Moving forward after a heavy machinery accident can feel like navigating a maze with no exit. In addition to coping with painful injuries, you might be stressing over medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about your next steps. But you don’t have to forge ahead alone. The personal injury attorneys at Demas Law Group can shoulder your burdens.
People injured in machinery accidents can often recover compensation for their injuries. If you were hurt on the job, the California workers’ compensation program should provide benefits for medical treatment and lost income. However, there are times when another party is at fault for a heavy machinery accident. In those cases, victims could have the right to file a personal injury claim against the liable party.
Demas Law Group has a history of recovering record-breaking verdicts and settlements for deserving Californians. When you come to us for help, you align with a team of relentless advocates who will champion your fight for justice. We’re here to light the way and guide you through this trying time.
A Sacramento heavy machinery accidents lawyer can determine whether you have a valid claim in a free consultation. Contact us today to get started.
Understanding Heavy Machinery Accidents in Sacramento
A heavy machinery accident occurs when someone gets hurt due to mishandling, improper operation, or the malfunctioning of industrial equipment like forklifts, cranes, bulldozers, or other machines. Construction workers, warehouse employees, agricultural workers, and farmers are the most common victims of these types of accidents.
Common causes of heavy machinery accidents include:
- Operating mistakes, where lack of training, supervision, or human error causes an accident.
- Inadequate maintenance, causing equipment failures due to issues like worn-out components, leaks, or fire hazards.
- Mishandling, usually the result of workers needing more information and experience to manage complex machinery.
- Inadequate safety measures, such as the failure to provide proper protective gear and guarding systems for safe machine operation.
- Mechanical failures caused by manufacturing defects, design defects, or other unforeseen problems.
- Overworked workers, who are more likely to make careless errors.
- Unsafe work environments, such as those with poor lighting, slippery floors, or other hazardous conditions.
- Improper loading or overloading, which leads to rollovers and falls.
- Ignoring safety regulations to save time and money.
Long-Term Consequences of Heavy Machinery Accidents
Each person’s experience after a heavy machinery accident is different. The bulk and weight of heavy machines means that any injury can have lifelong ramifications, such as:
- Physical disability – Depending on the severity of the injury, victims might experience temporary or permanent physical disabilities, ranging from difficulty walking to total paralysis.
- Chronic pain – Many heavy machinery accident survivors suffer from chronic pain due to their injuries, which can significantly diminish their quality of life.
- Emotional trauma – The psychological effects of a heavy machinery accident can be just as devastating as a bodily injury. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression are common among survivors.
- Loss of livelihood – Some heavy machinery accident survivors can no longer continue working in their previous jobs or maintain any form of gainful employment.
- Loss of independence – Many severe injuries require ongoing medical treatment or personal care, leaving survivors temporarily or permanently dependent on caregivers.
- Financial problems – Medical treatment, therapy, and lifelong caregiving costs frequently contribute to significant economic hardships after heavy machinery accidents.
- Lifestyle adjustments – Some injured individuals must modify their homes, vehicles, or lifestyles to accommodate new personal limitations.
- Relationship strain – The aftermath of a heavy machinery accident can impact personal relationships with family members, friends, and colleagues.
Legal Options for Heavy Machinery Accident Victims
For injured employees, workers’ compensation may be the only way to recover money after a heavy machinery accident. However, you could have other legal options if you suffered an injury as a bystander or if someone other than your employer is responsible for the accident. These include:
- Personal injury lawsuit – A successful personal injury claim could help you recover compensation if someone else’s negligence caused the accident and your injuries.
- Product liability claim – If your injury resulted from a defect in the heavy machinery itself, you could sue the manufacturer or distributor of the equipment in a product liability case.
- Premises liability case – If you got hurt due to unsafe conditions on a property, such as a construction site, you might have a premises liability claim against the property owner.
- Wrongful death case – If someone dies in a heavy machinery accident, specific individuals could be able to bring a wrongful death claim to recover damages for the loss.
The requirements and deadlines for each type of case are different. If you know or suspect you have grounds for a legal claim after a heavy machinery accident in California, consult a trusted personal injury attorney immediately to learn more about your options.
Compensation for Heavy Machinery Accident Claims
Potential compensation from a heavy machinery accident injury case could encompass a wide range of losses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income and job benefits
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Physical therapy costs
- Disability accommodations
- Vocational rehabilitation costs
- Costs of in-home or nursing home care
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
How Demas Law Group Can Help
Seeking legal counsel is crucial after a heavy machinery accident. Why? Because the insurance company has professional representation of its own, and they are already strategizing on how to undermine your claim and minimize your settlement. With so much at stake, you need a proven attorney to fight for the money you are entitled to.
That’s where Demas Law Group comes in. We are more than just lawyers. We are dedicated advocates with more than 25 years of experience serving people in Sacramento and the surrounding communities. Our team, which includes several former defense attorneys, has extensive experience handling heavy machinery and other construction accident claims. We bring our strategic negotiation skills, passion, and tenacity to every case we accept, fighting for meaningful outcomes every step of the way.
Contact Demas Law Group Today
Demas Law Group offers 24/7 availability, free case reviews, multilingual services, and superior customer service. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Sacramento heavy machinery accident attorney. There’s no fee unless we win.
