Accident Causes Involving Forklifts

The Professional Association for Vehicle Operations has published the most common causes of forklift accidents (sorted by frequency):

1. Persons are rammed or run over by forklifts driving in reverse.

2. Persons are struck by rolling or tipping loads.

3. Workers fall from the loading platform when loading or unloading the forklift.

4. Accidents and falls occur through the use of unsuitable work platforms.

5. Drivers are struck and often crushed by their tipping forklift.

6. Employees are struck and run over by forklifts driving forward.

Appropriate Insurance Coverage for Forklifts

The accident figures make clear what risks working with forklifts actually entails. Those involved often underestimate the driver's limited field of vision. After all, depending on the situation and position, the driver may only see people in the immediate vicinity late, or sometimes not at all. Additionally, tip-over accidents happen frequently – in some cases even with fatal consequences. Tragic events like this show that both safety and appropriate insurance coverage are important topics for construction contractors.

Safety Standards Have Generally Improved

To improve safety, many measures regarding forklift safety have been implemented. For example, forklifts available at klarx – Europe's leading digital platform for renting construction machinery – are regularly inspected according to FEM 4.004. FEM stands for the European trade association "Fédération Européenne de la Manutention". The basis of the inspection is both the Operating Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV) and the Employers' Liability Insurance Association regulation BGV D27.

The inspection focuses on:

  • the integrated lifting devices
  • the driver seats and control elements
  • the drive system and brakes
  • the hydraulic system
  • the vehicle frame and carried safety equipment

When Is Forklift Insurance Required?

Despite these inspections and the continuous development of technical safety systems, in most cases forklift insurance is not only extremely advisable but – depending on the situation – also legally required. When choosing the appropriate or required insurance, it's always important to consider that work accidents involving property or personal damage often result in high costs. To protect yourself from this, you should not forego forklift insurance – even if the law doesn't require it in a particular case.

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Finding the Right Insurance Coverage – 3 Scenarios

  1. If the maximum speed of a forklift is below 20 km/h, no motor vehicle liability insurance needs to be taken out. However, forklifts that travel no faster than six kilometers per hour are usually covered by standard business liability insurance. For faster forklifts (over six to 20 km/h), coverage under business liability must first be verified. If coverage is not possible, a forklift insurance policy is still strongly recommended, since accidents cannot be ruled out. Especially with time pressure and unclear transport situations, driving and operating errors can quickly occur.
  2. At a maximum speed above 20 km/h, the law requires taking out forklift insurance. Prison sentences of up to one year are possible if appropriate insurance coverage cannot be demonstrated. Business liability insurance remains excluded as a rule. This is because business liability insurance with integrated forklift insurance coverage is, in contrast to standalone forklift insurance, not a legal requirement in this case.
  3. If a forklift with a maximum speed above 20 km/h travels exclusively in non-public areas, forklift insurance can usually be integrated into business liability insurance. The law does not require a standalone forklift insurance policy in this case.

Coverage Limits, Premiums, and More – Pay Attention to the Details

Generally, forklift insurance covers property damage caused by the forklift itself. Which forklift insurance benefits can be claimed depends on the type of insurance. If it's business liability insurance, it involves settling claims under statutory law with corresponding private law content. With standalone forklift insurance under motor vehicle insurance, the statutory claims of the injured party are satisfied. Additionally, such insurance offers unlimited coverage, while business liability insurance covers between one and five million euros. Voluntary forklift insurance integrated into business liability insurance is usually premium-free, while insurance coverage under motor vehicle insurance costs between 50 and 100 euros per year – depending on the provider.

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