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Power Tool Injury Lawsuits

investigating defective power tools & machine malfunction cases

Accidents involving defective power tools can be extremely severe, and lead to terrible injury to workers in a number of likely industries. Faulty power tool injuries are most common in construction, oil and gas, agriculture, landscaping and tree care, manufacturing, roofing and home renovation.

Some power tools are inherently dangerous, and if safeguards are removed, the tools are not maintained properly or they are misused, the tools can lead to permanent injury.

Various saws, drills, shredders, hoists, nail guns, welding equipment, and other defective power tools are responsible for amputation and serious laceration incidents.

Injuries related to defective power tools are not merely limited to the workplace, and home injuries due to faulty tool and manufacturer defects are quite common.

An experienced personal injury lawyer may be able to file a product liability claim and recover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. A claim can be filed against the manufacturer of the tool.

  • Defect in the design of the equipment: if a defective tool is responsible for an injury, the manufacturer can be held liable. Experts will be needed to analyze the injury circumstances and the machines.
  • Defect in the manufacturing of the tool: equipment may be manufactured outside normal protocol and produced differently than intended. If the defect causes injury, the manufacturer is liable for damages.
  • Defect in the marketing of the tool: manufacturers may fail to adequately warn end-users and fail to include warning instructions with the equipment. If consumers are not properly warned of machine hazards, the manufacturer may be held liable by plaintiffs and a machinery accident lawyer.

Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Catastrophic Injury attorney and product liability lawyer representing plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of consumer product liability and defective power tool injury cases. 

Recalled Power Tools

Workers should never be placed in a situation where they must operate unsafe equipment, and risk their life at the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has laws that help protect workers from retaliation from an employer that requires them to operate unsafe equipment.

Employees can file a complaint with OSHA and contact an experienced labor attorney. If an investigation finds evidence that supports a claim against an employer, the court of law in Ohio is likely to compensate victims for injuries caused, lost wages and benefits, and pain and suffering.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an agency charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products—products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. Recalls include:

  • Metabo Rat Tail Angle Grinder
  • Black and Decker Portable Table Saws
  • Craftsman Portable Table Saws
  • STIHL gas-powered chain saws
  • Craftsman Gasoline chainsaws
  • Remington Brand Chainsaws
  • Makita Circular Saw
  • All Power portable gasoline generators
  • Kohler Portable Generators
  • Klein Digital Clamp Meters
  • Direct Distributors Air Angle Grinders
  • Mirka Recalls Electric Random Orbital Sanders
  • Bosch small angle grinders
  • Metabo Ergo series 6-inch angle grinders
  • Drill Master 18-Volt Cordless Drills
  • Panasonic Metal Cutter Saw
  • Dremel Model 8050 Rotary Tool
  • Grizzly 10-inch hybrid table saws
  • Hitachi Koki Pneumatic Nailer
  • RIDGID Coil Roofing Nailer
  • Bosch SkilSaw Miter Saw
  • Harbor Freight Cordless Drill
  • Ryobi Sheet Sanders
  • Kawasaki cordless drill
  • One World Technologies Electric Blower
  • Craftsman Blower Vac
  • GreenWorks blower/vacs
  • Worx electric blower
  • DeWALT Miter Saws

Defective Power Tools & Construction Injury

Construction workers are particularly prone to worksite injury, and many workplace injuries involve defective power tools. When a tool manufacturer sells a faulty product, victims have the right to sue the manufacturer in an injury and product liability claim.

Defective tool injuries can be catastrophic, and may also be attributed to a variety of negligent actions by an employer:

  • Buying low quality tools for employees to use
  • Not providing workers with personal safety equipment like gloves and goggles
  • Failure to investigate worker safety complaints
  • Improperly training workers on tool safety
  • Removing safety stops or guards in work areas

screwdriver

Dangerous Power Tools

Almost any power tool that has not been tested properly and sold the public with design defects or made with inferior materials can cause injury. Many power tool defect lawsuits have been filed, targeting the following:

