New York City Forklift Accident Lawyers

Forklifts, which are classified as powered industrial trucks, are a staple in many industries. Used to move materials in containers or on pallets, forklifts can also be used to lower, raise, or remove large objects. Forklift accidents can result in serious injuries that bring mounting medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses. New York’s Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman P.C. lawyers have more than 80 years combined experience seeking justice and compensation for New York City area residents and have recovered more than  $800 Million in compensation for injured victims and grieving families.

Hazards of operating a forklift

Operating a forklift is not without risk. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), forklift operators and other employees who work around the operation of forklifts are at risk of forklift collisions, tip-overs, and falls. In addition, workers may suffer injury when:

• Forklifts are accidentally driven off of the loading dock
• Workers are struck by a forklift
• Forklifts fall in between docks and an unsecured trailer
• Workers fall when on elevated tines and palletS

Safety standards for forklifts

Safety standards developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are designed to keep workers safe. It is a violation of Federal law for individuals under the age of 18 years to operate a forklift. Furthermore, it is also a violation of Federal law for anyone over the age of 18 years who is not properly trained and certified to operate a forklift.

OSHA provides specific safety requirements for forklifts including:

Forklift operation

• Wearing a seatbelt when vehicle is equipped with one
• Placing the forklift in neutral and setting the parking brake prior to raising the load
• Not exceeding the rated load and ensuring that the weight is balanced
• Keeping a safe distance from ramp and platform edges
• Being mindful of other forklifts in the work area
• Using the grab bar and proper footing when entering a forklift
• Maintaining unrestricted visibility of the work area when loading and operating a forklift
• Using mirrors, lights, and horns
• Observing the speed limit
• Watching for pedestrians in the work area
• Forklift safety training
• Operation of forklifts is restricted to those who have completed the necessary training
• Forklift operators should be trained in all types of trucks that are in use at the work site
• Forklift maintenance
• Preventative maintenance measures should be performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• All forklifts should be kept in clean condition, free of excess oil and grease, and free of lint
• Forklifts found to be in unsafe operating condition should be removed from service

New York labor laws protect workers from injury

New York’s labor laws were implemented to protect workers from sustaining injuries at the workplace. Specifically:

• Section 200 of New York labor law provides that contractors and owners are required to implement safety measures that ensure safe workplaces and protect employees from injury
• Section 240 of New York labor law is also known as the “scaffolding law”, which protects the rights of workers if they have been struck by a falling object or if they have suffered an injury in a high fall
• Section 241 of New York labor law provides that, at a work site, specific safety measures must be enforced and safety equipment available

I was injured in a forklift accident. Can I file a personal injury claim?

If you have suffered a workplace injury such as a forklift accident, you may be wondering what legal options are available. Personal injury law was designed to protect those who have been injured due to another person or entity’s negligent behavior. Negligence is at the heart of all personal injury lawsuits; without it, there is no basis for a claim. A number of safety precautions are available to employers to minimize the risk of their employees becoming injured on the job.

If, for example, New York labor laws or OSHA safety guidelines were ignored, and that safety violation contributed to the cause of your forklift accident, then that may constitute negligence on the part of your employer or contractor. When filing a personal injury claim, you may receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, all of which are known as “compensatory damages”.

Have questions regarding a personal injury claim for your forklift accident? We are here to help

At the Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman P.C. we believe workers should be protected from workplace injury and that when an injury is sustained, the party responsible should be held accountable. If you have suffered a forklift injury, you may have the basis for a personal injury claim. Our skilled legal team aggressively fights on behalf of accident victims, with a track record of successfully recovering the maximum compensation under law. We work on a contingency basis, so you only pay when we win. Contact a member of our team to arrange for a confidential consultation to discuss your forklift or other accident at 917-893-3514 or contact us online. We have 2 offices for your convenience and can come to you in your home or hospital if necessary.

Our team helps you get the compensation you deserve

At the Lipsig Law Firm, our results-driven personal injury attorneys are dedicated to recovering the maximum compensation allowed under New York law. Our top trial attorneys and prominent New York litigators have secured several multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. For example, our New York City construction accident attorneys have recovered the following:

$8 million verdict

Our skilled attorneys convinced a jury that our client’s construction-related fall was the basis for a subsequent lumbar disc hernia three years later, which required several surgical procedures. The jury awarded our client more than $6 million, which – when legal interest is added to the verdict – will be more than $8 million.

$4.5 million settlement

Our team obtained a $4.5 million settlement for our client who sustained a construction-related fall of 15 feet, resulting in injuries to his heels and surgery to both legs.

$3 million settlement

Our construction accident attorneys recovered $3 million for our client who fell off a ladder, fractured his leg, and required several surgical procedures.

$3 million verdict

Our personal injury attorneys recovered $3 million for our client for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering for the multiple fracture dislocations and surgeries he sustained in an unsecured ladder fall.

$2.6 million

Construction accident attorneys at the Lipsig Law Firm recovered $2.6 million for our client, who fell through a defective outdoor scaffold and sustained severe knee and back injuries.