Practice Areas

Supply Chain Cases

Supply Chain

From Dock to Door, We Hold Negligence Accountable.

Warehouses, distribution centers, ports, and last-mile delivery networks are the backbone of the supply chain—and some of the most dangerous workplaces and roadways. When preventable failures in training, maintenance, staffing, or safety oversight lead to catastrophic injury or wrongful death, we act quickly to protect families, preserve evidence, and hold every responsible party to account.

Supply chain cases are complex. They often involve multiple corporate defendants, layered insurance, and strict safety and industry standards. Our team is built for that complexity—and for the stakes. We pursue full accountability and the compensation clients need to rebuild.

Supply Chain

Supply Chain, Warehouse & Logistics Injury Lawyers

With decades of experience in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, McEldrew Purtell evaluates supply-chain incidents from the warehouse floor to the loading dock to the delivery route. We investigate operational breakdowns (training, supervision, shift pressures), equipment failures (forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyors), and corporate safety violations to determine how negligence—and whose negligence—caused the harm. Our attorneys work with industrial safety experts, accident reconstructionists, and medical and economic specialists to build trial-ready cases.

Our Results

McEldrew Purtell has a proven track record of maximizing recovery for our clients.

$16,500,000
Medical Malpractice
$16,100,000
FELA & Railroad
$16,000,000
Transportation Accidents
$15,000,000
FELA & Railroad
$15,000,000
FELA & Railroad
$13,300,000
Birth & Neonatal
$8,500,000
Premises Liability
$7,500,000
Civil rights
$7,000,000
Medical Malpractice
$7,000,000
FELA & Railroad
$7,000,000
FELA & Railroad
$6,600,000
Birth & Neonatal
$6,000,000
Transportation Accidents
$6,000,000
Premises Liability
$4,900,000
Transportation Accidents
$4,500,000
Transportation Accidents
$4,300,000
Birth & Neonatal
$4,100,000
Civil rights
$4,000,000
Premises Liability
$4,000,000
FELA & Railroad
$4,000,000
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
$3,600,000
Transportation Accidents
$3,500,000
Medical Malpractice
$3,250,000
Medical Malpractice
$3,200,000
FELA & Railroad
$3,200,000
Medical Malpractice
$2,750,000
Medical Malpractice
$2,650,000
Products Liability
$2,500,000
Products Liability
$2,500,000
Medical Malpractice
$2,200,000
FELA & Railroad
$2,100,000
Medical Malpractice
$2,000,000
FELA & Railroad
$2,000,000
Civil rights
$2,000,000
Medical Malpractice
$2,000,000
Medical Malpractice
$2,000,000
Civil rights
$2,000,000
FELA & Railroad
$1,900,000
FELA & Railroad
$1,800,000
FELA & Railroad
$1,800,000
FELA & Railroad
$1,765,000
Transportation Accidents
$1,625,000
Medical Malpractice
$1,600,000
Civil rights
$1,500,000
Civil rights
$1,400,000
Medical Malpractice
$1,400,000
Medical Malpractice
$1,350,000
Premises Liability
$1,300,000
Medical Malpractice
$1,250,000
FELA & Railroad
$1,250,000
Civil rights
$1,200,000
Products Liability
$1,100,000
FELA & Railroad
$1,100,000
Civil rights
$1,075,000
Transportation Accidents
$1,000,000
FELA & Railroad
$1,000,000
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
$1,000,000
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

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PDF Download

This guide provides an assertive, step-by-step overview of supply chain lawsuits – from understanding what qualifies as a case, to navigating the legal process, to securing fair compensation. It is nationwide in scope and geared toward victims of severe injury or wrongful death.

Ways We Can Help

Supply chain incidents can cause life-changing harm and are often defended aggressively. We’re prepared to lead comprehensive investigations, manage multiple insurers, and fight for justice in the following case types:

Forklift & Powered Industrial Truck Accidents


Rollovers, struck-by, tip-overs, and crush injuries stemming from inadequate training, lack of spotters, poor aisle design, defective components, or ignored maintenance logs.

Loading Dock & Yard Injuries


Dock-plate failures, trailer creep, unsecured chocks, truck-to-dock communication breakdowns, and blind-spot backing events—often involving multiple contractors (carriers, warehouse operators, 3PLs).

Cargo Loading/Unloading & Securement Failures


Falling freight, over-stacked pallets, shifting loads, or improper tie-downs that injure workers on site or cause downstream roadway crashes during transit.

Conveyor, Pallet Jack & Material Handling Equipment Defects


Pinch-point, entanglement, and runaway equipment incidents tied to missing guards, inadequate lockout/tagout, or product defects and recalls.

Premises Liability at Warehouses & Distribution Centers


Hazardous floor conditions, inadequate lighting or signage, blocked egress, and unsafe traffic patterns between pedestrians, forklifts, and yard trucks.

