When used improperly or poorly maintained, forklifts can cause serious accidents and life-threatening injuries. If you’ve been injured in a workplace or construction accident caused by poor forklift safety, you deserve compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain.
At Morelli Law, we understand how stressful it can be to miss work days while trying to recuperate from a severe injury. An Albany forklift accident lawyer from our firm can help you pursue compensation for your losses so you can have the peace of mind you need to focus on your recovery.
Types of Forklift Accidents and Injuries We Can Help You Recover From
When operated recklessly or incorrectly, forklifts can be extremely dangerous. If the proper safety precautions aren’t taken, forklift operators, other employees, and even bystanders can sustain injuries in the following incidents:
- Forklift overturn
- Crushed by forklift
- Struck by forklift
- Fall from forklift
- Pinned against wall by forklift
- Run over by forklift
These are just a few examples of what can happen when a forklift is used without caution or the correct safety measures in place. When accidents like these occur, those involved can suffer a variety of different injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken bones
- Neck and back injuries
- Permanent disfigurement
- Internal injuries
- Amputations
- Fatal injuries
Our team has recovered compensation for countless different accidents and injuries. If you’ve been hurt in one of the incidents mentioned above or in a different scenario, a forklift accident attorney in Albany, NY, can help you seek the damages you need to pay your bills.
Damages You Could Receive With a Lawyer’s Help
No matter what type of injury you’ve sustained, you deserve compensation to make up for missed paychecks and pay for the medical care you’ll need to get back on your feet. A forklift accident lawyer in Albany, NY, can work with you to identify all the monetary losses, job-related setbacks, and other issues the incident has caused.
If an attorney wins your case, you could receive the following damages:
Medical Bills
Even minor forklift accident injuries can cost a small fortune to recover from. Luckily, an attorney can pursue compensation for your current and future medical costs. They’ll use your treatment bills and testimony from medical experts to prove that you’re owed significant compensation.
The money you receive from your claim can cover surgery, treatment, physical therapy, medications, assistive devices, and any other medical costs you incur.
Lost Wages
As you stay home from work to recover from your injuries, you might worry that missing out on your weekly paycheck might affect your ability to pay rent and afford basic necessities. Even if you have enough sick days accrued to take time off from work, you deserve to receive compensation for missed work days.
Loss of Future Earnings
If you’ve suffered a permanent disability, you might have to switch to a less physically demanding profession, which could mean settling for a smaller salary. If that happens, these damages can make up for your decrease in future earnings.
Pain and Suffering
A forklift’s sheer force and size can leave accident victims with extremely painful injuries. If your injury is causing you severe discomfort and pain, tell your Albany forklift accident attorney. They’ll demand the money you need to cope with your pain and suffering.
Albany Forklift Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Should I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim or a Lawsuit?
If you’ve been involved in a forklift accident at your place of work, you might be asking yourself whether you’d be better off filing a workers’ comp claim or a personal injury lawsuit. An experienced forklift accident attorney from Albany can assess your situation and help you decide which option is better for you.
They might advise you to pursue a lawsuit if your injuries and financial losses are extensive. Workers’ comp claims can only offer so much compensation, while there are no limits on the amount of money you can receive from a civil suit in New York.
Whether you should file a workers’ comp claim or lawsuit also depends on who caused your accident. If an attorney finds that your employer is to blame for your injuries, a workers’ comp claim might be more appropriate. However, if the accident was caused by a third party or another coworker, taking your case to court may be your only option.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
One of the most important things to know about your forklift accident case is how long you have to submit a lawsuit. According to CVP § 214, you have exactly three years to file a suit against your employer or another party. If you let three years pass without filing a lawsuit, you’ll probably lose your right to compensation.
To avoid going uncompensated, hire a forklift accident lawyer as soon as possible. They’ll answer any questions you have about New York’s filing deadline and make sure your suit is submitted correctly. They can also help you meet the state deadline for wrongful death lawsuits.
Filing Deadline for Wrongful Death Suits
If your spouse or loved one has died in a forklift accident or another type of fatal incident, we are sorry for your tragic and sudden loss. To make the grieving process easier and less financially stressful, a wrongful death attorney from our firm can help you pursue compensation for funeral costs, loss of consortium, and emotional distress.
They’ll help you file a lawsuit before the deadline set forth in EPTL §5-4. The statute states that you only have two years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a lawsuit. Contact our firm today to make sure your suit is submitted in a timely manner.
How Much Does a Forklift Accident Attorney Cost?
Dealing with expensive medical bills, lost wages, and other financial challenges caused by an accident can make hiring a lawyer seem impossible. The good news is that working with a forklift accident attorney from our firm won’t cost you a dime.
That’s because our lawyers work for a contingency fee instead of charging an upfront fee. A contingency fee is a portion of the settlement or verdict you receive at the end of your case. We won’t expect you to pay if we don’t win your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Knowledgeable Attorney Today
If you’re dealing with painful injuries, anxiety about missing work, and emotional distress from a sudden accident, you probably don’t have the energy to file a claim or lawsuit on your own. Fortunately, the team at Morelli Law can take care of your case, so you don’t have to worry about collecting evidence or meeting filing deadlines while you recover.
We’ll handle every aspect of your case, from the initial investigation to your court case. Our team has decades of experience working on a variety of workplace injury claims and delivering positive case results for many clients. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a seasoned Albany forklift accident lawyer.