Warehouses, construction sites, and industrial facilities rely heavily on lift trucks to move materials efficiently. However, these powerful machines can become dangerous when safety protocols aren’t followed or when operators lack proper training.
Every year, thousands of workers suffer serious injuries from forklift accidents, ranging from crushing injuries and falls to collisions that can be fatal.
In cases where negligence plays a role injured workers and their families may benefit from speaking with a Milwaukee injury attorney who understands how to navigate complex workplace injury claims and pursue fair compensation.
What Are Lift Trucks and Where Are They Used?
Lift trucks, commonly known as forklifts, are industrial vehicles designed to lift, move, and stack heavy materials using hydraulic forks or attachments.
You will often find these machines operating in warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, construction sites, and retail facilities. They come in various sizes and configurations, from small electric models used in tight indoor spaces to large diesel-powered units capable of handling massive loads outdoors.
Types of Lift Truck Accidents That Affect Workers
Even with proper training and certification, workers can suffer serious injuries while operating forklifts. Some of the most common types of lift truck accidents include:
- Collisions: These happen when lift trucks strike objects, other vehicles, or structures. Poor visibility caused by high material stacks often leads to misjudged distances, while excessive speed in confined areas can decrease the time it takes to react to unexpected obstacles. Inadequate training also results in poor judgment regarding stopping distances and turning maneuvers.
- Falling Load Injuries: Improperly secured materials can fall from the forks, striking workers below. Overloading causes forks to drop unexpectedly or loads to become unstable. Failing to center loads properly creates dangerous imbalances, while lifting materials too high makes them prone to shifting and falling.
- Pedestrian Accidents: These accidents occur when lift trucks hit workers on foot. Lack of communication between operators and ground personnel, as well as inadequate safety protocols, increases the risk. Distracted operators or unaware pedestrians also contribute to these tragic accidents.
- Tip-Over Incidents: These occur when the lift truck becomes unbalanced and topples forward or sideways. Overloading beyond the machine’s rated capacity shifts the center of gravity. Sharp turns at high speeds or operating on slopes or uneven surfaces can also lead to these accidents.
- Rollover Accidents: These accidents are similar to tip-overs but often involve different causes. Driving on poorly maintained or uneven surfaces can cause stability loss. Sharp turns while the mast is elevated create rollover conditions. Uneven weight distribution, especially with elevated loads, can also make vehicles unstable.
Your Legal Options After a Lift Truck Accident in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation system provides benefits to employees injured on the job, regardless of fault. If you are hurt in a lift truck accident, you are likely eligible for medical expense coverage, wage replacement, and additional benefits through this system.
However, workers’ compensation isn’t your only option. Third-party lawsuits may be possible when someone other than your employer caused your accident.
This could include equipment manufacturers if defective parts contributed to your injury, maintenance companies that failed to properly service the lift truck, or other contractors whose negligence created dangerous conditions.
Speak to the Workplace Injury Lawyers at Cannon & Dunphy S.C.
If you were hurt in a forklift accident, you deserve justice. Cannon & Dunphy S.C. represents injured workers in their claims for benefits, fighting to ensure you receive full compensation under Wisconsin law.
We can also identify when defective equipment, inadequate training, or third-party negligence opens the door to recovery beyond workers’ comp benefits.
Contact us at (262) 668-8884 today for a free case evaluation and explore all of your legal options with a Wisconsin workplace injury attorney.