Forklift Accident Claims
100% No Win No Fee
Advice on when forklift accident claims are possible and how our solicitors can help.
Excellent Reviews On
Forklift Accident Claims
100% No Win No Fee
Advice on when forklift accident claims may be possible and how our solicitors can help.
Excellent Reviews On
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Forklift accidents can lead to serious injuries and lengthy recoveries, leaving employees unsure about their rights to compensation. As a result, we’ve written this article to unravel when you may have grounds to make a forklift accident claim. You’ll learn about how the process works and what steps we recommend to give your claim the best chance of success.
Our experienced team of accident at work solicitors has a long track record of helping people claim after workplace incidents involving forklifts. We understand the complexity of these cases and pride ourselves on pursuing compensation with diligence and care.
For clear guidance on your specific situation, we invite you to read on. If you’re ready to take the next step or simply want to ask a question, feel free to contact us online or call us on 0333 091 8598 at any time.
What Is A Forklift Accident Compensation Claim?
A forklift accident claim is a legal action you can take if you’re injured in a workplace incident involving a forklift and believe employer negligence contributed to your injuries. These claims are designed to help you recover financial losses, receive medical treatment, and compensate for pain and suffering caused by the accident.
A claim might arise from accidents such as being hit by a forklift, a collision due to poor training, inadequate maintenance leading to malfunction, or even falling objects during forklift operations. Crucially, the claim focuses on whether your employer failed in their duty of care, such as not providing proper training, failing to maintain equipment, or violating health and safety regulations.
We realise that your eligibility to start a forklift claim is not always obvious. Therefore, we offer a no-obligation consultation for all callers. If your case is valid, we could assign a No Win No Fee solicitor to your case who’ll manage everything on your behalf if you both agree to work together.
As such, why not call today to see if we can help you start a forklift accident claim?
Why use us?
Free Consultation
We offer a free consultation to anyone looking to make a claim
No win, no fee
Claim experts
We use solicitors who have handled thousands of claims
When Can I Make A Forklift Accident Claim
Not every forklift accident is grounds for compensation. To make a successful claim, you need to prove three main things:
You were owed a duty of care by your employer (which is almost always true for employees).
That duty was breached, usually because safety rules weren’t followed, insufficient training was given, or machinery wasn’t maintained.
The breach directly caused your accident and injuries.
Typically, establishing a duty of care in forklift accident claims is not difficult. This is due to laws like the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 or the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998. Together, these laws mean employers must try to prevent forklift accidents and injuries.
If you’re unsure if your accident meets these criteria, our team can review your case and help you understand your rights. You may wish to read more about accident at work claims for a broader overview.
Common Forklift Accident Claims
Forklift accidents can happen for many reasons, but most successful claims share factors rooted in employer negligence. Here are some of the most common scenarios we see:
Lack of training: Injuries caused by employers failing to provide adequate forklift operation training.
Unmaintained equipment: Accidents due to machinery defects, poor maintenance, or mechanical failure.
Unsafe working environment: Forklifts used in narrow aisles, cluttered spaces or areas with poor visibility.
Improper supervision: Inadequate supervision or failure to enforce safety protocols.
Falling loads: Objects falling from raised forklift prongs due to improper loading or lack of warning.
Reversing accidents: Drivers injured because warning signals or mirrors weren’t maintained, or pedestrians weren’t separated from vehicle routes.
Speeding or reckless operation: Encouragement (explicit or implicit) of unsafe speeds to meet targets without due concern for safety.
If you’ve suffered as a result of any type of workplace forklift accident, please don’t hesitate to call. Remember, we offer free legal advice, and you’re under no obligation to take matters further.
How Our Specialists Can Help
Deciding to pursue a forklift accident claim can feel daunting, especially if you’re facing injury or financial uncertainty. That’s where we come in. Our accident at work solicitors have extensive experience handling complex workplace accident claims from start to finish.
Here’s how we make the process straightforward:
Free initial consultation: We’ll discuss your forklift accident, the circumstances, and your chances of success with no obligation.
Evidence gathering: Our team will help you collect documentation, witness statements, and expert medical reports.
Negotiation: We negotiate with insurers and employers on your behalf, using our knowledge to seek the maximum compensation available.
Litigation (if necessary): Should negotiations fail, we’re prepared to represent you in court, using our expertise to fight your corner. This step only happens in a small number of cases.
