Warehouse Accident Claims

What are Warehouse Accident Claims?

While there may be a number of causes of this area of personal injury compensation, warehouse injury claims are simple to define. In all cases, those injuries will be sustained within the confines of, or in the direct vicinity of, a warehouse.

 

Anyone who has suffered a warehouse or factory accident, either as an employee, a visitor or a bystander, has the option to pursue a claim if negligence is involved.

 

What are the Most Common Types of Warehouse Accident Claims?

The exact circumstances of the incident may vary but accidents in warehouses can often fall into certain categories. This isn’t a complete list but it does cover the most common incidents that occur within the warehouse confines.

  • Ladder accident claims

  • Forklift truck accident claims

  • Accidents due to faulty equipment or machinery

  • Trips and falls

  • Repetitive injuries

  • Incidents involving other vehicles not related to a forklift warehouse accident

  • Accidents due to falling objects such as poorly stacked products

 

If you have suffered from any injuries related to this list, such as a forklift accident, you should contact a personal injury solicitor. Please also get in touch if your circumstances occurred within a warehouse setting but are not specifically covered here. 

 

What are the most Common Warehouse Accident Injuries?

Potentially, there is a huge range of potential claims relating to warehouse or factory accidents. Many are very minor and it’s common for claimants to suffer soft tissue injuries while on site. From spinal and back injury through to more serious concerns regarding head and brain injuries, the list of possibilities is a very comprehensive one.

 

Warehouse accident injuries may include but are not limited to:

  • Soft tissue injuries

  • Breaks and fractures

  • Burn injuries

  • Spinal and back injuries

  • Head injuries and brain damage

 

Accidents in warehouses can also fall outside of that list so, if you or a family member have suffered an injury which has occurred within a warehouse setting, it’s advisable to get in touch with a personal injury solicitor in order to discuss the circumstances further.

 

What to do After a Warehouse Accident?

In the event of a warehouse or factory accident, urgent medical care should firstly be sought if it is required. When appropriate, the claimant should record all details of the incident and take any photographs that may be relevant.

 

If possible, any eyewitness reports should also be recorded. Subsequent costs such as medical bills, taxi fares etc, must be noted so it’s advisable to keep records and receipts. These are the important initial stages following a warehouse accident and these will provide the building blocks of any subsequent claim. 

 

How to make a Claim for Warehouse Accidents?

Accidents in warehouses should ideally be referred to an experienced personal injury solicitor. Claimants will be asked for all of the information pertaining to the case and the lawyer will advise on whether a lawsuit is likely to succeed.

 

The next step will require the solicitor to approach the warehouse in question and the party whose negligence led to the claim. In some cases, blame will be accepted immediately without the need to take things further. It is perfectly possible that the third party will make a settlement offer which is acceptable to the claimant.

 

If, however, that offer is not acceptable or blame is denied, the matter should be taken to court. This can be a complex process so the best course of action in the first instance is to consult a solicitor specialising in warehouse accident claims.

 

How long After a Warehouse Accident can you Claim?

Two years is the timeframe that you need to keep in mind. This is the limit imposed under Irish jurisdiction for personal injury settlements and that includes warehouse accident claims. The two-year limit starts from the Date of Knowledge and, while this will usually be the same as the date of the actual incident, this isn’t always the case.

 

The Date of Knowledge is defined as a point in time when symptoms of the injury manifested themselves and they were known to be significant.

 

This is an important point and the two-year limit should always be kept in mind but it’s always recommended that details of a warehouse accident should be referred to a solicitor as soon as possible. With information fresh in the mind, it’s much easier to proceed with the individual case. 

 

What is the Average Payout for a Warehouse Accident Claim?

Levels of compensation can depend on a number of factors and all warehouse accident claims are treated individually. It is, however, possible to identify some averages based on previous payouts.

 

Ultimately, a successful claim can be influenced by a number of factors including:

  • The circumstances surrounding the claim and the severity of the injuries

  • Initial costs of medical bills and any associated financial outlay

  • If applicable, projected costs of longer-term medical care moving forward

 

That earlier list of potential injuries started with minor concerns and claims for soft tissue symptoms could be settled for less than a thousand Euros. Fractures and breaks can cross over the four-figure threshold and the potential compensation payouts could climb significantly from this point.

 

The more severe injuries including head and brain damage may involve tens of thousands of Euros but these are very much ‘ballpark’ figures. As there is such scope for variation, it’s recommended that you contact a solicitor who can discuss possible sums in greater detail.