Forklifts are utility vehicles that many industries value for their ability to transport, load, and unload heavy materials. Many businesses utilize forklifts without considering that they may cause harm, but forklift accidents are, sadly, not uncommon, as they can tip over, drop loads, or crash into people or objects. Injuries caused by forklifts are often serious and require extensive medical care and time away from work. Fortunately, Maryland law allows many people hurt in forklift accidents to recover benefits for their losses. If you sustained forklift injuries while working, you may be owed workers’ compensation benefits, and it is prudent to consult an attorney as soon as possible. The assertive Prince George's County workers' compensation attorneys of Foran & Foran, P.A. can evaluate the circumstances that led to your harm and advise you of your options for pursuing the maximum benefits available.
Common Forklift InjuriesForklifts are often operated in busy or confined spaces, which increases the risk of harmful accidents. Tip overs are one of the most common causes of forklift injuries, as the operator can be crushed or pinned beneath the forklift if they are not properly restrained. Collisions with other machinery, objects, or people can cause severe trauma, including fractures, internal injuries, and head injuries. Workers may also suffer from crush injuries if their limbs are caught between the forklift and another object. Falls from the forklift, especially when riding improperly or standing on elevated pallets, can result in broken bones or spinal injuries. Additionally, improperly loaded or unsecured materials can fall from forklifts, causing serious injuries such as head trauma, lacerations, or amputations.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available for Forklift InjuriesMaryland’s Workers’ Compensation Act (the Act) establishes who can recover workers’ compensation benefits and what benefits are available. Notably, the Act only protects employees. In other words, non-employees, including independent contractors and volunteers, are not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. In addition to proving their employment status, injured workers seeking benefits must show that their harm arose in the course of and out of their work. Typically, this means they have to prove that they were at work and were performing job-related functions when the accident that caused their harm happened.
In Maryland, employees who meet the aforementioned criteria can recover medical benefits under the Act. These include coverage for medical treatments, surgeries, hospital stays, and adaptive devices for as long as the care is deemed necessary and related to the injury.
The Act also permits eligible employees to recover disability benefits if their injuries either partially or completely prevent them from working. Temporary total disability benefits are provided to employees who are completely unable to work during their recovery, and are paid at two-thirds of their average weekly wage. For those who can perform limited work while recovering, temporary partial disability benefits provide 50% of the difference between the worker’s previous and current earnings.
Employees who sustain lasting injuries may qualify for permanent total or partial disability benefits, depending on the degree of their harm. Permanent disability benefits are calculated based on the nature of the impairment, with compensation continuing for a statutorily defined number of weeks.
Confer With a Capable Prince George’s County Workers’ Compensation AttorneyForklift injuries can cause lasting impairments that require extensive care and can permanently hinder a person’s ability to earn an income. If they happen at work, though, the injured party may be able to recover workers’ compensation benefits to help offset their losses. If you sustained forklift injuries while working, it is critical to understand your rights, and it is wise to confer with an attorney. The capable Prince George’s County workers’ compensation lawyers of Foran & Foran, P.A., can inform you of your rights and help you to pursue benefits for your losses. Our office is located in Greenbelt, Maryland, and we regularly represent people in workers’ compensation claims in Hyattsville, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, La Plata, Waldorf, Silver Spring, Rockville, and other cities in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Charles County, and all counties in the State of Maryland. You can arrange a confidential and free meeting by contacting us via our form online or by calling us at (301) 441-2022.