  • Chain saws
  • Table saws
  • Circular saws
  • Power drills
  • Sanders
  • Grinders
  • Welding Injuries
  • Lawn mowers
  • Power vacuums
  • Blowers
  • Nail guns
  • Hand-held power saws
  • Drill presses
  • Soldering irons
  • Portable Generators
  • Planers
  • Batteries

Types of Power Tool Defects

Product liability lawyers and safety advocates have made power tool manufacturers accountable for the injuries caused by faulty tools. Inadequate instructions or the lack of safety devices on tools are common defects. Some tools simply do not work properly and lead to preventable accidents. Common tool defects include:

  • Design flaw
  • Manufacturing error
  • Faulty components
  • Lack of warnings
  • Advertising inappropriate and unsafe uses of tool
  • Marketing to an audience who lacks the ability to safely use the tool

Defective Nail Guns

In many construction jobs the use of nail guns is necessary. But employers have a duty to provide workers with safe equipment. Nail gun design defects often include a defect in the dual action firing system. Most nail guns are sold with a simultaneous trigger mechanism.

Roofing accidents and construction injury are much more likely with defective nail guns being sold and used in many job sites. Nail gun injuries can include the following:

  • Puncture Wounds: puncture wounds cause major tissue and nerve damage, and greatly raises the risk of infection.
  • Hand Fractures: a large number of nail gun injuries impact the hands of workers, with many reports of broken fingers and hands.
  • Eye Injury: Defective nail guns and other power tools without safeguards lead to huge amount of work-related eye injuries each year. Eye trauma can cause the loss of sight and chronic pain.
  • Brain Injury: nail guns fire nails at a great speed and have the ability to lead to serious head and brain injuries.

Defective Shapers

Defective shaper tools may be sold without basic safety guards. Design defects may make the tool dangerous even when used as intended. Certain defects may be caused by cheap materials or a lack of warnings. Any power tool should be maintained and inspected before use. Employers have a responsibility to do so.

Defective Chain Saws

Chain saws cause a great number of serious woodworking and landscaping injuries. All chain saws should have an anti-kickback safety device. A chain brake should be used, which can halt the chain in the event of a kickback. It sounds basic, but chain saws should be equipped with a hand guard that prevents a worker’s hand from hitting the moving chain.

Defective Table Saws

Table saws are one of the most dangerous power tools, and laceration injuries number in the thousands each year when saws are used improperly or defective table saws are sold to consumers.

A circular saw blade that is portable is even more hazardous and may not be produced with safety functions. Most table saws have an anti-kickback system, but does not always work as advertised. Saw injuries can be quite serious and are almost always preventable.

DeWalt has recalled some table saws because of a kickback and laceration hazard. Bosch Tool Corporation also issued a recall of table saws due to kickback problems.

Power Tool Accidents

Work accidents are much more likely to occur in work settings with defective tools. If hand tools and construction equipment is old and has not been properly maintained, no worker training may be able to prevent a power tool injury. Product liability cases and employer negligence lawsuits may be considered following any power tool injury on the job.

You may have several legal options and should contact a product recall attorney and workplace injury lawyer to discuss. The Lyon Firm will be able to assess your case and can file claims based on manufacturing negligence or unsafe work environment claims.

Tools and equipment used in factories, construction, and other work areas have the ability to cause permanent injuries, which can include:

Power Tool Safety

OSHA recommends several prevention methods when operating machinery and power tools, including:

  • Never carry tools by the cord or hose
  • Never yank the cord or the hose to disconnect it from power
  • Keep cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges
  • Disconnect tools when not using them, and when changing blades, bits, and cutters
  • Keep all people not involved with the work at a safe distance
  • Secure work with clamps or a vise
  • Avoid accidental starting
  • Maintain tools with care—keep tools sharp and clean
  • Follow instructions in the user’s manual
  • Do not wear loose clothing like ties, or jewelry that can become caught in moving parts
  • Remove all damaged portable electric tools from use

Power Tool Injury Lawsuits

Consider that workers’ compensation may only compensate you for a small portion of actual damages. It’s also common for injury claims to be denied depending on employee status.

When tools are faulty or the machinery malfunctions, serious accidents and injuries are likely. Defective tool accidents and faulty equipment accidents are hazardous and can lead to permanent injuries and disabilities.

Equipment and tool manufacturers can be held liable in personal injury and product liability lawsuits. Employers may also be liable for machine malfunction and defective tool accidents if they fail to maintain or inspect machinery, fail to uphold OSHA safety standards, or fail to provide workers with the proper protective gear.

Employer negligence is no small matter, and The Lyon Firm works with OSHA experts to determine the root cause of any serious workplace injury. If the defective equipment was rented, then the rental company may also be liable.

Product liability cases are complicated and requires an experienced consumer safety attorney and engineers to investigate and review safety standards, workplace design, product design, product warnings, and quality control testing methods.

Many tools and machinery are inherently hazardous, but if a manufacturer fails to protect workers with basic safety manuals, automatic shutoff mechanisms, and clear warnings, they may face legal action.

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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM

Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.

The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.

NO COST UNLESS WE WIN

The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.

photo of attorney Joe Lyon reviewing power tool defects
A Voice for Those who have suffered

Why are these cases important?

Many product liability cases have had a positive impact on public health and safety, and we have witnessed improved lives and future injuries prevented as companies are forced to remove products and change designs and warnings as a result of litigation.

CONTACT THE LYON FIRM TODAY

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Questions about Product Liability Cases

What is a Product Liability Lawsuit?

Product liability lawsuits often contain causes of action for strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranty. Strict liability applies to different factors than negligence-based claims.

In negligence cases, the actions of the defendant are the focus. In strict liability claims, the focus is on the condition of a product at the time it left the manufacturer. If a product is determined to be defective, the company is liable for any foreseeable injuries that are in-part caused by the defective condition of the product.

How is a Product Defined as Defective?
Ohio Definition of Defective

A product is defective if it is unreasonably dangerous for its intended use. A legal cause of action can be based on several types of product defects. The following are Cincinnati product liability and strict liability claims available in Ohio and in most jurisdictions nationwide:

(1)  Manufacturing/ Construction Defect:

These issues arise where the product is released from the factory in a manner that deviates from the intended design or specifications. The defect can be a result of using the wrong materials, including the wrong or completely foreign materials (e.g., Tylenol contamination, food poisoning, damaged car part from factory installation).

As a result of the deviation, the product enters the market in an unreasonably dangerous condition and the consumer is exposed to or purchases a product that is defective. Any personal injuries or economic loss that arise from the the defect are compensable under Ohio product liability law.

(2) Defective design and/or formulation:

Defective design product liability cases arise not because a mistake was made during the manufacturing process, but rather the original design of the product is unreasonably dangerous. A “risk benefit analysis” is used to determine whether safer/less expensive alternative designs were available to the manufacturer.

Federal regulations set minimum standards for the design of many consumer products, and preemption defenses may preclude liability in some situations if the manufacturer follows and obtains federal approval for a product. Automotive recalls and product liability cases are usually a result of a defective design. Common cases include the Toyota Brake Recall, Chrysler Gen III seat belt buckle, lap belt only cases, Metal on Metal hip implants, transvaginal mesh.)

(3) Failure to warn or inadequate warning or instruction associated with the product:

All consumer products come with necessary and appropriate warnings and instructions for use. If the lack of a warning makes the product and use of the product unsafe, the manufacturer is liable for the failure to place the warning. The most common area of litigation for failure to warn is in pharmaceutical litigation.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to warn of the known or foreseeable side effects and update the warnings in a timely manner. Litigation arises where there is evidence the manufacturer failed to timely update a warning in light of new data or simply ignored the risk and failed to conduct sufficient research to identify and then disclose the risk.

(4) Misrepresentation:

The product fails to conform to a representation or warranty. Warranty claims are more common in commercial and economic loss cases than in personal injury cases. In many States, The Product Liability Act does not apply to cases with only economic loss, because the Commercial Code provides recourse for breach of warranty.

The warranty may be written or implied based upon the products intended purpose and merchantability. An example of a breach of warranty cases are cases involving automotive defects.

How do you prove design defects?

