Worker Injured At Ash Pallet Management Forklift Accident In Antioch
Unsafe Premises - Work Compensation - February 15, 2024
Antioch Pallet Supply Facility Had Over 20 Prior Safety Violations Before Worker Was Injured In Forklift Accident
ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS (February 15, 2024) – A worker was injured in some type of forklift accident at Ash Pallet Management in Antioch along McMillen Road.
Lake County officials are saying that the incident took place around 11:05 a.m. on Tuesday. A worker was injured in a forklift accident at Ash Pallet Management.
Around 12 feet of stacked pallets toppled over and fell onto the worker. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the business in order to help the worker.
The worker was extracted from the fallen pallets before being taken in an ambulance to the Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
The incident was reported to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Patch has reported that the facility where the accident took place has faced over 20 safety violations.
A full investigation by OSHA remains ongoing.
Liability For Antioch Forklift Accidents
Accidents involving forklifts may seem like freak occurrences, but they are unfortunately all too common. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “From 2011 to 2017, 614 workers lost their lives in forklift related incidents and more than 7,000 nonfatal injuries with days away from work occurred every year. […] Forklifts were involved in 9,050 nonfatal workplace injuries or illnesses with days away from work in 2017.” Forklifts pose a number of hazards, both to their operators and to those nearby.
- Tipping Over: Forklifts are naturally top heavy and are much more prone to tipping over.
- Falling Loads: Forklifts often lift thousands of pounds of cargo. When this cargo is not properly loaded, it can easily fall over and injure someone.
- Crushed or Pinned: Forklifts are difficult to operate and their drivers run the risk of pinning pedestrians if they are not careful.
When a worker is injured on the job, they will typically have recourse through the worker’s compensation system. Worker’s compensation in Illinois operates through a no-fault insurance scheme. A worker will be able to receive benefits for their injuries, even in the circumstance that they may have contributed to an accident in some way. An injured worker may also be able to seek damages through a third party liability claim.
A third party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident. For example, a third party may be the manufacturer of a forklift. There have been a number of situations where forklifts have been created with design defects. A third party may also be the owner of a warehouse or general contractor that failed to maintain a work environment in a reasonably safe manner. Victims of forklift accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
- Organ damage
The vast majority of forklift accidents are preventable. No matter how safe forklift operators are, they are not always able to overcome the unsafe environments that they are forced to work in. This is why it is so important that evidence and safety records are properly preserved after any accident. Evidence will ultimately reveal what went wrong and who may be responsible for any workplace accident.
Investigating Antioch Forklift Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the worker injured in this accident at Ash Pallet Management. It is our sincere hope that he will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. The sheer number of safety violations at this Antioch facility is deeply concerning. There needs to be accountability before someone is killed.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Antioch forklift accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
