Heavy Lifting Accidents and Claiming Compensation

Heavy lifting equipment is used in many sectors and industries across the UK. You’ll see fork-lift trucks in warehouses, diggers on construction sites in city centres and lifts and cranes helping maintain various buildings.

Accidents involving heavy lifting equipment are more common than many of us think. Any company using these big machines has a duty of care to make sure that not only operators but people working in the vicinity or simply passing by are protected.

If you have suffered an injury because of an accident involving heavy lifting equipment, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Heavy Lifting Regulations

Accidents involving heavy lifting equipment have come down over the last four or five decades and that’s mostly because of better health and safety procedures as well as legislation that puts the onus of a duty of care on the business operating the machinery. This includes things like the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

Legislation is there to ensure that machinery is properly maintained and operators are appropriately trained. You can’t, for example, jump into a forklift truck and start using it. You need to have undertaken and passed an accredited course.

There is also a duty on the business to ensure basic safety rules are applied. This includes, for example, having designated areas for forklift trucks where pedestrians are not allowed.

While the workplace is much safer, that doesn’t mean the risk from heavy lifting equipment is totally mitigated. Accidents still occur at many locations around the UK, both to workers and those passing by, and the consequences for the injured party can be catastrophic.

Businesses may not only have to pay compensation to the individual for an accident they have caused through neglect or bad practice but might also be fined if they are in breach of the current regulations.

Making a Claim Following a Heavy Lifting Equipment Accident

If you have been involved in an accident that caused injury and it wasn’t your fault, then you may have the right to make a personal injury claim. It’s important to talk to a solicitor who specialises in claims of this type and find out whether there is a case to be made.

Compensation can be awarded to assist with daily living and recovery from an injury. An award may also be made for loss of income, for example, if you have to take time off work or are unable to do the same job anymore with the salary you are used to. Compensation awards will often take into account the psychological harm that has been caused.

Personal injury solicitors handling heavy lifting equipment accident claims generally offer a no win no fee service. What this means is that, if they think you have a basis for a claim, they will fight it in court for you without charging initial fees. Talk to Personal Injury Lawyers Birmingham about your claim today to find out if we can get you the compensation you deserve.

By: Accinet
Title: Heavy Lifting Accidents and Claiming Compensation
Sourced From: www.accinet.co.uk/heavy-lifting-accidents-and-claiming-compensation/
Published Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2019 13:19:27 +0000