How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,645 severe incidents involving non-roadway vehicles over the past decade. Fractures are the most common injury, accounting for 52% of all reported cases, often resulting from high-impact collisions or vehicle rollovers.
These events frequently cause severe trauma. The physical damage often requires extensive hospitalization and long-term rehabilitation, leaving you unable to return to your previous duties immediately.
Common injuries
These injuries typically occur when you operate powered industrial vehicles like forklifts, UTVs, or earth-moving machinery in environments with uneven terrain, hidden hazards, or poor visibility. Industrial vehicles and material hauling equipment are the primary source of these incidents, representing 44% of all reports. Whether you experience a forklift overturning on a warehouse floor or a utility vehicle striking an obscured washout hole, these accidents often stem from inadequate site preparation or failure to maintain safe operating conditions.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fractures | 835 |
| 2 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 231 |
| 3 | Intracranial Injuries | 127 |
| 4 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 104 |
| 5 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 83 |
| 6 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 73 |
| 7 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 49 |
| 8 | Bruises, contusions | 18 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all sectors with 18% of these severe incidents, largely due to the frequent use of heavy earth-moving machinery on unpredictable job sites. Transportation and warehousing follow closely, where the high-speed operation of forklifts and material handling vehicles in confined spaces creates a constant risk of collision or rollover.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents include vehicles striking hidden ground hazards, equipment failing during loading operations, and you being ejected during rollovers. These reports frequently highlight instances where equipment was used in environments not suited for the vehicle's design or where safety barriers failed to protect you. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | NM | Public Administration | "On 7/31/2025, an employee was training to ride an ATV when it went into a draw and she went over the front of the ATV, landing on the ground. The employee sustained a fractured arm." | |
| 2025 | TX | Utilities | "An employee was utilizing a utility task vehicle (UTV) to patrol a 138 kV transmission line in a right-of-way. The UTV drove into a washout hole that was approximately 6 feet deep and obstructed by vegetation. The employee sustained a dislocated shoulder, a fractured left humerus, back pain, and a strained ankle. He was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Wholesale Trade | "An employee had delivered product to a customer and was driving a forklift to the rear of the delivery truck. The forklift jumped/bounced, sending the employee up into the air and back down onto the seat. The employee sustained a back fracture." | |
| 2025 | MO | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was operating a stand-up forklift. While turning to yield to another forklift, the forklift overturned and the employee's lower left leg was caught between a barrier and the forklift. The employee's left leg was amputated from the calf down and multiple bones were broken. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | FL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was offloading a new boom lift from a transporter truck. As the boom lift s rear wheels reached the tail lift of the truck, the tail lift broke, causing the boom lift to fall. As a result of the sudden drop, the employee was lifted into the air, striking several objects. The employee was hospitalized due to a fractured back and a left leg injury that required stitches." | |
| 2025 | CO | Construction | "At 5:46 PM, on July 26, 2025, an Evergreen Caissons bulldozer operator was towing a water truck on a sandy job site. The tow hook failed and the shackle and D-ring on the nylon tow rope snapped back and went through the back window of the dozer, and struck the operator. The employee sustained a gash under their right armpit. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | WI | Manufacturing | "An employee was driving a stand-up forklift into a truck trailer at a loading dock. The dock plate and the truck separated, and the forklift fell to the ground. The employee's left foot was caught and broken between the dock plate and the forklift; the employee was hospitalized, requiring surgery." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was operating a roller parallel to a sloped lake bank. The roller overturned and the operator jumped off the roller as it overturned. The roller then struck/crushed the employee. The employee sustained internal injuries and chest trauma. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | FL | Real Estate | "An employee was unloading a boom from a rollback truck when the boom drove off the truck and landed on the ground. The employee was hospitalized with fractured ankles." | |
| 2025 | OR | Other Services | "An employee was driving an all-terrain vehicle when it rolled over. The employee was ejected and hit the ground, suffering a fracture to their C6 vertebra." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries, as internal trauma and fractures often require urgent care. Report the incident to your supervisor immediately to ensure it is documented in your employer's records. An attorney can help you navigate the Workers' Compensation process to ensure your medical bills and lost wages are properly addressed.
Yes, your employer is responsible for maintaining a safe work environment, including ensuring that paths used by powered vehicles are free of hazards like deep washouts or debris. If your injury resulted from a failure to maintain the site, you may have a valid Workers' Compensation claim. An attorney can help you determine if your employer failed to meet safety obligations.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and a portion of lost wages for work-related injuries, including fractures and internal trauma. These benefits are generally available regardless of who was at fault for the accident. An attorney can help you verify that your claim is filed correctly and that you receive the full benefits you are entitled to.
Under 29 CFR 1904.39, your employer must report any work-related incident that results in hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye to OSHA within 24 hours. If your accident required hospitalization, your employer likely had a legal duty to report it. An attorney can help you understand how these reporting requirements relate to your specific case and your rights.