I need to claim compensation for being run over by a forklift truck at work. I am now paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair and will not be able to return to work. How much compensation am I likely to receive?
Question:
I need to claim compensation for being run over by a forklift truck at work. I am now paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair and will not be able to return to work. How much compensation am I likely to receive?
Answer:
The calculation of how much compensation for being run over by a forklift truck you are entitled to receive for your injuries is complicated and involves many factors. It is not possible to provide you with an accurate figure of how much compensation for being run over by a forklift truck you will be likely to receive without first examining your case. Your injuries will need to be fully assessed and the circumstances which led to the accident occurring must also be investigated. If you played a role in the cause of the accident, this will reduce the level of compensation for being run over by a forklift truck you will be awarded should your claim be successful.
Although the Injuries Board will complete an assessment and will determine how much forklift truck injury compensation you are entitled to receive, it is highly beneficial to first speak with a personal injury solicitor about your case. Your claim for personal injury compensation will be assessed and you will be given a good indication of how much forklift truck injury compensation you should receive for your injuries. A personal injury solicitor will also help to make sure that you claim your full entitlement to special damages which you must stipulate on your application for assessment to the Injuries Board. A solicitor will also arrange for you to undergo a thorough medical examination to ensure that all your injuries are properly assessed so they can be included in your claim for compensation for being run over by a forklift truck.
Once submitted to the Injuries Board and the claim has been accepted by the respondent, the Injuries Board will assess your case and will make a recommendation on the level of forklift truck accident compensation you are entitled to receive. The Injuries Board calculation will be based on the Book of Quantum, along with previous court precedents. The Book of Quantum offers a guide on the level of forklift truck injury compensation which should be awarded based on injury type, severity and prognosis. The level of compensation for being run over by a forklift truck and suffering paraplegia is up to 300,000 Euros, although the actual level awarded will depend on your age, sex and personal circumstances. Any upper body injuries will also be evaluated and included in your forklift truck injury compensation assessment.
You are also entitled to claim compensation for being run over by a forklift truck to recover any expenses which have been incurred as a result of the accident and your forklift truck injury. These can include the cost of medical treatment already incurred, future medical treatment costs and any expense which can be directly attributed to your injury; changes in transportation for example can be included under forklift truck injury claim under special damages. You can also include loss of earnings in your claim for compensation for being run over by a forklift truck.
If you believe the Injuries Board assessment to be insufficient — it may not include full compensation for your loss of amenity, loss of opportunity or for psychological issues for instance — you may reject the recommendation and pursue a claim for compensation for being run over by a forklift truck through the Irish courts. However, this decision should not be made until you receive the Injuries Board decision and should first be discussed with a personal injury solicitor.
