Forklift accidents can happen in seconds. One moment, you are getting on with your usual work. The next, you may be dealing with a painful injury, time off and questions about what went wrong.

They are a significant workplace risk, with forklift trucks involved in around a quarter of workplace transport accidents in the UK. That is why it is important to know what steps to take after an accident.

Acting quickly can help protect your health, your legal rights and any evidence you may need if you decide to make a forklift accident claim.

Here is what to do after a forklift accident at work.

Get away from immediate danger

First, make sure the accident site is safe. A forklift truck may have dropped its load, overturned or damaged nearby equipment. There could also be leaking fuel, unstable shelving or other moving vehicles nearby. Move away from the danger where you can do so safely. Other workers should stop nearby machinery and keep people away from the area.

Do not move someone who may have suffered a head, neck, back or serious crush injury unless they are in immediate danger. Wait for trained emergency responders.

Call for help

Call 999 if anyone has suffered serious injuries or requires urgent medical care. This may include loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding, breathing difficulties, crush injuries, suspected spinal injuries, severe head injuries or amputations. Provide first aid if you are trained to do so. Do not attempt treatment beyond your level of training. Even where the injuries appear less severe, tell a first aider or supervisor immediately.

Get medical attention

Get medical help immediately after a forklift accident and do not brush off your symptoms. Adrenaline can mask pain after a forklift accident. Some injuries also become more obvious several hours or days later.

You should seek medical attention if you experience pain, swelling, dizziness, numbness, weakness or difficulty moving. Depending on your symptoms, this may mean visiting hospital, an urgent treatment centre or your GP. Tell the medical professional exactly how the accident happened. Explain whether you were struck by a forklift truck, trapped underneath equipment, hit by a falling load or injured while operating the vehicle. This helps them assess your condition. It also creates medical records linking your injuries to the accident.

Continue with any recommended medical treatment. Attend follow-up appointments and keep copies of prescriptions, letters and appointment details.

Report the forklift accident immediately

Report the forklift accident to your manager, supervisor or site operator as soon as possible. Give a clear account of when and where the accident happened, what work was taking place, who was involved, what equipment was involved and what injuries you suffered. Ask for the accident to be documented in the workplace accident book. The record should be accurate and should not leave out important details.

Employers are required to record certain work-related injuries and incidents, and employees should report accidents promptly. An accident book helps employers to maintain records of workplace incidents and supports compliance with health and safety obligations. Ask for a copy of the entry where possible.

If you are an agency worker, contractor or visitor, report the accident to both your own employer and the person controlling the site.

Write down what happened

Memories fade quickly. Write down your account while the details are still fresh. Include the date and time, your location, the task you were completing, where the forklift came from, what the forklift operator was doing and whether the vehicle was carrying a load.

Also record whether warning alarms or lights were working, what you saw and heard and what happened immediately afterwards. Note anything unusual. For example, was the forklift taking sharp turns? Was the driver travelling too quickly in a busy warehouse? Was the route blocked? Were pedestrians and vehicles using the same space? Small details can make a significant difference when trying to establish liability.

Take photographs and videos

Photographs provide valuable evidence of the accident site.

Where it is safe to do so, take pictures of:

• The forklift truck and its load
• Damaged pallets, shelving or equipment
• Floor markings and pedestrian routes
• Barriers and warning signs
• Spillages, obstructions or damaged flooring
• Poor lighting
• Visible injuries

Take photographs from different angles. Do not interfere with the accident site or place yourself in danger. Continue taking photographs of your injuries as they develop. Bruising and swelling may become more visible after the accident.

Get witness details

Speak to anyone who saw the forklift accident. Ask for their name, telephone number, email address and employer or job role. Witnesses could include other workers, delivery drivers, contractors, customers or visitors. Do not rely on your employer to collect this information for you. People may leave the site, change jobs or forget details over time. A witness can provide an independent account of the forklift accident at work. This can be especially important where responsibility is disputed.

Ask for CCTV to be preserved

Many warehouses, factories, shops and construction sites use CCTV. Footage may show the forklift’s speed, route, load and movements before the accident. It could also show unsafe conditions or a lack of safety protocols. Ask your employer or the site operator to preserve the footage as soon as possible. CCTV is often automatically deleted after a set period. A specialist solicitor may later request the recording as part of your forklift accident claim.

Keep hold of other evidence

Other documents may help explain why the accident occurred. This could include forklift maintenance records, daily inspection records, risk assessments, training records, site plans, safe working procedures, shift records and previous accident or near-miss reports.

Do not take confidential documents without permission. Simply note what records may exist and discuss them with your solicitor.

Find out whether the accident is reportable

Certain workplace accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, usually known as RIDDOR . Not every forklift accident is reportable. The accident must be work-related and result in a reportable injury or incident. Reportable injuries include most fractures other than those affecting fingers, thumbs and toes, as well as amputations and certain other specified injuries. An injury may also be reportable if it leaves a worker unable to carry out their normal duties for more than seven consecutive days. 

The duty to make a RIDDOR report usually falls on the employer, self-employed person or person in control of the premises, depending on the circumstances. An injured employee does not usually submit the report personally. You can, however, ask your employer whether the accident has been reported. A RIDDOR report does not automatically prove negligence but it creates an official record of the accident.

Do not admit responsibility

Avoid saying that the forklift accident was your fault. You may not yet know whether poor training, unsafe instructions, mechanical failures or poor maintenance contributed to what happened. Do not sign a statement unless you have read it carefully and agree that it is accurate. Ask for incorrect information to be changed before signing. You should also avoid posting details of the accident or your recovery on social media. An employer or insurer may review public posts during a forklift accident claim.

