Maison Law is here for anyone injured while shopping at a California Restaurant Supply store. Every retail store has its own hazards, but Restaurant Supply stores have some unique risks. With many forklifts moving around due to the type of products they sell, accidents can happen.
As a shopper, you have the right to a safe experience at Restaurant Supply. If you’re hurt because the store was careless, California law lets you hold them responsible. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.
Should You Hire a Lawyer?
If you’ve been injured by a forklift at Restaurant Supply, the situation can be highly stressful. Whether or not you need a lawyer depends on the specifics of your case. The less hurt you are, the less you’ll need the legal process. However, these types of accidents can result in rather serious injuries most of the time. At that point, you should think about hiring a lawyer and working with our team. We can help by:
- Explaining your legal rights
- Identifying the party responsible for the accident
- Gathering crucial evidence and records
- Negotiating with Restaurant Supply and its insurance companies on your behalf
Our goal is to simplify the legal process for you. Dealing with injuries is already challenging enough, and we aim to take that burden off of you, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Who’s Liable For a Forklift Accident at a Restaurant Supply?
A huge part of your claim is going to depend on who’s actually liable for the accident itself. While it’s true that most of the responsibility is on the forklift operator, it’s not always that straightforward in an environment like a Restaurant Supply store.
At the same time, it’s still like any other accident in that liability is going to hinge on negligence. If Restaurant Supply fails in any safety aspect, they can be held responsible for your injuries, but it also depends on the details of the accident. There are several ways you could get hurt by a forklift at Restaurant Supply, such as:
- Untrained operators mishandling forklifts
- Overloading forklifts, causing them to tip over
- Poor maintenance leading to forklift malfunctions
- Limited visibility resulting in collisions
- Tight spaces with many people increasing accident risk
- Speeding causing loss of control
Since it’s Restaurant Supply’s property, they usually bear most of the legal responsibility for a forklift accident. However, others might also be liable, including:
- The person operating the forklift
- The company that made the forklift or its parts
- People responsible for maintenance on the forklift
- Manufacturers of products
Identifying who is liable is crucial as it determines the direction of your claim. It shows who you will file against and, importantly, who is responsible for paying for your damages. Your damages depend on your injuries and how you handle the situation.
How Do You Recover Damages After a Restaurant Supply Forklift Accident?
You definitely don’t want to get hurt at Restaurant Supply, but with forklifts and other dangerous equipment around, it can happen. If it does, the law sees a forklift accident as a “premises liability” case. This gives you the legal right to file an injury claim to recover damages.
You can do this through an insurance claim, a personal injury lawsuit, or sometimes both.
Insurance claims are usually simpler and faster, but the insurer will try to pay as little as possible. Lawsuits go through the court system, which takes more time but might result in more damages because a judge or jury decides the outcome.
Your damages in these cases is meant to cover various losses related to your injuries and the incident. While every case is different, you might be able to get financial support for:
- Medical expenses – This covers all costs related to your medical care, like doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and therapy.
- Lost wages – If your injury keeps you from working, you can get back the wages or salary you missed during your recovery.
- Property damage – If any of your belongings were damaged in the accident, you can get money to repair or replace them.
- Pain and suffering – This includes physical pain and mental stress caused by the injury.
- Emotional distress – This covers the emotional effects of the accident and injury, like anxiety, depression, or trauma.
- Loss of quality of life or companionship – If your injury affects your ability to enjoy life or your relationships, you can get financial support for this loss.
The amount you receive depends on the details of your case and how serious your injuries are. It’s important to act quickly to protect your claim. In California, you have two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. If you miss this deadline, you can’t get any damages, no matter how strong your case is.
What Do You Need to Do After Being in a Forklift Accident?
Just because you don’t expect to be in a forklift accident at a Restaurant Supply doesn’t mean it won’t happen. It can be tough to think about, but part of the process of being in one of these accidents means you have to respond in the right way. After all, just filing an injury claim isn’t an automatic ticket to damages. You have to actually prove your case and show what happened. This means taking certain steps after the accident:
- Get medical help at the accident site, either through first aid or by calling an ambulance
- Report the accident to a Restaurant Supply employee or management. Make sure they document it and they fix the issue
- Take pictures or videos of the accident site, including what might have caused the forklift accident
- After you leave the store, get further medical care with a doctor or at an urgent care
- Preserve your evidence and don’t fix anything right away
- Don’t post about the accident on social media and be careful when talking about it
Every accident is unique, but these steps can help strengthen your claim. Focus on your health first, and the rest will follow. Remember, you can always contact our team for legal support whenever needed.
California Restaurant Supply Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Forklift Accident
Like any accident, getting hurt by a forklift at a Restaurant Supply can have a huge impact on your life. These accidents cause a range of injuries, whether from the forklift itself or something the forklift was carrying. All this adds up to you and your family needing help. Our experienced California Restaurant Supply accident lawyers understand what you’re going through and can help when you’re hurt by a forklift at one of these stores. To get the recovery process started, contact us today for a free consultation.
