Defective power tools pose a serious risk to workers on the job and could cause severe injuries. Injured workers do not have to bear the economic costs of these injuries on their own.
Power Tool Injuries Are Common
It is estimated that the number of people injured by power tools each year ranges from 400,000 to nearly one million. There is an average of 200 fatalities. These injuries occur most often on the job when people use power tools for a living. While not all of these result from a product defect, many power tools do not work as promised.
Here are some examples of common power tool defects:
- Missing or broken safety guards
- Damaged power cords or frayed wires
- Lack of safety warnings or instructions
- Broken safety switches
- Overheating motors
Common injuries include burns, amputations, and severe lacerations. The power tools that are most often defective are any types of saws, drills, and nail guns. Employees put their lives and trust into the hands of these power tools, and the manufacturers have a duty to give them a safe product.
Accident Victims Should Learn the Cause of Their Injuries
Determining the cause of the injury can help victims and their injury lawyers decide on the best path to take in recovering damages. Employees who were injured by a defective product could file a product liability lawsuit against the company that made the power tool. This is a better alternative than a workers’ compensation claim because it usually results in a larger financial recovery. A workers’ compensation attorney can help victims learn more about the best route to take.
To win a lawsuit for power tool injuries, plaintiffs must prove that they were injured and that a defective product caused their injury. They will need to show that the power tool had a manufacturing, design, or marketing defect. Oftentimes, this requires expert testimony to show how the power tool was defective. If the plaintiff could prove a defect, he or she could also recover compensation for their pain and suffering, which is something the victim could not recover in a workers’ compensation lawsuit. Accident victims may also want to file a personal injury lawsuit if possible.
