Forklift Accident Attorney
Forklifts also commonly known as industrial trucks, can be very dangerous if proper forklift safety principles are not followed. Serious injury or death can result from the improper handling of forklifts. Each year, in the United States, nearly 100 workers are killed and thousands are seriously injured in forklift accidents. National fatality data indicate that the three most common forklift-related fatalities involve forklift overturn or rollovers, workers on foot being struck by or run over by forklifts, and workers falling from forklifts.
Forklift rollovers or overturns are the leading cause of fatalities involving forklifts; they represent about 25% of all forklift-related deaths. Some forklift operators have also been killed by falling objects, forklifts falling off warehouse ramps or docks, overturns from turning sharp corners, tip-overs from the forks too high with loads, operator falling off and being crushed by the forklift, lack of seatbelts, lack of or defective roll cage, forklift operator being struck by other vehicles and forklift operators being electrocuted by contact with energized electrical wires or panel boxes.
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Forklift –Falling Merchandise Injuries & Deaths
Other forklift-related deaths and injuries occur when large merchandise, shelving or racks fall in warehouse-type stores onto unsuspecting customers below due to the carelessness and negligence of the warehouse store or forklift operator. To prevent injuries and deaths from falling merchandise, boxes or pallets being moved by a forklift operator, large warehouse stores like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Office Depot, and others have safety rules that require surrounding area be closed off with a fence of barricade to prevent unauthorized access and a store employee is used as spotter to watch the forklift loading process and to make sure surrounding merchandise is not accidentally bumped or pushed over onto the customers below.
In 2000, journalists for Inside Edition investigated Home Depot stores in six states and found that while some locations seemed to comply with safety standards, others were not taking proper safety precautions. They found that in the eighteen months prior to the airing of their report, 68 lawsuits, related to falling merchandise, had been filed against Home Depot. Additionally, Home Depot had also received a total of 185 claims in 1996 for various accidents that occurred in their stores. These included a fatality in a Los Angeles store involving a 79-year-old shopper who was crushed by a falling pallet, which was blamed on improper forklift usage by an employee.
According to this news show, between November 1999 and November 2000, at least 3 shoppers had been killed at various Home Depot stores, including a 3-year old who was killed in Idaho. In Marina Del Rey, a forklift operator was observed loading heavy merchandise without the guidance of a fellow co-worker or “spotter.” Despite promises by Home Depot’s managers to improve their store’s safety record, Inside Edition found that some stores continued to stack merchandise and operate forklifts during business hours while customers are in the store.
Forklift Accident News: Alabama Man dies in Forklift Accident
A 20-year-old man was killed on March 17, 2007, when the arms of a large forklift dropped on him while working at the DSI LLC industrial plant. Police Officer Eric Gallichant, of Mobile, Alabama identified the victim as Felix Esprit of Mobile. According to the spokesman, the forklift accident took place about 3 p.m., when Mr. Esprit accidentally hit a lever on the forklift that dropped the forks on him as he was partially outside the forklift’s cab. “Esprit was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Gallichant said.
Forklift Accident, Overturns, Run-Overs & Rollovers
Forklift accidents are commonplace in the warehouse and industrial setting. Forklifts also known as industrial trucks, can be very dangerous and deadly. Serious injury or death can result from the improper handling of forklifts. Each year, in the United States, nearly 100 workers are killed and thousands are seriously injured in forklift-related accidents. According to fatality data, the reports indicate that the three most common forklift-related fatalities involve forklift overturns or rollovers, workers on foot being struck by or run over by forklifts, and workers falling from forklifts. Forklift accidents, rollovers or overturns are the leading cause of fatalities involving forklifts. Some forklift operators have also been killed by falling objects, tip-overs from the forks too high with loads, operator falling off and being crushed by the forklift, lack of seatbelts, lack of or defective roll cage crushed by the forklift forks, load or pallet lowered onto them, forklifts falling off warehouse ramps or docks, overturns from turning sharp corners, forklift operator being struck by other vehicles and forklift operators being electrocuted by contact with energized electrical wires or panel boxes.
Forklift Related Accidents to Customers
Other forklift-related deaths and injuries can occur when large boxes and merchandise on warehouse-type shelving or racks fall in a warehouse-type stores onto unsuspecting customers below due to the carelessness and negligence of the warehouse store or forklift operator. To prevent injuries and deaths from falling merchandise, boxes or pallets being moved by a forklift operator, large warehouse stores like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Office Max, Lowe’s & Office Depot and others have safety rules that require surrounding area be closed off with a fence of barricade to prevent unauthorized access and a store employee is used as spotter to watch the forklift loading process and to make sure surrounding merchandise is not accidentally bumped or pushed over onto the customers below.
In 2000, journalists for Inside Edition investigated Home Depot stores in six states and found that while some locations seemed to comply with safety standards, others were not taking proper safety precautions. They found that in the eighteen months prior to the airing of their report, 68 lawsuits, related to falling merchandise, had been filed against Home Depot. Additionally, Home Depot had also received a total of 185 claims in 1996 for various accidents that occurred in their stores.
These included a fatality in a Los Angeles store involving a 79-year-old shopper who was crushed by a falling pallet, which was blamed on improper forklift usage by an employee. According to this news show, between November 1999 and November 2000, at least 3 shoppers had been killed at various Home Depot stores, including a 3-year old who was killed in Idaho. In Marina Del Rey, a forklift operator was observed loading heavy merchandise without the guidance of a fellow co-worker or “spotter”.
Despite promises by Home Depot’s managers to improve their store’s safety record, Inside Edition found that some stores continued to stack merchandise and operate forklifts during business hours while customers are in the store.
Forklift Lawsuits & Other Legal Actions
While most forklift accidents are by their nature work-related, there may be other legal remedies available to the injured forklift operator, co-worker or innocent bystander. A worker’s compensation claim may be the only legal action if the operator was totally at fault or negligent, but in many cases fault may be on the owner of the forklift, maintenance company of the forklift or other negligent 3rd parties including the manufacturer of the forklift for product liability actions. In cases involving a customer of a store or warehouse that is injured from falling merchandise, then a negligence lawsuit against the forklift operator, owner of the forklift and the store owner for all injuries, damages, and losses sustained by the customer or their family. In all cases involving a forklift accident, it is very important to contact an attorney immediately so that the accident scene can be photographed, the forklift secured as evidence and statements taken of all factual witnesses of the event
Free Forklift Accident Lawyer Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or a loved one killed in a forklift-related accident, then call our certified personal injury lawyers with over 20+ years of product liability experience. Contact us for a free & confidential consultation at 1-800-883-9858 or click here for a Free Forklift Accident Lawsuit Evaluation.