Forklift accidents have the potential to result in catastrophic injuries or even death. Because of their size and weight, they could result in crushing injuries, broken bones or even internal organ damage. There are also many cases where a forklift operator causes people to fall or causes heavy objects to fall on other workers in the area because of careless operation or negligence.

Regardless of how your forklift accident occurred, there is no question that forklift accident injuries can be serious, catastrophic or deadly. Workers who have been severely injured may not be able to return to work for a lengthy period of time. Some may not even be able to go back to work or earn a livelihood. If you or a loved one has been injured in a forklift accident, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses. An experienced Los Angeles work injury lawyer will be able to help you better understand your legal rights and options.

Why Should You Get a Forklift Injury Lawyer?

There are a number of reasons why it would be in your best interest to hire a forklift injury lawyer to represent you. If you have been seriously injured and have had to seek medical benefits and take time off work, you do not want to handle your work injury claim on your own. Some of the important reasons you should seek the counsel of a work injury lawyer include:

• Ensuring that you protect your right to receive benefits. If you fail to report your forklift injury on time or wait too long to file a claim, you may lose those rights.
• Providing you with information about what benefits you are entitled to. Your lawyer can tell you if you are eligible to receive medical benefits, disability benefits as well as benefits for vocational training and rehabilitation. This is all valuable information to have and you may not get it if you don't talk to a work injury lawyer.
• Helping you deal with your employer and their insurance company. Your lawyer can help you negotiate a settlement; file a claim with your state's workers' compensation board; and take your forklift accident lawsuit to a trial if it becomes necessary.
• Helping you avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that could jeopardize your forklift injury claim. Examples of common mistakes include missing filing deadlines, seeing the wrong doctor, returning to work too soon, posting details of your injury online or on social media.
• Filing a personal injury lawsuit in addition to seeking worker' compensation benefits to help maximize your financial recovery.

Do All Forklift Injury Cases End in Settlement?

If you have been injured on the job, you may assume that you would automatically receive compensation for your injuries and losses or that you will receive a settlement soon after you file your claim. However, not all workers' compensation claims result in a fair settlement. In fact, denials of work injury claims are fairly common for a variety of reasons ranging from insufficient information in your injury report to bad-faith insurance practices. Retaining the services of an experienced forklift injury lawyer in your case could significantly improve your chances of securing a timely and comprehensive settlement.

While a majority of injury claims result in a settlement out of court, sometimes you may need to take your case to trial, particularly if you've filed a third-party claim or personal injury lawsuit. You need a lawyer who is not just a skilled negotiator, but also an experienced litigator.

Forklift Injuries and Third-Party Claims

Third-party claims in workers compensation refer to those filed against parties other than an employer. For example, if your forklift injury was caused by a third party – an individual or entity other than your employer – in addition to seeking workers' compensation benefits, you may also be able to file a separate personal injury lawsuit seeking monetary compensation.

Third-party claims, like any personal injury claim, require proof of negligence and liability. But, they are also worth much more than a workers' compensation claim. These types of legal actions are particularly valuable in forklift accident cases where the worker may have suffered a catastrophic injury and would need compensation for damages such as loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, etc., which may not be available through the workers' compensation system. Examples of third parties include contractors, sub-contractors, building or property owners, manufacturers of defective products, etc.

For example, if a dangerous condition on someone's property causes the forklift injuries, the property owner might be held liable with a premises liability claim. If a defective forklift part causes the accident and injury, the manufacturer of the forklift and/or the maker of the defective part can also be held liable.

How Much Will a Forklift Injury Lawyer Cost?

If you have been injured in a forklift accident, you may wonder how much it might cost you to hire an experienced forklift injury lawyer. At Greenberg & Ruby, we represent injured workers on a contingency fee basis. This means we don't charge any upfront costs or fees unless we win compensation for you.

We also offer a free initial consultation during which we will also provide you with an evaluation of what your claim may be worth and how long your case might take to get resolved. There are a number of factors that might determine the case's value and the timeline. We are here to answer your questions and address your concerns every step of the way.

If you have been injured in a forklift accident on the job, the experienced Los Angeles work injury lawyers at Greenberg and Ruby Injury Attorneys, APC, are here to help you. We will remain on your side, fight for you and help you receive maximum compensation for your losses. Call us at (323) 782-0535 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.