Long Island Forklift Accident Lawyers

Firm represents plaintiffs in Nassau County, Brooklyn, Queens and other parts of the New York area

Forklifts are essential whether you’re transporting materials across a construction site or shipping merchandise around the world. However, an accident involving one of these powerful pieces of machinery could change your life forever. Licatesi Law Group, LLP, with offices in Uniondale, Long Island and Brooklyn, advocates for clients who have been hurt in forklift accidents in Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as New York City’s five boroughs. Whether you’re a construction worker, a warehouse employee or someone else injured by a forklift, we are here to help you obtain the payment you’re entitled to under the law. 

Causes of forklift accidents

Thousands of factories, warehouses and construction projects rely on forklifts to move packages and heavy materials around work sites. Operating this heavy equipment safely requires training and constant attention. When someone fails to use proper care, a wide range of serious problems can result, such as:

  • Rollovers — Among the different types of forklift accidents, rollovers are the most common. They can occur when a load is too heavy, improperly balanced or extended too far over the forks. An operator who is driving too quickly or who tries to make a sharp turn can also trigger a rollover.
  • Collisions — In large warehouses, multiple forklifts might be used, and on constructions sites, there could be other large machinery in a small space. Even a brief distraction or moment of carelessness might lead to a serious collision.
  • Dropped materials — Failure to secure the load on a forklift, moving the mast too quickly and other forms of negligence can cause materials to drop from the forks, putting anyone nearby in danger. 
  • Mechanical failures — A manufacturing defect or lack of required maintenance might lead to an accident even if the forklift driver is operating the equipment safely.   

Regardless of the specific events that led to your injury, we press for the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

Injuries that can result from a forklift accident

Any accident involving heavy equipment is capable of causing catastrophic injuries, and a forklift might be carrying a load weighing thousands of pounds, making the danger even greater. Someone who sustains an injury in a forklift accident could be facing multiple surgeries and a long rehabilitation period. Specific medical conditions that can result from one of these incidents include:

  • Spinal cord damage, possibly resulting in paralysis
  • Broken and fractured bones
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Internal organ damage

Along with these serious injuries, between 75 and 100 people die annually in forklift accidents throughout the country. Our firm handles wrongful death claims for bereaved families so that they can obtain reimbursement for funeral expenses, income the victim would have provided throughout their lifetime and other losses stemming from the fatal incident.

Litigators help clients pursue compensation for medical expenses and other damages

Many people are hurt in forklift accidents while on the job, which entitles them to workers’ compensation benefits that cover their medical expenses and some of the income lost while they are unable to work because of their injury. However, if a third party (not the victim’s employer or co-worker) is responsible for your accident, you can also pursue additional damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Third parties that might have violated their duty of care in a forklift accident case include other contractors on a construction site and the machine’s manufacturer. Our firm can advise you regarding grounds for a third-party claim and the potential compensation you could collect for pain and suffering, emotional distress and wages that were not replaced through workers’ comp benefits. 

Speak with a New York lawyer if you have been injured in a forklift accident

Licatesi Law Group, LLP in Uniondale and Brooklyn pursues compensation for forklift accident victims across Long Island and New York City’s five boroughs. Please call our firm at 516-227-2662 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney.