants. When an injured party files a workers’ compensation claim, an insurer may try to deny or reject it by arguing the claimant’s injuries do not qualify as “work-related.” Our New York forklift accident lawyers can conduct an investigation to help you prove that they were.

Pursuing Fair Compensation

It is difficult to negotiate for compensation effectively when you do not know which losses qualify for compensation. You may know how much your current medical bills are, but the costs of your injury do not necessarily stop there.

If your injuries require ongoing treatment and have prevented you from working, you may need assistance identifying and estimating future losses. If you are filing a personal injury lawsuit, you may also struggle to assign a dollar value to your non-financial losses, like pain and suffering.

A qualified forklift accident lawyer in New York can carefully review your losses and identify what a reasonable settlement amount would look like. Our team at Shulman & Hill can ensure you pursue an appropriate settlement that accounts for your long-term well-being.

New York Lawyer Negotiating on Your Behalf

Remember, an insurance company is a business above all else. Unfortunately, some insurance companies and their legal teams will try to offer subpar settlements to claimants to protect their bottom line.

To increase your chances of securing a settlement that is capable of meeting all of your needs, you need to present evidence showing why your losses justify the amount of compensation you are requesting. Our team of attorneys can help you do just that. If we find it is impossible to reach a fair settlement, we can even go to trial on your behalf.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

At Shulman & Hill, we understand that looking for an injury law firm in New York can be overwhelming. Some New York forklift accident attorneys may claim they can handle your case, but few have the results to back it up.

At Shulman & Hill, we have a tremendous track record and have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our past clients. Call us today at 212.221.1000 or schedule a free consultation online to learn more.