Forklift Accident Lawyer in NYC

Forklifts are dangerous machines. They can weigh up to nine-thousand (9000) pounds, travel up to eighteen (18) miles an hour, and are heavier in the back making it difficult to handle. Forklifts are used to lift heavy objects high into the air, which is always dangerous, and the objects are lifted from the front obstructing the view of an operator. Forklift accidents are all too common. Every year approximately eighty-nine (89) workers are killed in forklift accidents. Workplace forklift accidents account for around thirty-five thousand (35,000) serious injuries and another sixty-two thousand (62,000) non-serious injuries every year. Amazingly, eleven percent (11%) of all forklifts are involved in accidents each year. Forklift accidents are common on construction sites, in warehouses, and factories. Construction workers are highly susceptible to forklift accidents on construction sites. 

Types of Forklift Accidents

There are many types of forklift accidents. By far the most common forklift accidents are rollovers. Overturning accounts for about twenty-four percent (24%) of all forklift accidents at the work site. Pedestrians may be hit by forklifts, falling loads, mechanical failures, and emission poisoning are all other common accidents. Other forklift incidents include falling loads, workers falling from forks, blocked site accidents, and workers being crushed by a forklift. Forklift operators often lack training. 

• Rollovers – The main causes of forklift rollovers are turning too quickly, overweight or unbalanced loads, driving with uneven or elevated loads, and turning too quickly.
• Pedestrian Impacts – Machines and workers working closely together can lead to workers on foot being hit by a forklift. This is one of the most common forklift accidents.
• Operator Training – Unfortunately, employers do not always train forklift operators adequately despite strict laws requiring certification. According to OSHA, about seventy percent (70%) of all forklift accidents could be avoided with proper operator training.
• Falling Loads – Forklifts carry heavy loads. Sometimes workers do not adequately secure the loads. Loads can be unbalanced when placed on the lift. Moving the lift too fast also is a cause of falling forklift loads.
• Being Crushed by a Forklift— One of the more serious forklift accidents are crushing incidents.  This usually occurs from operator error or from falling loads. 

New York City Forklift Accident Lawyers

The lawyers of Pazer Epstein Jaffe Fein & Gozenput, P.C. are committed to workplace safety. Forklift accidents are too common in New York. New York Labor Law requires that employers provide a reasonably safe work environment for their employees. If you have been injured by a forklift, we are here to help recover financial compensation for the damages you suffered. You may bring a personal injury lawsuit against your employer for lost past or future wages, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and more.

We encourage workers who have suffered an injury due to a forklift accident to contact us for a free consultation. New York Law limits the time to file a personal injury or worker’s compensation claim. We are in New York City and may be reached at (212) 847-5007 or in Long Island at (718) 954-9986.