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No Win No Fee Forklift truck accident claims.
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When you work with MG Legal's accident at work solicitors, you get:
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Suffered a forklift truck accident at work in the last 3 years? Call 01772 783314 Or, fill in your details and our personal injury solicitors will contact you within one working hour.
A guide to forklift truck accident claims:
Get in touch today to start your claim for accident at work compensation
MG Legal's no win no fee personal injury solicitors accept all Personal Injury Compensation claims on a "No Win, No Fee" basis and have a success rate of over 99%
What is a forklift truck accident claim?
When you are working with forklift trucks, or in an environment where they are being used, there is always a degree of risk involved. Whether it is inadequate training being provided to a forklift truck driver, faulty trucks, or a failure to create safe walking areas where the trucks are being used, there are a number of risks involved around forklift trucks.
When you are working on or around forklift trucks, it is your employer’s responsibility to follow all available safety regulations, to make sure employees are as safe as possible. If your employer has breached this duty of care to you, and failed to minimise the risks of forklift truck accident, then you could be entitled to make a no win no fee forklift truck accident claim with our specialist accident at work solicitors.
To speak to a solicitor about your potential forklift truck accident claim, simply contact us online here for a free no obligation consultation within one working hour.
Forklift truck accident claims
According to health and safety experts, the number of forklift truck accidents leading to serious injuries has risen by almost 1/3 in recent months. In the last two years alone, there have been almost 6,000 reports of serious forklift truck accidents in the UK, and 12 tragic fatalities associated to forklift truck accidents.
It is thought that around 5 people every day seek hospital treatment because of forklift truck accidents, a worrying statistic to many who have to worth with and around forklift trucks as part of their job role. Something that might be surprising to some, is that around 57% of those injured in forklift truck accident claims are actually pedestrians, rather than those directly involved in using the forklift truck vehicles. Read on for more information about forklift truck accidents, and how you can make a claim for personal injury compensation through a forklift truck accident claim.
How much can I claim for in a forklift truck accident claim?
No two accidents are the same, which means that no two personal injury claims for compensation are the same. When you work with a specialist accident at work solicitor such as MG Legal, we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that everything is taken into account when building your forklift accident claim.
The special damages aspect of your claim are calculated on an individual basis, and can often make up the large majority of personal injury claims and their value. In terms of the general damages aspect of the claim, this compensation will cover the pain and suffering of the injuries alone, and will be calculated by your solicitor based on the injuries that you have sustained, and the severity of them.
Our specialist accident at work solicitors have put together the following table outlining compensation available for different injuries alone:
|
Type of injury: |
Financial compensation available: |
|
Loss of both legs in a forklift truck accident |
£264,650 |
|
Loss of one leg because of a forklift truck accident |
£129,010 |
|
Severe leg injuries caused by a forklift truck accident |
£127,530 |
|
Severe shoulder injuries in a forklift truck accident |
£45,070 |
|
Moderate shoulder injuries after a forklift truck accident |
£11,980 |
|
Severe neck injuries from a forklift truck accident |
£139,210 |
|
Moderate neck injuries after a forklift truck accident |
£36,120 |
|
Minor neck injuries because of a forklift truck accident |
£7,410 |
No Win No Fee Compensation:
MG Legal's leading personal injury solicitors in Preston accept all accident at work claims on a "No Win, No Fee" basis, and have a success rate of over 99%.
Our team put your first, and work with care to achieve your financial compensation. Call us today on a free, no-obligation basis at: 01772 783314
Get in touch today to speak to a No Win No Fee Solicitor.
What kind of financial losses can you claim in a fork lift truck personal injury claim?
As detailed above, in addition to compensation for your personal injury, you are entitled to claim for financial losses, known as Special Damages, which commonly include the following:
Lost Earnings: Any time off work following the incident, either as a direct result of your injuries or future absences due to the injuries or treatment can be included in a claim against the fault party
Treatment Costs: Treatment which improves your prospects of recovery can generally be included in a claim. Commonly this is in the form of physiotherapy or CBT treatments, but can extend to any recognised medical treatment which is recommended to improve your recovery.
Care Costs: This includes direct care, such as a relative, friend or professional looking after you whilst you are recovering but also for performing other tasks such as shopping, gardening or cleaning until you are able to do so yourself again.
Travel or Transport Costs: If you need to go to appointments or for treatment, you can claim for the cost of the attendance such as mileage, parking costs etc. Alternatively, if you utilise public transport including taxis you can include the fares in your claim.
Future adaptations/needs: Should your injury be more severe, or require longer term treatment, you can include this in your claim. Examples include simple items such as, say, insoles for your shoes or costs of camouflage treatment for minor scars up to major adaptations such as fitting stair lifts or modifying/replacing your car.
These, and any other losses you believe have been caused as a result of being injured at work, can be included in your claim. Speak to your dedicated personal injury solicitors at MG Legal to discuss all potential options and we will ensure that the maximum possible compensation is recovered for you.
How does a forklift truck personal injury claim work?
Most forklift truck personal injury claims will be brought by your expert solicitor as an Employer’s Liability Claim, although occasionally the incident might be a Public Liability Claim. Ultimately, we are here to navigate the protocols for you and so, all that MG Legal ask of our clients is that you help us to work on your case by giving us the instruction we need.
Nearly all employer’s liability forklift truck personal injury claims will fall under some part of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). These regulations state that equipment for work must be:
• suitable for the intended use;
• safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure it is correctly
installed and does not subsequently deteriorate;
• used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and
• accompanied by suitable health and safety measures, such as protective devices
and controls. These will normally include emergency stop devices, adequate
means of isolation from sources of energy, clearly visible markings and warning
devices;
• used in accordance with specific requirements, for mobile work equipment and
power presses.
Whilst there is a lot more to PUWER than the above points, it is highly likely that any incident causing you personal injury will in some way have contravened one or more parts of PUWER. Provided you give your specialist personal injury solicitor at MG Legal a clear version of events, it is our job, something we do on a daily basis, to find the exact piece of legislation or regulation that brings about an admission of liability in your claim.
Once your dedicated solicitor has secured an admission of liability, they will set about finding a suitable medical expert to produce a medical report which summarises your injuries. The report, which will detail the type of injuries you have suffered, their effects on your life, your estimated recovery time and any long term effects, will then be used to value your personal injury compensation, also known as General Damages and Special Damages. When your claim settles, our aim is to see all of your losses recovered in full, plus a proper award for your personal injury, so that you can then move forward and put the incident behind you, and move on with your life.
How to start a forklift truck accident claim:
When looking to pursue a forklift accident claim, the first step is to get in touch with a specialist accident at work solicitor who can work on your claim. The personal injury claims process can be complex and confusing, and you need the legal expertise and help of a fully qualified and experienced solicitor.
Simply get in touch with an accident at work solicitor, here, and you will hear back from us within one working hour. After an initial, no-obligation with a solicitor about your potential claim, MG Legal will get a simple claim form sent out for you to fill in and get back to us. This will give us the information that we need to get to work on building your forklift accident claim the same working day, and win financial compensation on your behalf. The personal injury claim process can seem overwhelming, but with the help of our specialist accident at work solicitors, it will be entirely stress-free for you as our client.
What proof do I need to claim for a forklift truck personal injury?
Firstly, if you sustain injury ensure that you seek medical assistance for any serious or life-threatening injury. Provided you feel able to do so, it often helps to take photographs or a short video of the item or hazard which has caused your injury, or of the final position of the forklift truck after the accident.
address as witnesses and your solicitor at MG Legal will contact them to assist in supporting your claim. Ensure that the incident is recorded in an accident book at work and make certain that any version of events written down by other people is accurate before you sign a report form or accident book entry. Also ask that any CCTV footage of the incident is saved as this is often key evidence in any claim. If In doubt about your injuries seek medical attention and your medical records can be obtained later for provision to an expert to evidence your injuries.
