$15.2 Million Verdict in Forklift Accident Case

On Thursday, August 27, a jury in Cook County, Illinois, awarded $15.2 million to a military veteran injured in a 2012 forklift accident at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Uncertified Fork Lift Driver

The 33-year-old man suffered a crushed heel during a tear-down following a trade show. The company that set up and took down the show failed to ensure that the forklift driver involved in the accident was properly trained and certified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The company also failed to have a spotter present, according to allegations made by the man’s attorneys.

In 2013, OSHA fined the company $91,000 in the aftermath of the McCormick Place accident. Prior to the incident, the company received citations on two other occasions for using uncertified forklift operators.

Multiple Surgeries

Following the incident, the worker required seven surgeries, and he now walks with a cane. He expected to lose his job as a Staff Sergeant with the Wisconsin National Guard in the coming months, according to the Chicago Tribune. He completed two tours of duty in Iraq before the accident.

Two Days of Deliberations

The jury deliberated for approximately 12 hours over a two-day period. It awarded the plaintiff $12 million in compensatory damages and another $3 million in punitive damages. The worker sought a total of $50 million in combined compensatory and punitive damages. Attorneys for the company named in the suit claimed that the injured worker was partly to blame for the forklift accident.

Contact a Construction Site Accident Attorney Today

If you have been injured as a result of a forklift or other type of construction accident, you are urged to contact the Indianapolis Construction Site Accident Attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham. The lawyers at WKW can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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