Defective power tools and machinery are often identified as the cause of serious injuries or death in accidents on the job as well as accidental injuries occurring in private individuals’ garages or homes. Power tool defects are sometimes attributable to a manufacturer, and sometimes to someone else, such as a marketer, a supervisor, a repair or maintenance company, or a previous user. Examples of power tool defects that have injured users include:
- Missing safety guards
- Malfunctioning safety switches
- Damaged power cords
- Cracked wheel on grinders, cutters, polishers and buffers
- Loose attachments on air compression-powered pneumatic tools
- Missing fluid in hydraulic power tools
- Power jacks not lubricated
Types of injuries such as the following as a result of a power tool defect?
- Amputation
- Electrical shock injury
- Burn injury
- Lacerations
- Muscle, tendon or nerve damage
- Facial disfigurement
- Ladder fall injury
If your injury through use of a defective power tool happened on the job, you may assume that you have a Workers’ Compensation claim. While this is most likely true, it is also very important to determine whether you have a third-party liability claim versus the tool’s manufacturer, a repair facility, a subcontractor or someone else other than your employer. Contact Parvey & Cavenago today.