Last-Mile & Commercial Delivery Vehicle Crashes


Fatigue, unrealistic delivery quotas, distracted driving, poor route design, and negligent hiring/supervision by delivery contractors and gig-economy fleets.

Maritime/Port & Intermodal Operations


Straddle carrier, reach stacker, and container yard incidents; failures in hand-off between modes (ship–rail–truck) and inadequate terminal safety protocols.

Contractor/Staffing Agency Negligence


Insufficient training, supervision, and safety oversight of temporary labor performing high-risk warehouse and loading tasks.

Corporate Negligence & Safety Violations


Systemic shortcuts—missed maintenance, unsafe production targets, falsified checklists, ignored near-misses—demand corporate-level accountability.

On behalf of my entire family, thank you for all your hard work and determination in representing us in our case. We are grateful for all your compassion, support, & encouragement throughout the entire process. You are an excellent attorney with a bright future ahead of you. Thank you for helping us to stand up for my dad. Wishing you all the best going forward in both your professional and personal life.

Sylvan Garfunkel

Medical Malpractice

Thank you so much for all you did for me. This outcome would never have happened without you!!

Catastrophic Injury Client

Thank you for a job well done and an outcome well beyond expectations. I’m truly amazed at the amount of investigation, leg work and effort you and your law firm put into winning my case in a 7-day jury trial. I’m now able to move on with my life and support myself and family. Thank you again.

Railroad Worker

McEldrew Purtell stepped in and immediately went to work making sure I was able to get everything I deserved. They kept me informed step by step as the process went on. They assured me that even when things were looking bleak, they were not going to stop fighting, and that is exactly what they have done. Fought and won!

Michael

Catastrophic Injury

After being injured on the job, I hired McEldrew Purtell despite my positive history with another lawyer because I found them to be highly competent and people who truly care about their clients. Throughout the case process, they showed over and over to me and my fellow linemen buddies how generous they are with their time and resources.

Former SEPTA Lineman

Injured on the Job

Hear From Our Clients

At McEldrew Purtell, results matter and so does the way we achieve them. While our case outcomes reflect our tenacity in court and at the negotiation table, it’s the voices of our clients that truly capture who we are and why we do this work.

We represent people at the worst moments of their lives: after catastrophic injuries, workplace tragedies, and preventable losses. Through every case, we aim to deliver not just compensation but clarity, confidence, and care.

If you’re considering working with a Philadelphia trial lawyer, we invite you to read what our clients have said about their experiences with McEldrew Purtell. Their words are the most powerful testament to our values, our dedication, and our results.

Learn More

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Lithium-ion batteries power modern commerce but when storage or transport goes wrong, the fires are fast, toxic, and devastating. For injured workers, first responders, and nearby businesses, a single incident can upend lives. This guide explains how these losses happen,…

Port & Intermodal Yard Disasters: Straddle Carriers, Reach Stackers, and Twistlocks

Moving metal boxes should not cost lives. Yet in marine terminals and rail intermodal yards, catastrophic injuries and fatalities continue to occur around straddle carriers, reach stackers, and twistlock. This post breaks down how these incidents happen, who may be…

From Port to Porch: Where Catastrophic Injuries Happen in the Modern Supply Chain

When something goes terribly wrong in the supply chain, it’s rarely “just an accident.” It’s usually the predictable result of pressure, fragmented control, and gaps in safety. This guide walks through the riskiest handoffs, from port to last mile, so…

Forklifts & Powered Industrial Trucks: Catastrophic Patterns and Key Evidence

Forklifts and other powered industrial trucks (PITs) are indispensable and unforgiving. When something goes wrong, the result is often a crushing injury, traumatic amputation, brain or spinal trauma, or death. Understanding the recurring patterns and locking down the right evidence…

FAQs

Get answers to commonly asked questions regarding supply chain injuries and learn how we can help with your case.

They typically involve multiple companies (warehouse owners, 3PLs, carriers, staffing agencies, equipment manufacturers) and overlapping insurance policies and safety rules. That complexity demands fast evidence preservation and a coordinated legal strategy.

Potentially: warehouse or facility owners/tenants, third-party logistics providers, motor carriers and delivery contractors, staffing agencies, equipment manufacturers and maintenance vendors, and property management companies—plus any negligent drivers involved in yard or roadway incidents.

Often, yes. Workers’ comp may bar claims against your direct employer, but third-party claims can exist against other negligent companies (e.g., a 3PL, trucker, equipment manufacturer, or premises owner). We evaluate all avenues.

Incident reports, CCTV, telematics, maintenance logs, pre-shift checklists, dock controls data, load diagrams, staffing/dispatch records, training certifications, contractor agreements, and the equipment itself (without alteration). We send preservation (spoliation) notices immediately.

Coverage can shift based on contractor status, whether the driver was on an active route, and layered corporate policies. Establishing control and supervision (not just labels like “independent contractor”) is critical to reach the right insurers.

Medical expenses, future care and rehab, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, scarring/disfigurement, and, in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of support/companionship.