Keep a record of your recovery

Start a simple injury diary. Record your symptoms, medical appointments, medication, sleep problems, mobility difficulties, time away from work and any help provided by relatives. You should also note activities you can no longer manage and any effect the injuries have had on your mental wellbeing. This can help show how the injuries have affected your daily life. Be honest and consistent. Do not exaggerate your symptoms, but do not play them down either.

Keep receipts and financial records

A forklift accident can affect more than your health. You may lose income while you recover. You may also face extra costs for treatment, travel or help at home.

Keep evidence of:

• Lost wages, overtime and bonuses
• Travel to medical appointments
• Prescription charges
• Private medical treatment
• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
• Care and assistance
• Mobility equipment
• Damaged clothing or belongings

These losses may form part of your forklift accident compensation. Future lost income, care and medical treatment may also be considered where the injuries have long-term effects.

What are common forklift injuries?

A forklift truck is heavy and powerful. It may also be carrying a large or unstable load. That means even a low-speed accident can cause severe injuries. Common forklift injuries include fractures, crush injuries, head and brain injuries, spinal damage, soft tissue injuries, cuts, internal injuries, amputations and psychological trauma. Crush injuries are particularly common where a worker becomes trapped between the forklift and another object. A pedestrian collision can also result in serious injuries, even if the forklift was moving slowly.

The injury severity will depend on factors such as the forklift’s speed and weight, the load it was carrying and how the accident occurred.

What causes forklift accidents?

Forklift accidents can happen for many reasons, including human error, unsafe working conditions and equipment faults. Common causes include inadequate training, poor supervision, excessive speed, unstable loads, restricted visibility and a lack of pedestrian barriers. Poor maintenance, defective brakes, uneven flooring and inadequate lighting can also increase the risk of an accident.

In some workplaces, employees are put under pressure to move loads too quickly. Accidents can also happen when forklift operators and pedestrians are expected to use the same area without suitable safety measures in place.

Employers are responsible for providing proper training, maintaining forklift trucks and ensuring the working environment is safe.

Why is proper training important?

Forklift operators need proper training before using the equipment. Training should cover basic operating skills, the specific forklift being used and the conditions in the workplace. 

Employers should ensure operators continue to work safely after completing their initial training and address any unsafe practices that arise. Refresher training or further assessment may be appropriate after an accident, near miss, prolonged period away from driving or significant change in working practices. Poor training may mean a forklift driver does not understand the vehicle’s controls, stability or stopping distance. Employers must also make sure supervisors can recognise unsafe practices and take action.

Can you make a forklift accident claim?

You may be able to make a forklift accident claim if another person or organisation failed to take reasonable care for your safety. This might include an employer failing to provide adequate training, maintain the forklift, separate pedestrians and vehicles or carry out suitable risk assessments. A claim may also arise where an employer failed to enforce safety protocols, supervise forklift operators or address known hazards.

Your employer has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect workplace safety. You may still have a claim even if the unsafe act was committed by another employee. You could also have a third-party claim against a site operator, contractor, maintenance company, hire company or forklift manufacturer.

Who can make a forklift accident claim?

A forklift accident claim is not limited to permanent employees. Full-time and part-time employees, agency workers, temporary workers, contractors, self-employed workers, delivery drivers, visitors and members of the public may all be able to claim, depending on the circumstances. Many injured workers worry that making a claim could affect their job.

Your employer should not subject you to unfair treatment because you have raised genuine health and safety concerns or pursued a legitimate claim, and compensation claims are normally handled by the employer's liability insurer rather than paid directly by the employer.

What if you were partly responsible?

You may still be able to claim if you contributed to the forklift accident. This is called contributory negligence. For example, you may have crossed outside a designated walkway, but your employer may also have failed to provide suitable barriers or enforce forklift safety procedures. Where contributory negligence applies, your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility. It does not necessarily prevent you from recovering compensation.

How much compensation could you receive?

There is no fixed amount of forklift accident compensation. The final amount depends on the type of injury, its severity, your recovery time, your medical treatment and whether any symptoms are permanent. Your lost income, care needs and the effect on your work and daily life will also be considered. Compensation can cover the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. It may also cover lost wages, medical expenses and other financial losses. A solicitor cannot confirm how much compensation you will receive without reviewing your circumstances and medical evidence.

How long do you have to claim?

In most cases, you have three years to start a forklift accident claim. This usually runs from the date of the accident or the date you first knew that your injury was linked to negligence. Different rules can apply to children and people who lack the mental capacity to manage a claim. Separate considerations may also apply following fatal forklift accidents.

Do not leave matters until the deadline is approaching. Evidence can disappear, CCTV can be deleted and witnesses can become harder to contact.

How do you start a forklift accident claim?

Speak to a specialist solicitor with experience handling workplace accidents. They can assess what happened and explain whether you may have grounds to claim. If the case can proceed, they may gather evidence , contact witnesses, request workplace records, obtain CCTV and arrange an independent medical assessment. They can also establish liability, calculate your losses and negotiate with the responsible party’s insurer.

Forklift accident claims are often handled on a no win, no fee basis. The solicitor should explain the fee basis clearly before the claim begins.

How we can help you claim forklift accident compensation

A forklift accident can affect your health, your work and your finances. Our personal injury solicitors are here to make the claims process easier.

We will review what happened, identify who may be responsible and help gather the evidence needed to support your claim. We will explain each stage clearly, keep you updated and seek compensation for your injuries, lost income, treatment costs and any support you may need in the future.

Call us on 0800 1380 458 or contact us online to discuss your forklift accident claim.