Forklift Accident Lawyer in Greensboro, NC

Forklift accidents can leave victims with severe injuries that require extensive medical treatment and lengthy recovery times. If you were injured in a forklift accident in Greensboro, North Carolina, understanding your options for seeking compensation for your injuries is crucial.

When you’re ready to take the first step toward recovery, contact Ward Black Law for a free case review with an experienced forklift accident lawyer. We are ready to listen to your story, analyze the facts of your case, explain your options for seeking the compensation you need, and answer your questions about the process.

Our Law Firm Is Ready to Tackle Your Forklift Accident Case

Ward Black Law is an award-winning law firm representing severely injured people in Greensboro and throughout North Carolina. For more than 30 years, our Christian-led law firm has been helping injury victims recover the compensation they need, including over $150 million in settlements.

To learn more about what it’s like to work with our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys, see what our past clients have to say. For example:

“Ward Black handled my step father’s workers compensation case. Being an attorney myself, I asked several colleagues about who my family should contact. Ward Black was the name that I continued to get.” – Blair

Common Causes and Types of Forklift Accidents in Greensboro

Understanding the common causes and types of forklift accidents in Greensboro is essential for your case. By determining how the accident that caused your injuries occurred, our forklift accident attorneys can start to identify the liable parties.

Causes of Forklift Accidents

Some of the most common causes of forklift accidents include:

• Operator error – Forklift operators who lack proper training, aren’t paying attention, aren’t following safety protocols, or are speeding put other workers at risk of serious injury.
• Mechanical failure – Forklift components can fail, leading to significant injuries. For example, a hydraulic failure can cause a forklift to drop its load on a worker.
• Environmental hazards – Uneven floors and tight corners can cause forklifts to tip or crash into objects and people.

Types of Forklift Accidents

Common forklift accidents include:

• Tip-over accidents – These accidents occur when forklifts tip over due to weight imbalances or uneven surfaces.
• Collisions – When forklifts collide with other objects in a warehouse, the operator and workers nearby can suffer injuries.
• Caught-in/caught-between accidents – Workers can sometimes get caught between the forklift and another object.
• Struck-by accidents – Speeding and distracted forklift operators can strike other workers, injuring them.

Types of Injuries from Forklift Accidents

Depending on the injuries you suffer due to the forklift accident, your recovery period and necessary medical treatments can differ. Some of the most common serious injuries sustained in these accidents include:

• Broken bones caused by being struck by the forklift or an object the forklift was moving
• Spinal cord injuries resulting in chronic pain or paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) caused by blows to the head can result in severe and permanent physical and cognitive disability
• Internal organ damage caused by being struck by or caught between the forklift and another object
• Crushing injuries that can permanently damage limbs

Who Could Be Liable for a Greensboro Forklift Accident?

Our skilled forklift injury attorneys can help you identify the liable parties in your case. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and the responsible parties, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party personal injury lawsuit.

Workers’ Compensation Cases

If you were an employee who sustained a forklift injury at work, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system that provides medical benefits, partial replacement of lost wages, and disability benefits to employees who sustain injuries at work.

Injuries caused by co-workers operating forklifts or hazardous workplace conditions, such as uneven floors and tight aisles that make using a forklift difficult, typically qualify for workers’ compensation. Since fault is not an issue in workers’ compensation cases, you can typically recover benefits even if you were to blame for the forklift accident.

Third-Party Personal Injury Cases

If your forklift accident injuries were caused by a third party not directly controlled by your employer, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against them. Third-party personal injury claims require proving fault for the accident.

Common examples of third parties liable for forklift accidents include:

• Contractors – If the forklift operator worked for a different company, their employer could be liable for your injuries in a third-party personal injury claim.
• Maintenance providers – If poor forklift maintenance contributed to your injuries, such as if a worn hydraulic hose burst, the maintenance provider could be liable.
• Forklift manufacturers – If a defective component on the forklift contributed to your injuries, you may be able to hold the manufacturer liable.

Potential Compensation for Individuals Hurt in Forklift Accidents

The compensation you could recover after a forklift accident in Greensboro depends on the type of case you have. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for a broader range of losses associated with your injury than workers’ compensation offers. However, the trade-off is that you do not have to prove your employer was at fault for the accident in a workers’ compensation claim.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation benefits cover expenses directly related to the injuries you suffered in the forklift accident. These expenses can include:

• Medical treatment, including surgeries, physical therapy, medical devices, and prescription medications
• Partial replacement of lost wages caused by your injuries, typically two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a statewide cap
• Disability benefits, depending on the extent and duration of your injuries

Personal Injury Compensation

Unlike workers’ compensation claims, personal injury lawsuits allow victims to seek both economic and non-economic damages. They also allow full recovery of all lost income. The addition of non-economic damages could significantly increase the total amount of compensation you can receive.

Typical forms of compensation sought through third-party lawsuits include:

• Medical expenses
• The full extent of lost income and reduced future earning capacity caused by your injuries
• The physical pain and emotional suffering you experienced because of your injuries
• The emotional distress you continue to experience because of the accident, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression
• The impact your injuries have on your quality of life, particularly if your injuries resulted in permanent disability

How Our Greensboro Forklift Accident Lawyers Can Help

If you suffered a forklift injury in Greensboro, contact Ward Black Law for a free claim review about your options for seeking compensation. Our firm is known for its award-winning attorneys for the seriously injured, and we’re prepared to help you seek the compensation you deserve, whether through a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit.