Yuma Forklift Injury Lawyer

Yuma Forklift Injury Attorney

Forklift incidents may happen in transportation, retail, mining, warehousing, construction, and other jobs involving material moving. They range from vehicle accidents to overexertion and strain injuries. As an employee, you can recover workers’ compensation benefits for these injuries. A Yuma forklift injury lawyer can help make this process more straightforward and work to secure the benefits you deserve.

Hire a Forklift Injury Lawyer at Arizona Injury Law Group

At Arizona Injury Law Group, we have nearly 70 years of combined experience among our lead attorneys navigating workers’ compensation cases. We are Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law by the Arizona State Bar. Our exceptional experience helps you obtain the benefits you need to support yourself and your loved ones after a forklift injury in Yuma.

Our attorneys understand the importance of supporting employee rights, and we want to make this process easier for you. We educate you through the process so you can make reasoned choices, and we offer compassionate and supportive legal representation.

The Industries that See Forklift Accidents in the U.S. and Arizona

In 2024, there were 7,730 nonfatal incidents involving forklifts in the U.S., according to information gathered by the National Safety Council (NSC).

In Arizona, the same year, there were approximately 71,600 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in workplaces, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This includes injuries in relevant industries like:

• 16,900 trade, transportation, and utilities injuries
• 5,600 construction injuries
• 3,800 manufacturing injuries
• 700 natural resources and mining injuries

In 2022, the transportation and warehousing sector in Arizona had the highest rate of nonfatal occupational illnesses and injuries.

After an accident as an employee, you can file a workers’ compensation claim to recover specific benefits, like a portion of your lost wages and the cost of your medical treatment. Getting these benefits should be simple, but there can be several complications. Your employer may try to claim your injury isn’t work-related, or you may miss crucial deadlines that prevent you from recovering benefits. This is why it’s important to hire a Yuma forklift injury lawyer.

What Are the Types of Forklift Incidents?

There are several different types of forklift incidents that can cause injuries to employees, including:

• Vehicle accidents. The NSC reported that 45% of nonfatal forklift incidents were transportation incidents. These can include vehicle collisions, accidents involving pedestrians in retail stores or on warehouse floors, or overturn accidents. According to the NSC, 33% of forklift incidents were contact accidents. In 9%, there was a struck-by accident. Collisions can be caused by operator negligence, insufficient operator training, or overloaded forklifts.
• Falls. Slippery floors, tripping hazards, or debris on the vehicle itself can lead to slips, trips, and falls. Forklifts can also fall from locations like loading docks or elevated pallets. Eighteen percent of forklift incidents reported by the NSC were slips, trips, or falls.
• Repetitive stress injury and overworking. Employees can also be injured because they are overexerted while using or operating a forklift, even if there is no accident. Four percent of forklift incidents involved overexertion and repetitive strain, according to the NSC. When you develop these injuries over time because of your job duties, you could recover compensation.

Common Injuries in Forklift Accidents

Forklift accidents can be serious. Both the vehicle and its cargo are often very heavy, leading to high-pressure and force injuries. Some of the most common injuries in forklift injuries throughout the nation include:

• Soft tissue injuries. According to information gathered by the NSC, 27% of injuries in forklift accidents were sprains, strains, and tears.
• Contusions. Twenty percent of forklift incidents resulted in bruises.
• Broken bones. The NSC reported that 13% of forklift incidents led to fractures. Forklift incidents can cause multiple fractures at once, especially in crushing accidents.

There are also numerous other injuries that happen in these incidents, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Crushed limbs
• Amputations
• Internal bleeding
• Internal organ damage
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

It’s important to get medical care for your injuries, such as at Onvida Health Medical Center or Exceptional Community Hospital. If treatment is not an emergency, however, be sure to find out who is an approved provider under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.

FAQs About Forklift Injury Law

Who Is Liable in a Forklift Accident in Arizona?

Liability in a forklift accident in Arizona depends on the details of the accident, but liability is not always necessary in a workplace accident. Injured workers can recover workers’ compensation benefits without proving liability.

However, a third-party claim could be filed. A manufacturer may have sold a dangerous forklift, or a third-party company renting the equipment may have failed to maintain it. As an employee, you need approval from the state Risk Management Division to file a third-party claim.

What Is the Most Common Accident on a Forklift?

Some of the most common accidents on a forklift include vehicle collisions, other transportation accidents, contact accidents, and slips and falls. Employees are at a much higher risk of these injuries when they use or interact with forklifts frequently, such as those in warehousing, logistics, construction, or other material-moving jobs. After a forklift accident, an injured employee should get approved medical care and report the injury to their employer.

What Are the OSHA Violations for Forklifts?

There are numerous violations of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations for forklifts. OSHA regulations outline the load limits, material types, and loading and unloading of forklifts.

Regulations also outline the labeling and transport of hazardous materials and how employees should be trained to deal with these materials. Regulation also states how forklifts should be maintained. Failure to meet these or other regulations is a forklift violation.

What Are the Three Most Common Reasons for Forklift Accidents in Yuma?

There are several reasons for forklift accidents in Yuma, with some of the most frequent being 

• Undertrained employees who operate forklifts without sufficient training and safety awareness, leading to improperly loaded or operated forklifts.
• Poor upkeep and maintenance of forklifts, leading to breakdowns and malfunctions.
• Fast-paced work environments that lead to unsafe decisions and negligence by employees and employers.

Yuma Forklift Injury Attorney

You don’t have to file and negotiate your workers’ compensation claim alone. Arizona Injury Law Group can help represent your interests and secure crucial benefits. Reach out to our team today.