Forklifts are necessary equipment in California’s massive warehousing and shipping industries, especially here in Southern California. These machines, however, are hazardous as well.
Hundreds of workplace fatalities and thousands of severe accidents occur every year across California. When a serious injury happens as a result of a forklift accident, the workers’ compensation process can quickly become overwhelming.
Forklift Accidents Table of Contents
Why forklift accidents happen
General industry statistics often indicate that a high percentage of forklift incidents, such as an estimated 70% by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), could be prevented with enhanced safety practices. The most frequent and dangerous causes include:
- Tip-overs: Excessive speed, sharp turns, or carrying unstable loads often cause a forklift to tip over.
- Pedestrian collisions: Blind spots, poor visibility, distracted operators, or a lack of clearly marked walkways can frequently cause workers on foot to be struck.
- Mechanical failure: Ignoring maintenance issues, such as faulty brakes or leaking hydraulics, can cause a sudden loss of control.
- Inadequate training: Operators may lack the proper certification or sufficient practice to handle complex, high-traffic work environments.
These factors create a hazardous environment that puts you and your coworkers at serious risk.
Devastating Injuries and Long-Term Impact
Forklift accidents rarely result in minor injuries. Because of the sheer weight of the equipment, the outcomes are often life-altering. You could face catastrophic results like:
- Crush injuries to the torso and limbs from being pinned between the lift and a fixed object
- Severe fractures and broken bones that require extensive surgery and rehabilitation
- Spinal cord injuries may lead to temporary or permanent paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from rollovers or impacts with falling loads
These injuries often require long-term care, which makes securing your full workers’ compensation benefits absolutely critical.
Immediate steps for injured workers
If you or a coworker is hurt, you must act fast to protect your health and your claim. Take these critical steps right away:
- Seek medical attention immediately: Always see a doctor first. Even if an injury seems minor, severe conditions like a TBI can have delayed symptoms.
- Report the injury: Tell your supervisor about it right away, and provide notice to your employer no later than 30 days after the incident. Be sure to state clearly that the incident happened at work.
- File the DWC-1 claim form: You must complete the employee section of this form and immediately return it to your employer. This action formally begins the process; your employer is responsible for forwarding the completed form to the claims administrator.
- DWC-1 claim forms:
- Document everything: Write down the names of any witnesses, take photos of the scene if it is safe, and keep a detailed log of your pain and daily symptoms.
The legal complexity of these severe workplace injuries means that having a skilled attorney helping you wholly and correctly file your workers’ comp claims is essential for securing maximum benefits.
A forklift accident can be life-changing. Understanding how these injuries happen is only the beginning of your journey. Taking immediate, correct action to secure your workers’ compensation benefits is paramount to your physical and financial recovery. Your priority should be healing and focusing on recovery.