QUICK ANSWER
If you were hit by a forklift, crushed by a falling load, or injured by machinery that was unguarded, poorly maintained or that you were not trained to use, you can claim compensation in Scotland. Employers must provide safe, maintained and guarded work equipment, train the people who use it and keep pedestrians and vehicles apart. Compensation ranges from £2,000 for minor injuries to £150,000+ for serious crush injuries, and more for amputations, plus lost earnings. You have 3 years to claim. Scottish Claims Helpline works on a no win no fee basis — complete the short form for a free, no obligation assessment.
Injured by a Forklift or Machine at Work? Your Employer Had Clear Duties.
Forklift trucks and workplace machinery are responsible for some of the most serious injuries at work — crushed feet and legs, hand and finger injuries, amputations and head injuries. They are also governed by some of the most detailed safety rules. Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), employers must make sure equipment is suitable for the job, maintained in a safe condition, fitted with guards on dangerous moving parts, and used only by people who have been properly trained. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) add that lifting operations must be planned and supervised, and that lifting equipment — including forklift trucks — must be thoroughly examined at regular intervals.
For accidents since 1 October 2013, claims are brought in negligence rather than directly for a breach of these regulations, but the regulations still set the standard a court expects a reasonable employer to meet. Every employer must carry employers' liability insurance, so it is the insurer that pays. Scottish Claims Helpline connects you with specialist Scottish solicitors who handle these claims on a no win no fee basis.
Forklift Truck Accidents
Most forklift injuries happen to people on foot. Warehouses and yards should separate pedestrians from vehicles with barriers, marked walkways and safe crossing points, and drivers should never be put under pressure that leads to speeding or reversing without looking. Other common causes include operators who have not been trained and authorised, overloaded or unstable loads falling from the forks, trucks tipping over on ramps or uneven ground, people being carried or lifted on the forks, and trucks with faulty brakes, horns or lights that were not reported or repaired. HSE guidance for rider-operated lift trucks sets out the training and examination employers are expected to provide.
Machinery and Work Equipment Injuries
Machinery accidents most often involve hands and arms caught in moving parts — conveyors, rollers, presses, saws, mixers and packaging machines. Guards must prevent access to dangerous parts, and machines must be isolated and locked off before cleaning, clearing a jam or maintenance. Removed or bypassed guards, emergency stops that did not work, and pressure to clear blockages while the machine was running are all common features of successful claims. The most serious cases lead to amputation, and compensation reflects the lifelong impact on work and daily life.
How Much Could You Receive?
Compensation depends on the injury and its long-term effect on your ability to work and live independently.
| Injury |
Typical Award |
| Minor injuries — sprains, cuts, bruising | £2,000 – £10,000 |
| Fractures from falling loads or collisions | £10,000 – £40,000 |
| Loss of one finger | £8,000 – £30,000 |
| Forklift or machinery crush injuries | £40,000 – £150,000+ |
| Loss of hand or forearm | £100,000 – £180,000 |
| Amputation or permanent disability | £80,000 – £300,000+ |
Based on the Judicial College Guidelines as applied in Scotland. Solatium (pain, suffering and loss of amenity) only — special damages are additional.
That's not all. The figures above cover the injury itself. Your claim also includes special damages: lost earnings now and in the future, prosthetics and rehabilitation, care provided by family, retraining if you cannot return to your old job, and adaptations to your home or vehicle. In serious crush and amputation cases these losses often exceed the injury award.
Who Can Claim?
Employees, agency workers and temporary staff can all claim — the business controlling the workplace and the equipment owes a duty to everyone working there. You can also claim if you were the one driving the forklift or operating the machine, where the accident was caused by a lack of training, faulty equipment, a missing guard, poor site layout or unrealistic pressure from the employer. Delivery drivers and visitors struck by forklifts on someone else's premises can claim against the business that runs the site. For related claims, see factory and warehouse accidents and falls from height.
Forklift and Machinery Claims — Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Employers must keep pedestrians and vehicles apart with barriers, marked walkways and safe systems of work, and must make sure forklift drivers are trained and authorised. If you were struck because those measures were missing or not enforced, you can claim against your employer's insurer.
Yes, where the accident was caused by something your employer should have prevented — inadequate training, a faulty or poorly maintained truck or machine, a missing guard, an unsafe layout or pressure to work too quickly. Any share of blame on your part reduces compensation rather than ruling the claim out.
Yes. Dangerous moving parts must be guarded, and machines must be isolated before cleaning, clearing jams or maintenance. Hand and finger injuries from unguarded or bypassed machinery are among the most common successful workplace claims.
Loss of one finger typically attracts £8,000 to £30,000 depending on which finger and how much function is lost, with loss of a hand or forearm valued at £100,000 to £180,000. Lost earnings, prosthetics and care costs are added on top.
Yes. The business that controls the workplace and the equipment owes a duty of care to agency and temporary workers as well as its own employees, so agency workers can usually claim.
You have 3 years from the date of the accident to claim under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. Evidence such as maintenance records, training records and CCTV is easiest to secure early.
How Do I Start My Claim?
Contact Scottish Claims Helpline for a free, no obligation assessment. We will review how the accident happened and connect you with a specialist Scottish solicitor who handles workplace injury claims on a no win no fee basis. It takes 2 minutes and you pay nothing unless your claim succeeds.
About this page: Written by
David Gildea, Claims Manager and qualified Scottish paralegal at Scottish Claims Helpline. Last reviewed: September 2026. Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (
FRN 830381).