A Guide On Making A Forklift Accident Claim
Updated 22nd January 2026. When someone makes a forklift accident claim, they seek compensation for injuries negligently caused by their employer. Forklift accident compensation will be determined by the type of injury suffered, the severity, and whether you have encountered financial hardship as a direct result of being hurt. Here at UK Law, we know how debilitating it can be to suffer a forklift injury, and our advisors and panel of solicitors are committed to helping each and every client balance the scales.
Our advisors are ready to help you explore your options for making a workplace accident claim. They pride themselves on providing fast and clear guidance to everyone who gets in touch. In particular, they can assess your claim’s eligibility and advise you on what to do next, free of charge. Our panel of solicitors believe in accessible legal support for those who need it, and provide their services throughout the forklift truck accident claims process on No Win No Fee terms. Get started today via phone, email, or live chat.
We are here to help you
Here at UKlaw our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free legal advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
Jump To A Section
- Can I Make A Forklift Accident Claim?
- How Much Forklift Accident Compensation Could I Get?
- What Can Cause A Forklift Accident To Happen?
- Can My Employer Sack Me If I Make A Claim?
- What Is The Time Limit To Make A Forklift Accident Claim?
- What Evidence Will I Need To Prove My Forklift Injuries
- Why Claim For Forklift Injuries With UK Law’s Panel Of Solicitors?
- Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- More Information
Can I Make A Forklift Accident Claim?
You can make a forklift accident claim if you are able to prove that your employer acted negligently and that this directly caused you to suffer an injury. In order to prove employer negligence, you will need to satisfy the following eligibility criteria:
- You were owed a duty of care: A duty of care refers to the legal responsibility that certain third parties (in this instance, employers) have towards protecting others’ safety. For employers, this duty requires taking reasonable steps to ensure workers’ health, well-being, and safety.
- This duty of care was breached: You must be able to clearly show that your employer breached their duty in some capacity. That could involve showing that they failed to maintain their fleet of forklifts or did not provide you with adequate training to operate the vehicles.
- The breach caused you injury: In order to be eligible to make a forklift accident at work claim, you must have sustained some form of physical or psychological injury as a direct result of your employer’s breach.
Am I Able To Claim If I’m Self-Employed?
Yes, you can still claim if you are self-employed. Self-employed workers are protected under Section 4 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This states that you’re still owed a duty of care if you’re using that space as a place of work. For example, if you are a plumber fixing a pipe in a warehouse and a faulty forklift overturns and causes you to suffer crush injuries, you could potentially make a claim.
What If I Was Partially To Blame?
Yes, you can still claim if you were partially to blame for the accident. This is something called a split liability claim, and it means that both you and your employer were responsible for what happened. Usually, in these kinds of claims, your compensation will be reduced in line with your responsibility: for example, if you are deemed 25% responsible, your compensation will be reduced by 25%.
Can I Claim On Behalf Of A Loved One?
Yes, you can claim compensation on behalf of a loved one by acting as their litigation friend. Usually, you can only act as a litigation friend for someone who has been injured while under the age of 18, or someone who lacks the mental capacity needed to claim for themselves. Our team can offer more information on acting as a litigation friend when you get in touch.
Fatal Forklift Injury Claims
Unfortunately, forklift accidents can result in death, which means you could potentially make a fatal accident claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. However, for the first 6 months after the death, only the estate can make a claim. This can include compensation for the deceased’s pain and suffering, as well as the effect this has on their dependents, as per the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934.
However, if the estate doesn’t make a claim on behalf of the dependents within this time, then they can start their own claim for the effect that the death has had on them.
For more information on making a fatal accident at work claim, or to learn more about pursuing forklift accident compensation, contact our team of advisors today.
How Much Forklift Accident Compensation Could I Get?
Forklift accident compensation, like all other personal injury payouts, can be made up of two heads: The first head is general damages. This is compensation that covers your physical and psychological injuries, as well as things like loss of amenity, which is the effect your injuries have had on your ability to enjoy hobbies.
When general damages are calculated, the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can be used to help. The JCG provides guideline compensation brackets that can be used as a reference in settlement negotiations, and you can find some examples of these below. However, please note that these aren’t guaranteed amounts, and the first entry in this table isn’t from the JCG.
| Injury | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries combined with special damages, such as lost earnings or the cost of mobility aids | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain Damage Very Severe - Full-Time Nursing Required | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Brain Damage Moderate (ii) - Moderate to Modest Intellectual Deficit | £110,720 to £183,190 |
| Severe Arm Injuries (i) - Fall Short of Amputation | £117,360 to £159,770 |
| Severe Back Injuries (ii) - Cases with Special Features | £90,510 to £107,910 |
| Severe (iii) Neck Injuries - Fractures or Dislocations | £55,500 to £68,330 |
| Chest Injuries (c) - Continuing Disability | £38,210 to £66,920 |
| Severe Ankle Injuries - Extensive Period of Treatment | £38,210 to £61,090 |
| Severe (iii) Knee Injuries - Continuing Painful Symptoms | £31,960 to £53,030 |
| Leg - Simple Fractures to Tibia or Fibula or Soft Tissue Injuries | Up to £14,450 |
Can I Claim For Financial Losses?
Yes, you can claim back any financial losses caused by your injuries under special damages. This is the second heading that can make up your claim, and it can help you cover the cost of things like:
- Lost earnings
- Mobility aids
- Professional nursing care
- Medical expenses, like prescriptions
- Home adjustments
- Childcare
- Domestic help
However, it’s important to note that you’ll need to provide evidence in order to claim back your financial losses. You can do this by keeping bills, invoices, and receipts related to your injuries.
Who Is Liable For Paying My Compensation?
Your compensation doesn’t come from your employer’s pocket, but instead from their Employer’s Liability insurance (EL). A lot of people worry that if they make an accident at work claim, then they’ll be putting their employer in a difficult position, especially if they work for a small business. But this is a common misconception. Most employers are required by law to have EL insurance, so you can rest assured that they won’t have to pay out of pocket.
Would you like to learn more about forklift accident compensation? Contact our team of advisors today to learn more about what you could receive, or keep reading to find out how a forklift truck accident can happen.
We are here to help you
Here at UKlaw our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free legal advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
What Can Cause A Forklift Accident To Happen?
There are many ways that a forklift accident can happen, but it’s important to remember that you can’t claim without proving that negligence has occurred. Some examples of how your employer breaching their duty of care could cause an accident include:
Lack Of Training
Employers are expected to provide free training for employees whenever it’s needed for them to do their job safely. If your employer knows that you aren’t trained to use a forklift but tells you to anyway, this could cause you to use it incorrectly, resulting in the truck overturning and causing a severe head injury.
Defective Forklift
Your employer is responsible for maintaining equipment like forklifts. If they know that a certain truck has faulty brakes but ask you to use it anyway without getting it fixed, this could cause a serious collision, resulting in broken bones, cuts, and even amputations.
Unsuitable Traffic Routes
Your employer should make sure that there are suitable traffic routes for any vehicles in the workplace, including forklifts, cherry pickers, and trucks. If there are no safe walkways, this could lead to you being hit by a forklift, resulting in serious injuries like brain damage.
These are only a few examples of how a forklift accident claim could come about. Keep reading to learn more, or contact our team today to get started.
Can My Employer Sack Me If I Make A Claim?
No, your employer can’t sack you solely for making a claim. This is because you have a legal right to claim compensation if you’ve been a victim of negligence in the workplace.
Our team of advisors can provide more information on your employer’s responsibilities and your rights when you get in touch today.
What Is The Time Limit To Make A Forklift Accident Claim?
