Construction Forklift Injury Lawyers Washington Heights

Case Study: Cesar P. – Washington Heights Forklift Crush Injury Cesar P. was working on a Washington Heights construction project when a forklift carrying heavy building materials suddenly shifted while reversing near a loading area. Witnesses stated that the machine appeared unstable before pinning Cesar’s dominant hand between stacked materials and the forklift frame. The accident caused: Multiple fractures to the hand and fingers Severe crush trauma Possible permanent nerve damage Tendon injuries Loss of grip strength Surgical intervention Extended physical therapy Possible permanent impairment Questions quickly arose involving forklift maintenance records, site supervision, worksite traffic control, and whether defective forklift components contributed to the accident. Cass & Peters coordinated Cesar’s workers compensation benefits while also investigating possible third-party negligence and product liability litigation related to the malfunctioning equipment.

Construction forklift accidents in Washington Heights can leave workers facing life-changing injuries within seconds. A forklift backing into a worker, tipping over on uneven surfaces, dropping heavy materials, or malfunctioning because of defective brakes or hydraulics can cause crushed hands, fractures, spinal trauma, amputations, and permanent disability. Many injured workers believe workers compensation is their only legal remedy after a forklift accident. However, many Washington Heights construction injury cases involve additional third-party claims and product liability lawsuits. If another contractor, subcontractor, maintenance company, site supervisor, rental company, or forklift manufacturer contributed to the accident, additional compensation may be available outside of workers compensation. Cass & Peters investigates whether forklift injury cases involve: Defective forklift systems Hydraulic or brake failure Unsafe construction site conditions Negligent subcontractors Blind spot backing accidents Missing alarms or warning systems Improper maintenance OSHA safety violations Improperly loaded materials Dangerous worksite traffic patterns These investigations can become critical when injuries involve permanent hand damage, spinal injuries, loss of mobility, or long-term disability.

• Can I sue after a forklift injury in Washington Heights?
  Possibly. In addition to workers compensation benefits, injured construction workers may have third-party negligence or product liability claims depending on how the accident occurred.
• What is a third-party construction accident claim?
  It is a lawsuit against someone other than your employer, including subcontractors, equipment companies, maintenance contractors, or property owners.
• Can defective forklift parts create a product liability lawsuit?
  Yes. Defective brakes, steering systems, hydraulics, alarms, or forklift components may support a product liability claim.
• What injuries are common in forklift accidents?
  Crush injuries, fractures, spinal injuries, head trauma, amputations, nerve damage, and permanent hand injuries are common.
• What evidence should be preserved after a forklift accident?
  Photos, videos, witness statements, OSHA reports, maintenance records, and the forklift itself can become critical evidence.