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Unfortunately, forklift accidents are more common than you would think. They qualify as a workplace accident and the Occupational and Safety Health Administration, also known as OSHA, reports that there is a high occurrence of these accidents. Recently, reports are showing nearly 35,000 serious injuries occur due to forklifts every year. Fortunately, less than one percent of those accidents lead to fatality.

If you have been injured, or lost a loved one, we are here to offer a free consultation with our McAllen forklift accident lawyer Ricardo A. Garcia.

Most Common Types of Forklift Injuries

As you may already be aware, forklift accidents have the capability of causing serious accidents and there are many different kinds of injuries that may occur in this event.

Each injury is different and needs to be brought to the attention of a medical professional. Even with treatment, you may experience pain and discomfort even years after your accident. The most common types of forklift injuries include:

• Being crushed
• Need for amputations
• Broken bones and fractures
• Degloving

There are varying causes for forklift injuries and they each pose their own hazards. It is often because people trust their machinery, and have no reason not to, that they get hurt.

Accidents are always possible and it can be devastating when they happen. Here are the top reasons why and how people get hurt when there are forklifts involved. They include:

• When a forklift is overturned. This typically happens when there is negligence operation of the forklift. If someone goes too fast, turns too quickly, or picks up a too-heavy load, the forklift can overturn. A crushing injury would often be seen in this type of forklift accident.
• Accidents often happen when workers are required to be raised and unload on the forklift. Falling accidents happen when these scenarios go awry.
• Forklifts, like any other moving and operated machine, can experience collisions. There are many factors as to why a forklift would clear and they all involve negligence to properly maintain the workplace. If a crash happens, a host of injuries can plague those of which it ails.

There are certain scenarios that make an accident more likely to happen. If there are badly kept surfaces, then there is a more likely chance of the forklift overturning.

If the shelves are too high and the load is too heavy, and workers are required to unload that in an unsafe environment, people can get hurt. Negligence puts forklift operators at risk of injury.

Important Technical Aspects to a Forklift Accident Case

The usage of a forklift is strictly maintained by OSHA. These are very powerful machines and are supposed to be operated with great care. There are safety precautions and regulations which decide who is permitted to operate a forklift and why they will be allowed to do so. For example, you need to be at least 18 years old to operate a vehicle, and you need to be will trained and certified.

OSHA gives very detailed requirements and standard guidelines to who they allow to operate a forklift. There rules are very important. They exist to prevent injury. They have put in protection regulations to help those who could potentially be hurt by a fall. These regulations include harnesses, guardrails, and protective equipment.

This is all very useful information for protection and safety. Unfortunately, with this wealth of knowledge, it is still difficult to avoid accidents. When you are hurt on a forklift, you do not always get workers’ compensation. That is why it is so important to talk to an experienced McAllen forklift accident lawyers to see how they can help you get the compensation you deserve through a personal injury case.

Forklift Accident Claims: What You Need to Know

How Forklift Injury Claims Differ From Other Accidents

Forklift accidents stand apart from typical workplace incidents in two critical ways:

• Specialized Regulations: Forklift operation is governed by specific federal and state regulations that apply to both operators and the companies responsible for their training.
• Severity of Injuries: Due to the size, weight, and industrial nature of forklifts, accidents typically result in more serious injuries compared to other workplace incidents.

Should I Talk to Insurance Companies After a Forklift Injury?

Short answer: No. Insurance companies representing the other party are not working in your best interest. When they contact you:

• Their primary goal is protecting their insured party, not helping you
• Statements you make could be used against you later
• They may attempt to minimize your claim

Our recommendation: Hire a personal injury attorney immediately and direct all insurance communications through them.

Timeline for Forklift Accident Cases

Most forklift accident cases take approximately 18-24 months to resolve, depending on several factors:

• Court scheduling: How many cases are ahead of yours in the court system
• Insurance company cooperation: Their willingness to offer fair settlement terms
• Your recovery timeline: We wait until you reach maximum medical improvement to accurately value your claim

We assess all damages only after your medical condition has stabilized, ensuring we account for all harms and losses before negotiating with the insurance company.

Determining the Value of Your Forklift Accident Claim

The value of your case depends on multiple factors:

• Injury severity: The extent and permanence of your injuries
• Causation: How and why the accident occurred
• Insurance coverage: The policy limits of the responsible parties
• Regulatory compliance: Whether federal and state forklift regulations were followed
• Liability factors: Determining all responsible parties in the accident chain

Contact Our McAllen Forklift Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation

If you have been seriously injured in a forklift accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for a personal injury case. You may be affected by your injuries for a very long time, potentially your whole life and your deserve compensation for this. We understand how hard this must be for you and we are willing and ready to take on your case. We are dedicated to helping victims of personal injury get the compensation that they deserve in the fullest amount. If you are ready to hire experienced and competent representation, please do not hesitate to call us today to get a free consultation.