How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,645 severe cases involving nonroadway vehicles over the past decade. Fractures are the most common injury type, accounting for 52% of these reports, often requiring extensive medical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
These events are dangerous because they frequently involve heavy machinery that can cause crushing injuries. The risk of permanent impairment is high when you are caught between equipment or thrown from moving vehicles.
Common injuries
These incidents typically occur when powered industrial vehicles like forklifts, UTVs, or earth-moving machinery are operated on uneven terrain, near washouts, or during loading and unloading tasks. Many injuries result from vehicles overturning, bouncing unexpectedly, or mechanical failures that cause equipment to drop or shift suddenly, trapping you or throwing you from the seat.
| 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 industries with 18% of these severe incidents, largely due to the frequent use of heavy earth-moving and material hauling equipment on dynamic job sites. Transportation and warehousing follow closely at 16%, where the constant operation of forklifts and material handling vehicles in tight, high-traffic environments creates a high risk for collisions and equipment rollovers.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve operators losing control on uneven ground, equipment tipping over during turns, or mechanical components failing during transport. These incidents often highlight failures in training, equipment maintenance, or site hazard assessment. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can review the specifics of your incident to determine your legal options.
| 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
Fractures are the most frequent injury, often involving the legs, pelvis, or chest. These accidents can also result in intracranial injuries or amputations when you are pinned by heavy equipment. An attorney can help you document the full extent of your injuries to ensure your claim reflects your medical needs.
Yes, Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages for injuries sustained during the course of employment. This applies even if the incident occurred on a job site rather than a public road. An attorney can help you verify your benefits and ensure your claim is processed correctly.
Employers are required to maintain equipment in safe working order and provide proper training for all operators. If a mechanical failure or lack of safety protocols contributed to your injury, you may have grounds for a claim beyond standard Workers' Compensation. An attorney can investigate whether your employer met these safety obligations.
It is common for employers to attempt to shift blame to the operator to avoid liability. However, Workers' Compensation is generally a no-fault system, meaning you are often entitled to benefits regardless of who caused the accident. An attorney can protect your rights and help you gather evidence to support your claim.