Chicago Forklift Accident Lawyers
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Were You Injured in a Forklift Accident?
If you were injured in a forklift accident in Chicago, you may be entitled to recover compensation to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. Your legal options are going to depend on whether you were working or a bystander when the accident happened, where the incident occurred, and your relationship with the forklift driver. You’re going to need an experienced forklift accident lawyer to help you sort through complicated workers’ compensation and personal injury law to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
At Strom Yen Injury Attorneys, our forklift accident lawyers will help you understand your rights and legal options. We’ll help you determine whether you can recover compensation through a third-party liability claim, a workers’ comp claim, or both.
Did you suffer a serious injury in a forklift accident? Let Strom Yen Injury Attorneys help you recover. Call (312) 609-0400 to schedule a free consultation.
Causes of Forklift Accidents
There are more than one million forklifts currently in operation. Forklifts are commonly used in warehouses, on construction sites, in big box stores, and in factories and other work environments. Carrying, lifting, and moving heavy materials, the use of this type of heavy machinery puts forklift operators, construction workers, and bystanders at risk.
Most accidents involving forklifts are preventable if operators are properly trained and all workers follow adequate safety procedures. When forklift accidents do occur, however, the consequences can be serious or even fatal for victims.
Despite strict regulations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), preventable accidents involving forklifts occur all too often. Falls, crashes, tip-overs, struck-by accidents and other such incidents cause serious injuries to workers and other people in the vicinity of forklifts.
Some of the most common causes of forklift accidents include:
- Lack of training or operator error
- Driving with an elevated load
- Inadequate markings and warnings
- Insecure or unbalanced loads
- Mechanical failures
- Speeding
If you suffered forklift injuries on the job, you may have been told that filing a workers’ compensation claim is your only means of obtaining financial recovery. This may or may not be true. Depending on the cause of the lift truck accident, you may be able to hold the forklift operators, machinery manufacturers, construction site managers, or other parties liable for your losses. Given our vast experience in personal injury claims and workers’ comp claims, our injury lawyers may be able to identify available means of compensation that may be missed by a less experienced law firm.
Why Hire a Forklift Accident Attorney?
What Does a Forklift Accident Attorney Do?
Working with an attorney who is experienced with lift truck accident cases will help protect your right to recover full and fair compensation for your losses. Our forklift accident lawyers will investigate your case, identify all liable parties, and help you understand the legal options that are available to you.
How a Forklift Accident Attorney Can Help You
Hiring a lift truck accident lawyer to represent you offers several benefits. A Chicago forklift accident lawyer will help you determine how much your injury claim is worth, ensuring that you receive maximum compensation for your losses. Our team will gather evidence, take statements from witnesses and other employees, and prepare your case as if it is going to trial. We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and if we cannot reach an agreement, we will fight to protect your rights in court.
I highly recommend attorney Kevin Yen, and the firm Strom and Associates, to protect your legal rights and interests as a consequence of personal injury caused by an opposing party.
My case was handled competently, professionally, and expeditiously by Kevin and his clerk(s). We were in communication on a regular basis, so I never felt ignored or forgotten.
These days, it’s rare to experience from any individual and/or organization service that exudes excellence and is personable. Attorney Kevin Yen of Strom and Associates both have earned such a distinction!
Types of Cases Handled by Strom Yen Injury Attorneys
FAQs About Forklift Accident Claims in Chicago
How Long Do I Have to File a Lift Truck Accident Claim?
In Illinois, there is a two-year statute of limitations on your third-party personal injury claim. To recover damages through a civil lawsuit, you must file within the allowed timeframe. Missing the filing deadline may result in the court dismissing your claim, and the loss of your right to pursue compensation for your losses suffered.
If you suffered your forklift injury on the job, you generally will have up to three years from the date your injury occurred to file your workers’ compensation claim if you have not received temporary disability or medical benefit payments. Be aware, however, that you must have notified your employer of your injury within 45 days of the lift truck accident.
What Is the Most Common Injury in a Forklift Accident?
In 2020, forklift-involved accidents caused 7,290 injuries requiring time off work to recover. Some of the most common forklift injuries include:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Punctures, cuts, or lacerations
In addition, accidents involving lift trucks may also cause fatal injuries.
When Should I Consult a Forklift Accident Lawyer?
You should consult with an experienced law firm as soon as possible after a lift truck accident leaves you injured. An attorney who is knowledgeable in these types of cases will help determine whether liability for your injury lies with your employer, coworkers, or the forklift operator.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to recover workers’ compensation benefits, as well as to pursue a third-party personal injury claim for additional damages.
Contact our Chicago forklift accident attorneys at (312) 609-0400 to recover financial compensation. FREE consultation.