No Win No Fee representation: So you don’t pay legal fees unless your claim is successful.
Throughout, we offer clear updates, straightforward advice, and compassionate support, because we recognise how disruptive accidents of this kind can be.
How Do Make My Claim Stronger?
The best way of strengthening a forklift injury claim is to provide evidence. This can include proof of how the accident happened, who caused the accident, and how you’ve suffered as a result.
Therefore, we recommend you:
Report the accident immediately: Always report the incident to your employer and ensure it’s logged in the accident book.
Seek medical attention: Obtain a full assessment and keep copies of all medical records and treatment receipts.
Take photographs: Document the scene, machinery, your injuries, and any relevant warning signs or lack thereof.
Collect witness details: Get names and contact details of anyone who saw the accident.
Keep a diary: Note how your injuries impact your daily life, your symptoms, and recovery process.
Retain all correspondence: Save emails or texts with your employer about the accident or your injuries.
By following this checklist, you’ll help us build a detailed, compelling claim on your behalf. If you don’t have all of the evidence needed to prove your case, don’t worry. If your case is accepted, your solicitor may be able to secure further evidence on your behalf.
Do Forklift Accident Claims Have A Time Limit?
Yes, there are time limits, otherwise known as the ‘limitation period’, for all personal injury claims, including forklift accidents. Generally, you must start a claim within three years of the accident or three years from the date you became aware your injuries were work-related.
We always recommend acting as soon as possible. This not only ensures you don’t miss important deadlines but also means that evidence and memories are fresher, increasing your chance of winning compensation.
No Win No Fee Claims
No Win No Fee agreements, also called Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs), are designed to ensure you’re not financially at risk if your forklift accident claim is unsuccessful. Here’s what this means in practice:
No upfront costs: You don’t pay anything to start your claim.
No legal fees if unsuccessful: If we don’t win compensation for you, you owe nothing for our work.
Success fee only if you win: If your claim is successful, a pre-agreed success fee is deducted from your settlement (capped by law).
This approach opens up the claims process to everyone, not just those who can afford expensive legal fees. It gives you peace of mind to pursue your rights without the risk of incurring costs you can’t afford.
What Compensation Can I Claim After A Forklift Accident At Work?
If you’ve experienced a forklift accident in the workplace, there are various types of compensation that may be available to you.
This can include damages for pain and suffering, lost earnings if you’ve had to take time off work, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and any future loss of earnings should your injury have a long-term impact on your ability to work.
The amount you could receive will depend on the specific circumstances of your case, such as the severity of your injuries, the financial losses you’ve incurred, and your personal situation. It isn’t possible to give an exact figure at this stage, as every claim is assessed on its own merits and a range of factors will be taken into account when determining any award.
Try Our Compensation Calculator
Take a look at our compensation calculator to get a broad idea of what an accident at work payout could look like. The figures used in this calculator are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which is a document that provides guideline compensation brackets for different injuries and illnesses.
Compensation Bracket: 0.00
Please note that these are not guaranteed amounts, and that this calculator doesn’t take special damages into account. Contact our team today to learn more about compensation in manual handling injury claims.
Start A Forklift Injury Claim Today
If you’ve been injured in a forklift accident, don’t hesitate to reach out and speak with us about your case. We’re here to help you understand your rights, explain your options, and pursue the compensation you deserve, so you can focus on recovery, not red tape.
You can contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation online or call us on 0333 091 8598. There’s no need to face the process alone; let us take the burden off your shoulders and work with you every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions On Workplace Forklift Accident Claims
Are agency, temporary or self-employed workers eligible to claim?
Agency workers, temporary staff, and self-employed contractors can often make forklift accident claims if the workplace was under the control of another party who owed them a duty of care. This includes most workplaces where health and safety responsibilities apply.
Will making a claim affect my job or result in dismissal?
The law protects employees from being dismissed or unfairly treated for making a genuine injury claim. Dismissal or negative treatment due to a claim can itself be challenged legally as unfair or wrongful.
Can I claim for psychological trauma as well as physical injuries?
Yes, compensation claims can cover both physical and psychological injuries suffered in a forklift accident, such as anxiety, stress, or trauma, if they are supported by medical evidence.
What should I do if the forklift accident happened in a warehouse owned by a third party?
If your accident occurred in premises managed or owned by a third party, you may be able to bring a claim against that party. That’s especially true if they were responsible for maintenance, signage, or other safety measures.
