Man Injured in Jacksonville Forklift Accident

According to reports from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, a 62-year-old man was seriously injured in a forklift accident at Flotech Valve Repair Services, a company located just off Evergreen Ave. The man, who is from the Glen St. Mary area, was immediately taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.

The man reportedly had been working on a forklift when a piece of machinery came down on top of both of his arms. Law enforcement officers had no additional information on his condition other than to say the injury would not be life threatening. The hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, could not release information on the nature of his injuries due to patient privacy laws.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched its own investigation into the case. One OSHA representative said there is a “well-known hazard” throughout the entire construction industry associated with the use of forklifts. According to the official, the victim was likely to lose one or both arms as a result of the accident. He said if the victim was working on a forklift that had not been locked or tagged out, which could have caused the forklift to fall, then there could be an OSHA violation on the part of the company.

If you suffer an injury at work, you have the option to either file a personal injury lawsuit or a workers’ compensation claim, depending on the factors surrounding your accident. If a third party caused the accident, for example, you may need to seek damages through a personal injury claim rather than through your company’s workers’ compensation insurance.

For more information on your legal options after a workplace accident, speak with a knowledgeable Jacksonville injury lawyer at Combs Greene, PA.

Mark Link  also contributed to this blog post.