This guide discusses pallet truck accidents and injuries and the circumstances in which you may be entitled to claim compensation. We explore the eligibility criteria for an accident at work claim and the time limit you must adhere to.
Pallet truck accidents and injuries guide
Moreover, our guide details what pallet truck accidents are and how they could be caused. We also list the evidence you could collect that can support your claim for employer negligence.
Our guide looks at the types of damages you could receive and how these are valued.
Furthermore, we look at No Win No Fee arrangements and what these entail. Please keep on reading to find out more about pallet truck accidents and the injuries they could cause.
Alternatively, you can contact us to discuss your claim in more detail:
- Call us on 0161 696 9685
- Contact us by completing our form
- Use our website chat to receive support
Select A Section
- When Could You Claim For Pallet Truck Accidents And Injuries?
- What Are Pallet Truck Accidents And Injuries?
- Evidence Supporting Claims Pallet Truck Accident Claims
- Payouts For Personal Injury Claims
- Get Advice On How To Claim Compensation
- Learn More About Pallet Truck Accidents And Injuries
When Could You Claim For Pallet Truck Accidents And Injuries?
If you have been hurt in an accident at work, you may be eligible to receive compensation for work-related injuries. Under the Health and Safety At Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a legal duty to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of their employees in the workplace.
To establish liability, you should illustrate that:
- Your employer owed a duty of care to you at the time of your accident.
- This duty was breached.
- The breach resulted in your injuries.
Being able to show that your employer owed you this duty and that they breached such will demonstrate their liability. If the breach resulted in your injuries, this amounts to negligence which could entitle you to make a personal injury claim against your employer.
Workplace Injury Claim Time Limits
There are time limitations surrounding the claims process. The Limitation Act 1980 states that generally, you have three years from your accident or the date you connected your injuries with negligence in order to claim.
There are exceptions, including:
- A person may lack the mental capacity to claim. If they recover their mental capacity, the three year time limit to claim begins. Before this, a litigation friend can claim on their behalf and the time limit for doing this is suspended.
- A person who is under eighteen at the time of the accident will have three years from their eighteenth birthday to begin a claim. Before this, a litigation friend can claim on their behalf and the time limit is suspended.
If you would like to know how long you could have to begin your claim, speak with our team. If you have a valid case, you could be connected with a No Win No Fee lawyer from our panel.
What Are Pallet Truck Accidents And Injuries?
A pallet truck is a wheeled trolley designed to transport pallets, usually from their storage area to a waiting vehicle. Pallet trucks could be operated within a warehouse. Their use could pose hazards that employers need to take reasonable steps to mitigate.
Examples include:
- Pallets were not set correctly on the truck, causing them to fall off, This could result in a foot injury.
- If the truck has not received regular maintenance, the tyre pressure may be too low, which makes the truck difficult to manoeuvre. This could result in a collision with a colleague.
- There may be damage, such as a hole in the floor, which causes the pallet truck to overturn, injuring the person operating it.
Please contact our advisors if you want legal advice about your pallet truck accident. They could let you know whether you have a valid claim.
How Common Are Pallet Truck Accidents?
The Health and Safety Executive has provided statistics on work-related non-fatal injuries to employees in Great Britain categorised by the kind of accident and broad industry group. These are as follows:
- 2,244 injuries from striking against something fixed or stationary were reported.
- 11,260 injuries were reported as a result of handling, lifting or carrying.
- 195 injuries were reported as a result of being trapped by something collapsing or overturning.
Evidence Supporting Claims Pallet Truck Accident Claims
Evidence can be useful in supporting your claim against your employer. This can include:
- CCTV footage and photographs of the injuries and the site of the accident.
- Copies of medical records and a diary illustrating the impact on your mental state.
- Witness contact information.
A solicitor from our panel could help you gather these forms of evidence for your claim. To know more about pallet truck accidents and injuries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Payouts For Personal Injury Claims
There are two heads of claim you may receive. General damages is one of these heads; it compensates you for the pain and suffering you have experienced because of your injuries.
Legal professionals can use the Judicial College Guidelines to help them assign injury values to claims. These outline compensation brackets for different injuries; we have included a selection of these below.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back | Severe (a) (i) | Spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged leading to pain and disability. | £91,090 to £160,980 |
| Back | Severe (a) (ii) | Nerve root damage causing a loss of sensation and unsightly scarring. | £74,160 to £88,430 |
| Back | Moderate (b) (ii) | Disturbance of back ligaments resulting in pain. | £12,510 to £27,760 |
| Foot | Very Severe (c) | There is permanent and severe pain or disability. Examples such as a traumatic amputation of the forefoot or a substantial loss of the heel. | £83,960 to £109,650 |
| Foot | Severe (d) | Fractures of both feet restricting mobility and causing considerable and permanent pain. | £41,970 to £70,030 |
| Foot | Moderate (f) | Metatarsal fractures are displaced causing persistent symptoms and permanent deformity. | £13,740 to £24,990 |
| Arm | Serious (b) | Permanently and substantially disabled. Forearms have been seriously fractured. | £39,170 to £59,860 |
| Arm | Less Severe (c) | Disabilities have been significant but the recovery is substantial. | £19,200 to £39,170 |
| Hand | Severe (f) | Fractures to fingers are severe and may result in partial amputations and impaired grip. | Up to £36,740 |
| Toe | Moderate (e) | Straightforward fractures of one or more toes. | Up to £9,600 |
These figures are not guaranteed, and your award may vary. These tables and tools such as compensation calculators will not be able to take into account all of the factors that could influence your payout.
How Special Damages Could Also Compensate You
Special damages are another head of claim you could receive. These compensate you for the financial losses and expenses you have incurred due to your injuries. Being able to prove that you have experienced these losses will ensure that you’re fully compensated for the impact your injuries have had on you financially.
Examples of these losses and evidence to support them include:
- Bank statements to show the price of adaptations you’ve had to make to your vehicle or home (for example, installing a stairlift).
- Payslips to depict the loss of earnings
- Tickets from buses or trains to demonstrate the cost of travel
A member of our team could give you an idea of how much your claim could be worth. Furthermore, if your claim is valid, they could connect you with a No Win No Fee lawyer from our panel.
Get Advice On How To Claim Compensation
When looking to claim, you may want to work with a No Win No Fee solicitor. If a lawyer works with you on a No Win No Fee basis, they could offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement.
These agreements mean you won’t have to pay upfront or ongoing fees to your lawyer. Furthermore, you generally don’t pay for their services if it’s not a success. However, if you are awarded compensation, a success fee will be taken by your solicitor.
This fee is made up of a proportion of your compensation and is deducted by your solicitor. The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 legally restricts the percentage they can take.
How To Contact Our Team For Advice
If you would like to speak to a member of our team about pallet truck accidents and injuries, please get in touch.
We are available to offer legal advice and free consultations. You can contact our advisors by:
- Calling us on 0161 696 9685
- Contacting us by completing and submitting our form online
- Using our website support to chat
Learn More About Pallet Truck Accidents And Injuries
If you found this guide on pallet truck accidents and injuries useful, please visit our other information linked below:
- I Have Had An Accident At Work; What Are My Rights?
- How To Claim For Injuries Caused By Falling Down The Stairs
- Claim Compensation For A Hip Injury
For external resources, please follow the links below:
- Risk Assessments – HSE
- First Aid – NHS
- Statutory Sick Pay – Government Guidance
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