You usually have three years to make a forklift accident claim, as per the Limitation Act 1980. But don’t worry if you’ve fallen outside of the accident at work time limit: you may still be able to claim. This is because there are some built-in exceptions to the rule, which apply to:
- Those under the age of 18: If you were injured while under 18, then a litigation friend can claim for you at any point until your 18th birthday. After that, you’ll have until your 21st birthday to claim for yourself.
- Those who lack the mental capacity to make their own claim: In this case, there is no time limit, and a litigation friend can start a claim at any time. The three-year limit only applies if they recover the needed capacity.
If you’d like to find out whether you are within the time limit for making a forklift accident claim, contact our team of helpful advisors today.
What Evidence Will I Need To Prove My Forklift Injuries
Evidence is crucial when you’re making an accident at work claim, as you need to be able to prove that negligence occurred. To do this, you can use evidence like:
- Photographs: This can include pictures of your visible injuries, as well as pictures of the accident site
- CCTV footage: If your workplace is equipped with CCTV, you can request the footage to be used as evidence
- Medical reports: Your medical records and the results of an independent medical assessment can both be used to support your claim
- Witness contact details: Taking the contact details of potential witnesses allows their statements to be taken at a later date.
- Accident book logs: Recording your accident in the accident book means that there is a permanent record of what happened, and it can also be used as evidence in your forklift injury claim
Do I Have To Attend A Medical?
You might be asked to attend an independent medical assessment to help calculate how much compensation you are owed. Don’t worry; if you choose to work with a solicitor from our panel, they can arrange this appointment for you and will make sure that it’s local and at your convenience.
Will I Need To Take My Employer To Court?
No, court isn’t always necessary when you’re making an accident at work claim. This is because not all personal injury claims go to court; Cases can settle outside the courtroom if both sides can come to an acceptable agreement.
Learn more about the personal injury claims process by getting in touch. Or, keep reading to find out how a solicitor from our panel could help you make a forklift accident claim.
Why Claim For Forklift Injuries With UK Law’s Panel Of Solicitors?
You should claim for forklift injuries with UK Law’s panel of solicitors because empathetic client care is at the heart of what they do. They provide a tailored service to every client, doing all they can to meet their individual needs and make the personal injury claims process as stress-free as possible. We’ve provided some examples of the support services our clients can access below, such as help to:
- Gather evidence on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery and spending time with loved ones
- Negotiate with the defendant’s solicitors and report straight back to you with clear, thorough updates
- Translate the legal jargon into plain English and break down how any relevant piece of legislation works
- Secure any rehabilitation support you may need in order to prioritise your health and well-being
- Fight for the highest forklift accident compensation possible so you get the justice and peace of mind you deserve
If any of these services sound appealing to you, please connect with an advisor, who will then explain the other types of support available.
Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, you can make a forklift accident claim by working with a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis. We always recommend seeking legal advice before starting a claim, as it can make the claims process feel significantly less complex. Our panel of accident at work solicitors are experts in personal injury law, and have helped countless people from all over the country secure the compensation they deserve.
Plus, our panel all work under something called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a kind of No Win No Fee contract that allows you to benefit from all of their high-quality services, with:
- No payment upfront
- None as your claim is ongoing
- No fees for their work at all if the claim fails
If you are successful and receive compensation, then a success fee will be taken by your solicitor. This is a small percentage of your compensation, and the percentage itself is legally capped. The legal cap is in place to ensure that you keep the majority of what you receive.
Get In Touch With Our Team
Our team of advisors are here to help. Get in touch with us today to learn more about forklift accident compensation claims by:
- Calling us on 020 3870 4868
- Contacting us online
- Using the live chat feature
More Information
For more helpful accident at work claim guides:
- Learn how to claim for an accident at work caused by oil
- Find out how to claim for a car accident at work
- Get help making a claim for a scaffolding accident at work
Or, for further resources:
- Information on vehicles in the workplace from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Learn how to request CCTV footage of yourself from GOV.UK
- Get help with first aid from the NHS
Thank you for reading our guide on how to make a forklift accident claim.