After doing all of this, all that your expert solicitor at MG Legal will ask of you is that you respond to any request for information or instruction and that you attend any appointments made for you, such as your medical expert’s assessment. This means that we can get on with making your claim and getting it to a successful conclusion, whilst recovering the maximum possible award for your injuries.
And if you have any questions or queries abour making a claim for personal injury, then please feel free to contact our personal injury solicitors, for a no obligation chat.
Serious forklift truck accidents:
Pets at Home worker died after forklift truck accident: In October of 2021, an employee at a Pets at Home warehouse was involved in a forklift truck accident where he became trapped between the forklift truck and another surface. He was quickly rushed to hospital but died just 4 days later of a brain injury, mechanical asphyxiation and entrapment. While the specifics of the incident are not yet known, and it is unclear whether there was negligence on the part of the employer, an inquest has not been launched into the tragic forklift truck accident, and our accident at work solicitors will be following it closely. ( https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/pets-home-fork-lift-
truck-6160951 )
Company fined £600,000 after forklift truck accident: Earlier this year, a food processing company was fined £600,000 after an employee was badly injured in a forklift truck accident at work. The forklift truck accident occurred when a worker became trapped under a container being carried by the forklift truck, while walking along the designated walkway in the warehouse. After the forklift truck accident, the Health and Safety Executive carried out an investigation, and found that adequate risk assessments were not put in place in the warehouse at the time, and that the accident was a direct risk of this failure. This was a serious forklift truck accident, that resulted in the employee suffering from serious injuries, including the loss of a leg.
Blackburn lighting firm fined for forklift truck accident: The East Lancashire based lighting company has been fined after one of their employees died in a forklift truck accident. The forklift truck accident happened in the company’s warehouse, when the forklift truck hit a steel beam in the warehouse setting. When this happened, the forklift truck overturned, completely crushing a member of staff who was stood nearby. The subsequent investigation by the HSE showed that the company’s system of work was not safe, and that it put their employees at risk. It was revealed that the Blackburn company failed to address the risk that the steel beams in the warehouse caused, and the risk of forklift truck accidents in the workplace. The company simply assumed that employees would know to lower the forklift truck vehicle. Since this, they have revised their working practices to avoid the steel beams in the warehouse.
All of these cases above show how serious forklift truck accidents, and fatal forklift truck accidents, can easily be caused by the negligence of the employer, and their failure to carry out risk assessments and maintain safe working practices for their employees. If you are one of the thousands of people injured at work, and are thinking of making a claim for compensation, then do not hesitate to contact the no win no fee solicitors at MG Legal.
Our straight-forward no win no fee claims process:
Free, no obligation consultation
MG Legal's specialist solicitors offer a free, no obligation consultation to all potential clients.
Start your no win no fee claim
We accept all claims on a no win no fee basis, and will begin building your claim the same day.
Hassle-free claims process
Your designated solicitor will be in regular contact, and keep you updated throughout the claims process.
Maximum compensation awards
Our team go above and beyond to achieve the maximum financial comepnsation for our clients.
Why are forklift truck accidents so dangerous?
All workplace equipment and machinery come with a degree of risk of accidents and injuries occurring. Whether it’s inadequate training, a failure to carry out risk assessments, or faulty equipment, a number of factors play a part and increase the chances of workplace accidents occurring.
However, the size and weight of forklift trucks, and their ability to carry such heavy objects, means that forklift truck accidents come with a higher risk of injury than many other workplace accidents. Industrial counterbalance forklift trucks, which are the most commonly used in warehouse and factory settings, can carry up to three times the weight of the average car, and are therefore extremely dangerous if something does go wrong. According to the Health and Safety Executive, forklift truck accidents make up to a quarter of all accidents at work, making them relatively much more dangerous than most other workplace machinery and equipment.
