Goodyear Forklift Injury Lawyer

Goodyear Forklift Injury Attorney

Talk to a Goodyear forklift injury lawyer about your legal rights and options if you were hurt at work. Forklift injuries can happen suddenly and change your life forever. In many accidents, employees suffer broken bones, crushing injuries, back injuries, or permanent impairments that prevent them from earning a living. Workers’ compensation should provide benefits to help during recovery, but that does not always happen.

Our attorneys represent clients throughout the state and take pride in offering our clients tailored services to meet their unique needs. Throughout the process, we educate and guide you, so you know what to expect and are a part of the team. Through effective communication and our extensive experience and knowledge, we work with our clients to pursue compensation you may be entitled to in your Goodyear forklift injury.

Why Forklift Injury Claims Can Be More Challenging

For many injured workers, a forklift injury claim is far from straightforward. These accidents tend to cause serious injuries that require time off work and costly medical treatment. For that reason, insurers often dispute the claim. Even if it’s clear that the injury occurred while on the job, your insurance company may challenge the severity of your injury, the necessity of certain procedures, or your ability to return to work.

There are also various laws and workers’ compensation rules in Arizona that must be followed. These can hurt your claim if deadlines are missed or forms are not filed correctly. Some injured employees believe their employer will handle everything, only to discover later that they forgot to file a required document or pay them on time.

The injured worker faces financial difficulties with unpaid medical bills and growing expenses while waiting months for reimbursement or never receiving benefits. Forklift accidents kill 75 to 100 people annually on average, with 87 fatalities. Each year, 34,900 serious injuries and 61,800 non-serious injuries are reported.

Goodyear Forklift Injury Laws

Most forklift injury claims in Goodyear are handled under Arizona’s workers’ compensation laws. While these rules allow injured employees to receive benefits without proving fault, there are still deadlines to meet and eligibility requirements that must be met. Disputes can still arise over whether the injury is compensable and how much the insurance company must pay. Two laws you should be aware of if you were hurt in a forklift accident include:

• A.R.S. § 23-1021. This covers your right to compensation for an injury that arose out of and in the course of your employment.
• A.R.S. § 23-1062. This covers the medical benefits and treatment you are entitled to after suffering a workplace injury.

Familiarize yourself with these laws if you think your claim will be denied or your treatment is being disputed. They can be especially useful if your insurance company refuses to pay your benefits while you are out of work.

Common Forklift Accident Scenarios

Regardless of where the accident happened, all forklift injuries should be reported to your employer. If you’re hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you have rights under Arizona’s workers’ compensation system. Common forklift accident scenarios involve:

• Being trapped or pinned between the forklift and a wall, truck, or shelving unit
• Loss of control that causes the forklift to tip over
• Walking employees being struck by the forklift in a blind spot or a busy aisle
• Falling pallets or loads if they were stacked improperly or shifted while on the truck
• Mechanical breakdown related to brakes, steering problems, hydraulic issues, or blowouts

Hire a Forklift Injury Lawyer in Goodyear, AZ

Workers who suffer serious injuries or find their claim being delayed should speak to an attorney. When you hire a forklift injury lawyer with experience in Arizona workers’ compensation and insurance company strategies, your claim process stands a better chance. In many cases, forklift accidents are treated as high-value claims right from the start. Insurance companies may use aggressive tactics to limit what they pay.

Having a Goodyear forklift injury attorney on your side can prevent your benefits from being unfairly reduced. With the help of Arizona Injury Law Group, you will work with a team dedicated to pursuing compensation you may be entitled to. While employers and insurance companies look for a quick settlement, our team looks for the right settlement that you and your family deserve.

FAQs About Goodyear, AZ Forklift Injury Laws

What Happens If You Get Hit by a Forklift?

An individual may experience broken bones, crush injuries, head injuries, or internal injuries from being struck by a forklift. The worker should seek medical attention and document the accident as soon as possible following the incident. Failure to provide timely notice of an injury may impact an injured worker’s ability to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

What Is the 3 Foot Rule for Forklifts?

The 3-foot rule is often taught as a safety precaution when working around operating forklifts. Workers should stay three feet away from the forklift if it is safe to do so. The hope is that when the rule is followed, employees will not be crushed, pinned, or run over by forklifts. Forklifts are often in warehouse areas and loading docks. Employers typically set this as the baseline distance, but each workplace can handle its own policies differently.

How Much Does a Forklift Accident Cost?

Forklift accidents are often very costly. This is especially true when the accident results in the need for emergency care, surgery, physical therapy/rehabilitation, and extensive time away from work. Employers can become responsible for the cost of damaged equipment, lost productivity, and safety investigations following a forklift accident. Workers who are injured in a forklift accident can face financial burdens such as lost wages, continued medical treatment, and lasting impairments.

What Type of Forklift Accident Is Most Likely?

Collisions are one of the most frequent types of forklift accidents. This category includes incidents where forklifts strike pedestrians working in warehouses or loading docks. Blind spots, confined aisles, poor traffic flow, and rushing are common causes of collision accidents. Tip-overs rank high on the list of forklift accidents, too. Forklift operators can be seriously injured in tip-over accidents. Training and better-designed worksites can prevent many forklift accidents.

Contact a Goodyear Forklift Injury Lawyer Today

If you have been injured in a forklift accident, Arizona Injury Law Group can help you in the legal process. When you are injured on the job, it can impact more than just your ability to complete that job; it impacts your ability to earn, your ability to maintain a similar lifestyle, and more. If your injury was caused by negligence, you deserve legal help. Contact us today and let our knowledge and experience represent yours and your family’s needs.