Forklift Truck Accident Claims

Injuries involving forklift or rider-operated lift trucks are common. It’s not that surprising when you think that these vehicles are found in a wide range of industries and sectors. Warehouses use them to move heavy pallets loaded with products, construction sites for moving building materials and they’re found on farms across the UK to name just a few. 

 

As with any work machinery, there are responsibilities on the employer to take every opportunity to reduce the possibility of an accident occurring. 

 

This includes: 

 

Making sure that operatives are properly trained to use a forklift truck. 

That the truck is not used for any purpose for which it was not intended. 

Maintaining machinery to ensure that it is in proper working order. 

Having clear demarcation lines for where a truck can be used. 

 

There is an approved code of Practice produced by the Health and Safety Commission. It’s called Rider-Operated Lift Trucks: Operator Training and outlines the minimum levels of safety and training that must be provided for employees using a forklift truck. 

 

Due diligence on the part of the employer involves making sure that operators have a full field of view when they are using a truck of this type and undertaking regular maintenance checks by certified staff. If there are problems, they need to be recorded. 

 

Employers should not use a vehicle if there is a potential problem. Issues such as wearing the right protective gear and high visibility uniform are also key as is having the right protective barriers/demarcation points in place to ensure that people don’t wander into the path of a forklift truck. 

 

All these clear guidelines should help to keep forklift drivers and those around as safe as possible within the workplace. 

 

Types of Forklift Truck Accident 

 

There are number of reasons why accidents occur with forklift trucks – some of the most common ones are through lack of training, poor maintenance of trucks and lack of adequate supervision to make sure that the right procedures are being followed. 

 

If your employer hasn’t clearly defined where a forklift can be used, for instance, or the appropriate safeguards are not p 

ut in place, employees can either be hit by trucks or find themselves at risk of falling goods. If a truck has a mechanical problem, but is still being used, it can certainly raise the risk of an accident happening to the driver or those working in the area. 

 

Because of the size and weight of the machinery involved, forklift accidents can be serious and Health & Safety Executive research shows that 75% of those involved in such an incident have taken substantial time off work to recover. This can lead to loss of earnings but can also mean a person is no longer be physically able to perform their job. 

 

 

At DSM Legal, we have a personal injury team in place with a broad range of experience in forklift truck accident claims. We appreciate that it can be hard for a person who has suffered in an accident to come forward and make that initial claim. 

 

We provide a free and confidential initial consultation where we can tell you whether you have reasonable grounds for a claim and put your mind at ease concerning your legal rights. We also have access to medical specialists and physios who can assist you in the recovery process so that you can hopefully get back to a normal life. 

 

Making a personal injury claim can be a daunting prospect. DSM Legal are on hand to help you through the various stages on a no win no fee basis. Contact our friendly, professional team today.