What are my employer's legal responsibilities to prevent forklift truck accidents?
Along with all other workplace activities, employers have a legal responsibility under The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, to keep their employees safe from injury at all times. If you have been injured in a forklift truck accident at work, and your employer has broken their legal duty of care to you, you are entitled to make a no win no fee forklift truck accident claim for financial compensation.
Examples of duty of care breaches that could lead to forklift truck accident claims, include:
Inadequate training
Failure to maintain machinery
Failure to implement safe working practices
If you have been injured in a forklift truck accident for one of the above reasons, or in any other way, then do not hesitate to get in touch with our no win no fee forklift truck accident solicitors here at MG Legal for a free, no-obligation consultation with a specialist no win no fee personal injury solicitor.
Farmer ‘lucky to be alive’ after forklift truck accident-
In October of 2020, a farmer in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire was only millimetres away from a tragic death after he became impaled on a piece of metal attached to his forklift truck. The farmer was using the forklift truck to transport straw bales on the farm when the forklift truck accident occurred. While he was removing some of the straps from the trailer, stood between it and the forklift, the forklift truck rolled forwards and the farmer became impaled on one of the tines.
The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) quickly came to the scene, and began providing pre-hospital medical care, before he went to hospital for serious surgery to remove the object.
In the forklift truck accident, the forklift truck impaled him from his lower back to his abdomen. This posed a major risk to a number of internal organs and blood vessels. Once at the hospital, surgeons had to work through the night on a complex operation that lasted almost 7 hours.
Since these injuries, the farmer has made a full recovery just a year later, and is more aware of the importance of safe working practices when using forklift trucks, and how serious forklift truck accidents can be, even when caused by a split second mistake. This forklift truck accident is a stark reminder to workers up and down the country of how dangerous forklift trucks can be, even to those who are well experienced with using them and used to using them day in day out.
Poultry companies fined after worker crushed by forklift truck-
In February of 2022, two poultry companies have been fined after an employee has suffered from catastrophic injuries when he was crushed by a forklift truck accident at work. Both companies plead guilty to health and safety offences relating to the incident, which was solidified by the The Health and Safety Executive investigation. It was found that the employees were working in near dark conditions, with the lights of the forklift trucks being the only source of light in the work environment.
Despite the dark conditions, employees had been provided with no company torches, and were wearing dark overalls. Both poultry companies involved have been found to have failed their employees, and broken health and safety legislation, causing the forklift truck accident. After the court hearing, the HSE representative said ‘“The very real risks associated with forklift trucks are well known. In this particular case, reasonable measures to prevent vehicle collisions with workers were not in place in a work area where there was an increased risk due to the dark conditions.”
This was a very serious forklift truck accident, that our accident at work solicitors were saddened to read of, with the employee being left with life-changing injuries due to the negligence of his employers. If you have been injured in a forklift truck accident at work, it could well be that your employer also broke their legal duty of care to protect your safety, and you could be eligible to make a no win no fee forklift truck accident claim with our specialist accident at work solicitors.
To learn more about forklift truck accident claims, contact our accident at work solicitors online here for a free no-obligation discussion of your potential no win no fee forklift truck accident claim.
What types of forklift truck accidents are there?
Even if you do not personally work with, or drive, forklift trucks, forklift truck accidents are a risk to anybody working in the same vicinity as the vehicles, and everyone should be aware of this risk. The huge weight that forklift trucks can carry, and the obstruction of view that these heavy loads can cause, poses a huge risk for crush injuries, to other workers, or it working outside, even pedestrians walking nearby the forklift truck can be in danger of suffering a crush injury.
It is a legal requirement for employers to not only protect those employees driving the forklift trucks, but also to have health and safety procedures in place to protect other employees in the workplace, and any member of the general public who might be affected. However, these legal requirements are not always maintained, and it is not uncommon for managers to slack on health and safety standards in favour of work speed.
