Forklift accidents cause crush injuries, fractures, spinal and head injuries, and deaths — to pedestrians struck by trucks and to operators thrown from them or trapped when they tip. Whether you were driving the forklift or working nearby, you may be able to claim if the accident resulted from a failure in training, maintenance or site safety.
Common Causes
- No segregation between pedestrian and vehicle routes
- Blind spots, loads blocking the driver’s view, and poor lighting
- Operators who were not trained, tested and authorised for that type of truck
- Overloading or unstable loads, causing tip-overs and dropped loads
- Brake, steering or hydraulic faults not picked up by maintenance
- Speeding and unsafe driving tolerated by supervisors
The Law on Forklifts
- PUWER 1998 — the truck must be suitable, properly maintained, and driven only by trained, authorised operators. Recognised certification (RTITB, ITSSAR, AITT, NPORS) is the industry standard.
- LOLER 1998 — lifting operations must be planned by a competent person and supervised, and the truck must have a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if it is used to lift people.
A missed or overdue LOLER examination is significant evidence of a wider failure to maintain the equipment safely.
Who Can Claim, and Against Whom?
Pedestrians struck by a forklift can usually claim against the employer or site operator for poor segregation, training or supervision. Operators can claim too, where the accident came from inadequate training, a fault that proper maintenance or examination should have found, or an unsafe system of work rather than simply their own error. If it happened on a shared site such as a delivery yard, the business controlling the site may be liable. If the truck belonged to a hire company, your employer still owes you a duty of care, and the hire company or manufacturer may share responsibility for a fault. Not wearing hi-vis doesn’t automatically prevent a claim.
If You Were Struck by a Forklift
- Get medical attention first
- Make sure the accident is logged in the accident book
- Note where it happened and whether pedestrian routes were marked or barriered
- Ask in writing for CCTV to be preserved, and take witness details
Types of Injuries
- Crush injuries to feet and legs — see crush injury claims
- Fractures
- Spinal injuries from being thrown or trapped
- Head and brain injuries
- Fatal injuries
Evidence That Helps
- The forklift’s maintenance and LOLER thorough examination records
- Training and authorisation records for the operator
- CCTV and photographs of the site layout and route markings
- Witness accounts and medical records
How common are forklift and workplace transport injuries?
Being struck by a moving object accounted for 10% of the 59,219 non-fatal injuries to employees reported by employers in Great Britain in 2024/25. Source: HSE, Non-fatal injuries at work.
What other rules apply to forklift trucks?
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, regulation 17 — traffic routes must be organised so pedestrians and vehicles can move safely
- Approved Code of Practice L117 — HSE guidance on rider-operated lift trucks covers operator training, authorisation and the use of seat belts where fitted
What do real forklift prosecutions show?
- Castleford, West Yorkshire (November 2025) — Hessle Plant Ltd was fined £433,550 after a delivery driver was killed when a forklift fell from the side of a trailer as he reversed it on. HSE found the truck had not had a full inspection after repairs, had other defects, and that seat belts were rarely worn with no system to enforce their use. Source: HSE press release
- Ipswich docks (September 2025) — Qube Containers Limited was fined £30,000 after a 21-year-old worker was run over and dragged by a forklift while standing on a pallet to empty bins, suffering a broken ankle and needing skin grafts. HSE found unsuitable equipment, no risk assessment of the task and vehicles and pedestrians circulating in close proximity. Source: HSE press release
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Start your free claim checkWhat should I read before I claim?
- Accident at work claim time limits
- How much compensation an accident at work claim is worth
- How the accident at work claims process works
- Accident at work claims in Manchester
- Accident at work claims in Birmingham
- Accident at work claims in Leeds
Frequently Asked Questions
Do forklift operators legally need a licence?
There is no single legal 'licence', but operators must be trained, tested and authorised for the type of truck. Recognised certification (RTITB, ITSSAR, AITT, NPORS) is the industry standard.
Can I claim if I was the forklift driver?
Yes — if the truck was defective, you were inadequately trained, or the workplace or system of work was unsafe.
What if the forklift hadn't had its LOLER examination?
That is significant evidence. A missed or overdue thorough examination can show a wider failure to maintain the equipment safely.
Does it matter if the forklift belonged to a hire company?
Your employer still owes you a duty of care whoever owns the truck, though a hire company or manufacturer may also be responsible if a fault caused the accident.
Primary legal and safety sources
This guide is checked against official sources. The applicable law and limitation rules depend on where in the UK the accident happened.