Construction sites, factories, oilfields, warehouses, and other industrial settings rely on heavy machinery for a wide range of tasks. Heavy equipment is fairly safe when handled and maneuvered properly—however, factory defects, equipment malfunctions, a lack of safety training, and other issues can result in devastating accidents. If you are involved in a heavy equipment accident while working in construction or another field, here is what you need to know.
How Heavy Machinery Accidents Happen
To operate heavy equipment and machinery, industrial workers generally require specific training and/or a license. If workers who are poorly trained, unqualified, or inexperienced try to operate heavy equipment and machinery, the risk of accidents and injuries rises.
Common types of heavy machinery include:
- Bulldozers
- Cherry pickers
- Cranes
- Dump trucks
- Excavators
- Forklifts
- Graders
- Hydraulic machinery
- Logging equipment
- Oil rig machinery
- Warehouse equipment and machinery
Some common factors involved in heavy equipment accidents include:
- Colliding with an object or another piece of equipment
- Dropped loads
- Equipment defects or malfunctions
- Failure to check blind spots while operating or backing up
- Machinery entanglement
- Objects falling from forklifts and other equipment
- Pinning workers between the equipment and stationary objects
What Should You Do After an Accident?
Take the following steps as quickly as you can after your accident:
- Seek medical attention
- Diligently follow your doctor’s orders (not only will this keep you healthy, but it will also protect your claim)
- Report the accident to your supervisor in writing, noting in detail how, when, and where the accident happened
- File a Texas workers’ compensation claim
- Contact an attorney
Accidents involving heavy equipment can cause catastrophic injuries and a lifetime of pain and suffering. The best way to minimize the long-term effects of your injuries is to push for just compensation. A skilled attorney well-versed in Texas law will fight for you until you’re taken care of for as long as you need.
If you, a coworker, or a loved one has been injured in an accident at work involving large machinery, contact our Fort Worth heavy equipment accident attorney today by clicking here.