Some of the forklift truck accidents causing injury to those nearby, and employees NOT driving forklift trucks, can include:
Objects falling from the forklift truck, or objects falling from height where a forklift truck has collided with a shelf in a warehouse
Dangerous driving causing forklift truck accidents, such as forklift truck drivers cutting corners and driving in pedestrian areas, or speeding
Alternatively, some forklift truck accidents that pose risk to those driving forklift trucks, include:
Objects obstructing the pathway of the forklift truck causing collisions or causing pedestrians to leave their designated pathway
Poorly maintained surfaces, including potholes
Whether you have been injured in a forklift truck accident as a pedestrian, or while driving a forklift truck, you could be entitled to claim financial compensation in a no win no fee claim with our specialist accident at work solicitors. Simply contact us online here to learn more about forklift truck accidents, and how we can help, on a no win no fee basis.
Who will pay for my forklift truck accident claim?
When we talk to potential clients who are looking to make a forklift truck accident claim, many of them are unsure or wary about who will finance their forklift truck accident claim, and where the financial compensation will come from when they win their forklift truck accident claim.
In terms of financing the forklift truck accident claim itself, and how much it costs to make a forklift truck accident claim, our specialist solicitors at MG Legal accept all of our claims on a no win no fee basis. This means that it costs nothing to begin your forklift truck accident claim, and there will be no costs or fees up-front, or throughout the process. If you do not successfully win financial compensation in your claim, then you will not owe us a penny. If we successfully win your forklift truck accident claim, as is the case with over 99% of our clients, you will simply pay a 25% success fee out of the financial compensation that you achieve.
In regards to who will pay out the financial compensation that you receive in your forklift truck accident claim, this will come out of your employer’s ‘employers’ liability insurance’. This policy is in place to compensate any employees who are injured at work, and means that any compensation will not come out of the pocket of your employer or the company itself, and will be covered by the insurance they already have in place. To learn more about the financial aspect of your forklift truck accident claim, simply contact our no win no fee solicitors online here and speak to a solicitor within one working hour.
Employee fatally injured in forklift truck accident:
In early 2022, a hazardous waste treatment company in Manchester has been fined over £126k after an employee died when the forklift truck he was driving overturned and crushed him. As with all dangerous forklift truck accidents, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out a formal investigation into the incident, and found that the company had not properly considered the potential risks of forklift trucks overturning. They had also failed to properly ensure that all employees were wearing seatbelts when driving the trucks, as outlined in the company health and safety requirements, in order to prevent injuries from forklift truck accidents.
This is a legal requirement, as outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which the company was found to be in breach of, and pleaded guilty to. The company were fined £126,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,664. If you have been injured in a forklift truck accident, no matter how serious the accident was, you could be entitled to claim financial compensation through a no win no fee forklift truck accident claim with our specialist no win no fee personal injury solicitors.
MG Legal’s expert personal injury solicitors in Preston have a success rate in excess of 99%, and settle many thousands of personal injury claims every year. Click below to learn more about our team, and why they are the right solicitors for you.
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How long have I got to make a claim?
Subject to the Limitation Act 1980, if you have been injured as a result an incident involving a forklift truck, you have three years to pursue a claim for personal injury. There are exceptions, as with most things in life, so, for those under 18 years old at time of the injury, they have three years from their 18th birthday within which to make a personal injury claim.
Time limits may differ if you are acting on behalf of someone with limited mental capacity, if you are acting as guardian or subject a lasting power of attorney. If you have any questions or queries, then please do not hesitate to contact one of MG Legal’s personal injury experts for further advice.
Can I claim for a forklift truck accident if I was partly to blame?
If you have been involved in a forklift truck accident, but the accident was partly your fault, you could still be eligible to claim personal injury compensation for your injuries. This will be done through what is known as a ‘split liability claim’, known as a claim for ‘contributory negligence’.
