Every year hundreds of workers receive life-changing injuries that arise from serious forklift truck accidents. Statistically, one person is involved in a fatal accident involving a forklift truck every six weeks.
Warehouse and factory workers are the most common victims of forklift truck accidents, however, forklift truck drivers are also amongst those who have suffered an injury. Many of the forklift truck accidents that have been reported have been caused due to:
· Unsuitable or defective equipment
· Inadequate training
· A co-workers negligence that has led to an accident
· Falling or unstable objects
· The employer failed to provide a safe system of work or competent staff
If you are in the process of pursuing a forklift truck accident claim, or considering filing a claim for compensation, here is a brief guide to help you build a good case:
Step 1
Record the accident in the ‘accident book’ and to any line-managers, supervisors or members of the management team at your place of employment.
The importance of the accident being recorded is so that if you make a claim, your solicitor can obtain the facts surrounding the accident circumstances and your injuries.
Step 2
Seek medical attention and have you injuries accessed by your local GP or Hospital.
If you are making a compensation claim for the injuries you have suffered, your solicitor will need to know the dates and times of any medical appointments you have attended and any other medical information they can obtain to file with your claim.
The extent of your injury, the recovery of your injury and how this could affect you in the long-term is a factor this is considered when your solicitor is reviewing the amount of compensation you could be entitled to claim for.
Step 3
Ask any witnesses who saw the accident happen if they would be willing to give an independent account of the accident circumstances.
An independent account of the accident circumstances, supporting the accident was caused through no fault of your own will help to prove that the injuries you have suffered were through no fault of your own.
Step 4
Take a few photographs of your injuries and keep a copy of these to hand.
When making a claim, your solicitor will want to have a good idea about the extent of the injury. Providing your solicitor with any photographic evidence that you can supply will be filed with your claim.
Step 5
Keep a record of any financial losses you have suffered, including any loss of earnings, medical expenses, or any ‘out of pocket’ expenses you have suffered as a direct result of your injury. You could be entitled to claim for any ‘Special Damages’ you have incurred.
Step 6
Contact a no win no fee forklift accident claims solicitor to deal with your claim. There are no legal costs involved, whether your case is successful or not. If you claim is settled, you will receive 100% compensation. Your solicitor will recover all of their costs from your the employers insurers. A reputable personal injury solicitor will only approve your claim if they feel they are likely to win your case.
It is important if you are considering to make a forklift truck accident claim that you provide as much information, facts and evidence to help to build a strong case, and to prove your injuries were caused directly as a result of someone else’s negligence.
