One of the most dangerous elements on any construction site is heavy equipment. Any type of machinery or equipment can be dangerous when it is defective or used negligently, but some types of equipment are responsible for most serious accidents on construction sites and in warehouses including cranes, scaffolding, and forklifts.
Have you been seriously injured in a heavy equipment accident on the job? At Work Injury Rights, we are here to help you. We have decades of experience representing injured workers in workers’ compensation claims. We will help you fight for the full benefits you deserve as you recover. Call our Florida workers’ compensation lawyers at 954-829-7077 today for a free case review!
Common Equipment Accidents in Florida
Construction workers and industrial workers may use a wide variety of equipment in the course of their work. When equipment malfunctions, isn’t properly guarded, or is used incorrectly, it can lead to life-changing injuries. Some of the most common types of equipment that cause serious workplace accidents include:
- Forklifts
- Articulated and back end loaders
- Excavators
- Cranes
- Compactors
- Cherry pickers
- Road graders and rollers
- Pay loaders and pay haulers
- Paving machines
- Bulldozers
What Causes Equipment Accidents in Florida?
Equipment accidents can have many causes. Sometimes an accident is caused by insufficient supervision or a lack of an effective safety plan. Accidents may also be caused by equipment that has a defective design or is improperly maintained.
Most heavy equipment accidents are the result of human error. Examples of common ways in which accidents may occur include:
- Struck-by accidents may occur when someone is operating a forklift or backhoe and reversing.
- Rollover accidents may happen when equipment is loaded incorrectly, lifted beyond its center of gravity, struck by another piece of equipment, or used on uneven ground.
- Misunderstood signals between workers.
- Incorrect operation of the equipment.
- Unstable or improper loading.
- Objects falling from equipment.
- Dropped loads.
- Equipment defects – These cases may involve a third-party claim against the manufacturer in addition to workers’ compensation benefits.
These accidents may cause serious injury or death to equipment operators, other workers, visitors, or passersby to the site.
Equipment Accidents and Workers’ Compensation
When you are injured in an equipment accident on the job, you are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits can cover the medical expenses you face, your lost wages while you recover, and short-term or long-term disability benefits if you are unable to return to work.
Unfortunately, receiving the benefits you are entitled to can be an uphill battle. The more severe your injuries, the harder you may need to fight against the for-profit insurance company and your employer. The insurance carrier may claim you are fully recovered when you are not or that your injuries are not as serious as you claim. This battle is made even more difficult because your employer and their insurance carrier choose the doctor you see and this doctor will decide the severity of your injuries and when you are recovered.
You do not need to go through the workers’ compensation process alone. At Work Injury Rights, we will serve as your legal advocate every step of the way, from helping you file your initial claim and building evidence of the severity of your injuries to fighting a denied or undervalued claim.
Contact Work Injury Rights for a Free Case Review
An equipment accident can leave you with life-changing injuries that may affect your ability to ever work again. The last thing you should be concerned about after an on-the-job accident is financial instability and providing for yourself and your loved ones.
At Work Injury Rights, we are here to help. We will help you fight for the full benefits you are entitled to receive. Contact our Florida workers’ compensation lawyers today for a free case review.