These claims work in much the same way, with an accident at work solicitor, but your solicitor will negotiate with your employer to establish how much of the blame they are willing to take for the accident, which will determine how much of the overall compensation you are entitled to.
These types of claims require a specialist accident at work solicitor, such as MG Legal, with a large amount of experience in complex accident at work and forklift truck accident claims. To learn more about how our team can help you, simply get in touch online, here, and a solicitor will get back to you within one working hour.
Can I claim for a forklift accident in a warehouse?
Warehouses are one of the most dangerous workplaces, and are a common place for forklift truck accidents. If you have been injured in a forklift truck accident in a warehouse, and it was not your fault, you could be eligible to make a forklift truck accident claim for your injuries.
When you work with our specialist accident at work solicitors here at MG Legal, we will work to establish whether your employer has acted negligently in any way, leading to your injuries. Whether it was inadequate training for forklift truck drivers, failing to carry out risk assessments for the use of forklift trucks in the workplace, or failing to properly maintain the safety of the forklift trucks, any negligent act by your employer like this could lead to a successful forklift truck accident claim.
To discuss your forklift truck accident injuries, and whether or not you have a claim, speak to one of our expert solicitors online, here, or contact our offices directly, for a free, no-obligation chat.
Why choose MG Legal for my fork lift truck personal injury claim?
At MG Legal, each solicitor takes a personal interest in each case and we have a dedicated department dealing with personal injury claims occurring in the workplace or in public. Our team is well versed in the ‘small-print’ within the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 or the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 for employees, as well as having extensive experience of dealing with all types of injury and settling claims successfully at all stages of the process.
When you choose MG Legal, you have a team of specialist personal injury solicitors on your side, with a success rate excess of 99% for the no win no fee personal injury claims that we accept. Our amazing success rate is testament to the fact that when we take a claim on, your claim really does have the best chance of success at every step. We believe that our confidence in our own ability is demonstrated by the fact that every personal injury claim we accept is on the basis of a no win no fee agreement, which means that if we do not succeed for our client, we do not get paid for our work.
Who is responsible if a forklift accident occurs?
When you are at work, your employer owes you a duty of care to protect you from injury. This includes taking all possible steps to prevent accidents from occurring. As part of this, employers must complete a number of checks and actions, including:
Ensuring all staff are fully trained to use the forklift truck before doing so
Completing regular risk assessments of the use of forklift trucks in the workplace, including mapping out safe pedestrian zones
Proper maintenance of forklift trucks, including regular safety checks
If your employer has failed to meet any of the necessary health and safety requirements associated with the use of forklift trucks in the workplace, and has broken their duty of care to you, then you could be eligible to make an accident at work forklift truck accident claim with MG Legal. Simply get in touch with our team online, here, for a free, no-obligation discussion of your potential claim.
What is the most common forklift accident?
The most common type of forklift truck accident that occurs in the workplace, involved pedestrians being crushed by a forklift truck vehicle tipping over. Around 42% of forklift truck accidents leading to injuries happen in this way. The next most common forklift truck accident, accounting for 25% of all forklift truck injuries, involves people being crushed between the vehicle and a surface or wall.
As can be imagined, these forklift truck accidents can result in very serious injuries to unexpected pedestrians and passers-by. If you have been injured in any way due to a forklift truck accident, whether as a driver or a pedestrian, then you could be eligible to make a forklift accident claim for financial compensation.
Simply contact our accident at work solicitors, here, for a free, no-obligation discussion of your forklift truck accident, and potential personal injury claim.
MG Legal’s expert personal injury solicitors in Preston have a success rate in excess of 99%, and settle many thousands of personal injury claims every year. Click below to learn more about our team, and why they are the right solicitors for you.
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No matter where you are injured across England and Wales, MG Legal's Accident at Work Solicitors are here to help you to achieve the financial compensation that you deserve.
For a free, no-obligation consultation with a personal injury solicitor, contact us online here. Or give us a call on 01772 783314
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