Forklift Accident Attorney in Kirkland
$825,000 Recovered for a Forklift Accident Victim. We Know These Cases.
Forklift accidents produce some of the most severe workplace injuries we see: spinal fractures, crush injuries, traumatic brain injury, and amputation. These cases are legally complex because they involve overlapping frameworks including workers’ compensation, OSHA and WISHA standards, and third-party personal injury law. Handling them well requires attorneys who have actually worked through that complexity before.
We have. Rob Kornfeld litigated and settled a forklift accident case resulting in $825,000 for a sheet metal and HVAC worker who suffered spinal fractures and a spinal cord injury after being thrown from a forklift used as a man-lift in a warehouse operation. That’s the kind of claim we handle for injured workers in Kirkland, Bellevue, and Seattle.
If you or someone you care about was hurt in a forklift accident, call us at (425) 657-5255 for a free consultation. We can come to you if needed, including at your home or hospital room.
What Sets Lindquist & Kornfeld Apart on Forklift Injury Claims
Rob Kornfeld woke up in a hospital in July 1985 with severe injuries and no memory of what had happened. After 12 surgeries, he returned to practice. That experience shapes how he and our team approach every injured client: not as a file number, but as a person trying to get their life back. We’ve been representing injured workers in Washington State for more than 40 years.
Verified Case Experience
The $825,000 result Rob settled through mediation reflects direct, specific experience with this type of claim, not just general workplace injury work. We understand what a forklift accident investigation requires and what it takes to prove liability.
No Fees Unless We Recover
We work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t owe us attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Free consultations are available by phone, at our office, at your home, or at the hospital.
Recognized Advocacy
Lindquist & Kornfeld holds memberships in both the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Neil Lindquist is recognized by Super Lawyers. These credentials reflect a track record built over decades of personal injury litigation in King County.
Talk to a Forklift Accident Attorney in Kirkland Today
Washington’s personal injury statute of limitations is three years from the date of the accident under RCW 4.16.080, but exceptions can apply, and L&I claim deadlines are often shorter. Acting promptly can help protect your right to seek compensation and lets us preserve critical evidence, including maintenance records, operator training logs, and inspection records, before it’s gone.
Don’t give recorded statements or accept a quick settlement offer from an insurance company before speaking with us. Call Lindquist & Kornfeld at (425) 657-5255 or reach us through our online contact form.
Our Proven Results
Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.
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$50,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Plaintiff was riding a motorcycle when the Defendant pulled out in front of him. Plaintiff was thrown from his motorcycle. Plaintiff sustained fractured carpal bones, torn acetabular labrum and bone contusion, pain in the pelvic region and thigh, pain in the forearm and low back pain.
Car Accident -
$425,000 Gender Discrimination
Jane Doe v. School District: (King County Superior Court) Two women bus drivers settle case with East King County School District for $425,000. Two women school bus drivers contended they were discriminated because of their gender and that they were bullied and harassed in violation of school district policies.
Employment Law -
$100,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
One of our clients sustained serious injuries after a negligent driver blew passed a red light in Shoreline, causing a T-bone collision with the client’s vehicle.
Car Accident -
$2,500,000 Medical Malpractice
Jane and John Doe v. Hospital XYZ (King County, Washington): A 53-year-old father underwent surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. During his first night, the patient was not assessed or monitored for over five hours. As a result, he developed a mucus plug, could not breathe, and suffered respiratory arrest and heart failure. The patient was revived but suffered catastrophic brain damage. He now requires care 24-7 from his wife.
Medical Malpractice -
$200,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
A third-party insurance company tendered its $100,000 policy limits and our client’s insurer tendered its $100,000 underinsured motorist (UIM) limits after a rear-end accident resulted in whiplash, acute pain to the right knee and lower back, muscle spasm of the back, closed compression fractures, and osteoarthritis of the right hip and knee.
Car Accident -
$600,000 Bus Accident
John Doe v. State of Washington, (King County Superior Court): Plaintiff hit by a Department of Transportation (DOT) vehicle while standing on the sidewalk. He underwent a shoulder arthroscopy and is living with the prospect of two hip replacements, in addition to the loss of his construction career.
Pedestrian & Bus Accident -
$210,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Jane Doe v. John Doe and Budget Rental Car company: Snohomish County Superior Court No. 03-2-09292-2. After a motor vehicle accident, a 35 year old woman underwent multiple injections in her cervical and lumbar spine, radiofrequency treatments, and a rhizotomy but still had limitations and discomfort after 4 years of treatment.
Brain Injury -
$111,543 Motor Vehicle Accident
Our client was a passenger in a car that was also in a rear-end accident on the I-5 near Seattle. The client incurred more than $26,000.00 in medical expenses for treating the myriad of injuries they suffered do the at-fault driver’s negligent driving, including a herniated intervertebral disc and vocational disability. Allstate agreed to settle the claim for $111,543.00.
Car Accident -
$300,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Witter v. Fireman’s Fund: Mr. Witter suffered from a fractured wrist and faced multiple wrist surgeries in the future caused from progressive post-traumatic arthritis.
Car Accident
Workers’ Compensation vs. a Third-Party Claim After a Kirkland Forklift Accident
In Washington, injured workers generally can’t sue their own employer directly for a workplace injury. Workers’ compensation through Labor and Industries (L&I) provides medical benefits and partial wage replacement without requiring proof of fault. But workers’ comp doesn’t cover everything, and it isn’t always the only option.
When a Third-Party Claim Is Available
When someone other than your employer or a co-worker caused or contributed to the accident, you may be able to file a separate third-party personal injury claim. Potentially responsible parties in a forklift accident can include another contractor on the site, a property owner, an equipment rental company, or a forklift manufacturer. The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA), RCW chapter 49.17, also imposes a non-delegable duty on general contractors to enforce safety regulations for all workers on a construction site, including employees of subcontractors.
Third-party claims are fault-based and can allow recovery for damages workers’ comp doesn’t reach: pain and suffering, full lost wages, future earning capacity, and permanent disability. Washington follows a pure comparative fault standard, meaning you can recover even if you were partially at fault, though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
When L&I benefits have been paid, the agency has a statutory right to reimbursement from a third-party recovery under RCW 51.24. We help clients navigate that coordination to protect as much of the net recovery as possible. In Staub v. CIG Corporation, tried in King County Superior Court, we recovered a supplementary $335,000 third-party settlement for a construction worker whose employer failed to provide fall protection and who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result. That case illustrates how a third-party claim can meaningfully add to what workers’ comp alone provides.
Compensation We Pursue for Forklift Accident Victims
Through a third-party personal injury claim, we work to recover the full range of damages a forklift accident produces. We review insurance policies and coordinate with medical providers to document the complete impact of our clients’ injuries.
Economic damages can include past and future medical bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive devices, in-home care, and lost income. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may have separate claims for financial losses and loss of companionship.
What Makes Our Firm Unique
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40+ Years of
Proven Legal ExperienceWith decades of hands-on litigation and negotiation, we bring a deep understanding of how to build strong, successful cases. -
Aggressive & Personalized
RepresentationWe tailor our legal strategies to your unique situation, relentlessly pursuing the maximum compensation you're entitled to. -
Committed to Securing
Justice for Each ClientWe treat every case with the urgency and dedication it deserves, ensuring your voice is heard and your rights are protected. -
No Fees Unless
We Win Your CaseOur clients can focus on healing while we fight for results—because we only get paid when you do.
