Forklift Accidents
Seattle Forklift - Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Washington Forklift Accident -- Personal Injury Attorney Provides Legal Representation for Seriously Injured Victims of Forklift Accidents in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho
Legal Help for Washington Forklift Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a workplace accident involving forklifts, The Farber Law Group, an injury accident law firm, may be of assistance to you.
Every year, there are thousands of pedestrian accidents involving forklift trucks. Pedestrians suffer serious injuries and, in some cases, pedestrians are even killed in this common workplace accident.
Pedestrians run the danger of being hit by a fast-moving forklift in some workplaces including construction sites, warehouses, manufacturing sites, and big-box stores like Costco or Home Depot. Being hit by a forklift is not the only danger that forklifts pose to pedestrians. Some forklift accidents are caused when a forklift is improperly loaded and the load falls on a pedestrian. Another cause of accidents is when a person takes a ride on the forks of a forklift and falls off. Sometimes pedestrians are injured because they are unaware of the turning radius of a forklift and do not realize how quickly the rear of the forklift can swing around.
Unlike cars, forklifts are not equipped with brakes for sudden stopping. Sudden stops, in fact, can cause loads that the forklift is carrying to become unstable.
Forklift Safety for Pedestrians
Companies should have safety procedures in place to avoid and minimize forklift accidents. These include:
Create pedestrian-only areas
Install convex mirrors so that pedestrians can see around blind corners
Ensure that forklifts have flashing lights and alarms that indicate when a forklift is moving in reverse
Paint lines used to direct forklifts and pedestrians
Post signs that warn pedestrians that forklifts are operating in the area
Provide physical barriers on the outside of pedestrian lanes for protection
Provide visible vests for pedestrians to wear
Placing cones or temporary barriers in areas where forklifts are operating to warn pedestrians not to enter.
Forklift Operator Safety
Forklift operators can also be injured in workplace accidents. For the operator's sake, companies should take the following safety precautions:
Provide proper training for forklift operators
Ensure that forklifts undergo routine maintenance and inspections on their brakes, blades, and cables
Ensure that supervisors do not ask forklift operators to operate the machine on uneven surfaces or in dangerous areas
Ensure that the forklift is equipped properly for the task at hand (i.e., too small of blades being used for the load at hand.)
Depending on where the forklift is operating, the driver should ensure the area where he/she is operating is clear, especially when working around scaffolding
The operator may need to work with a spotter who can run traffic control and help to direct both pedestrians and the forklift operator.
Free Consultation
(425) 455-9087
Your Case is Important to Us - Free Consultation
Herb Farber and the attorneys in the network of The Farber Law Group provide a free case consultation to people seriously injured in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. If your injuries are serious and you cannot come to see us, we can arrange to visit you at Harborview Medical Center, Overlake Hospital Emergency & Trauma Center, Evergreen Hospital, or one of the other trauma centers throughout the state. We have represented injured victims for more than 45 years and we believe every injured person should have access to legal advice. For your Free and Confidential consultation, contact us today at (800) 244-9087.