Risks:  The following factors are considered under Ohio law when determining the risks associated with the design of a product:  (1) the magnitude of the risk of injury; (2) ordinary consumer awareness of the risk for injury; (3) the likelihood of causing injury; (4) the violation of a private or public standard; and (5) the consumer’s expectation of the performance of the product and level of danger. Ohio Revised Code 2307.5 (B) Product Defective in Design or Formulation.

Benefits: The following factors are considered under Ohio law when determining the benefits associated with product design: (1) the utility of the product; (2) availability of an alternative design; (3) the magnitude of risks associated with an alternative design. Ohio Revised Code 2307.5 (c)

Defenses for Defective Design: (1) a pharmaceutical drug or medical device is not defective by design if it contains an adequate warning of an unavoidably unsafe aspect of the pharmaceutical or medical device; (2) the dangerous aspect is inherent to the product, recognizable, and cannot be eliminated without compromising the product’s usefulness; (3) a lack of a feasible alternative design. 2307.75 (d)(e)(f).

EXAMPLES:

  • Metal on Metal Hip Implants
  • Lap Belt Only Seat Belts
  • Transvaginal Mesh
  • FMK Fast Action Trigger
  • Lack of Insulating Link on Cranes
What is a manufacturing defect?

A manufacturing defect is based on a defect that occurred during the manufacturing process. Many auto companies have been involved in this kind of product liability lawsuits in recent years, due to defective airbags, software defects, tire failure, and other dangerous manufacturing errors.

Most manufacturing defect cases are based on a products deviation from the intended specification, formula, performance standards, or design model. In such cases, it may be easy to determine the product did not comply with the intended design.

The product may be recalled as a specific lot is identified as being non-compliant and defective. A product may be defective in manufacture or construction, materials and assembly, and a manufacturer or distributor may be subject to strict liability, even though it exercised all possible care.  Ohio Revised Code 2307.74.

Manufacturing Defect Examples:

    • Contaminated Food
    • Defective Medical Devices
    • Contaminated Pharmaceuticals
    • Defective Handguns
    • Defective Auto Components
What is a failure to warn lawsuit?

In determining whether a product is defective due to inadequate warning or instruction, evidence must be presented to prove:

  • The manufacturer knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known about a risk
  • A reasonable manufacturer would have provided a warning of the risk
  • The manufacturer failed to provide the warning
  • The person was injured due to a lack of warning. The same elements apply whether the claim is based on a warning present during the marketing or post-sale warnings.

Defenses to Failure to Warn Claims: (1) the risk was open and obvious or a matter of common knowledge; and (2) in cases of a pharmaceutical drug or medical device, the warning was provided to the prescribing physician (“Learned Intermediary Doctrine”).

Many pharmaceutical companies have been targeted in failure to warn lawsuits for either failing to place warnings on medication guides and packaging or failing to properly test their product before putting it to market.

 

What are consumer product safety regulations?

Design and manufacturing defects result in thousands of product recalls each year in the United States, initiated by federal safety agencies. Following injury and illness, regardless of recall status, victims and plaintiffs may pursue legal action and contact a product liability lawyer to begin the litigation process. Rightful compensation can be sought and help plaintiffs recover medical costs and other related damages.

Product liability law overlaps with regulatory law, which are the systems of legislative rules and administrative agencies, and part of federal and state governments. These agencies regulate the safety of the products sold to the public. Examples include:

  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA;)
  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

The listed government agencies, however, may initiate recalls of dangerous products but do not provide remedies or compensation for damages where an individual is injured due to the defective product.

Why should I hire The Lyon Firm?

Our Firm will help you find the answers.  The Firm has the experience, resources and dedication to take on difficult and emotional cases and help our clients obtain the justice for the wrong they have suffered. 

Experience: Joe Lyon is an experienced Product Liability Lawyer. The Lyon Firm has 19 years of experience and success representing individuals and plaintiffs in all fifty states, and in a variety of complex civil litigation matters. Product Liability lawsuits can be complex and require industry experts to determine the root cause of an accident or injury. Mr. Lyon has worked with experts nationwide to assist individuals understand why an injury occurred and what can be done to improve their lives in the future. Some cases may go to a jury trial, though many others can be settled out of court.

Resources/Dedication: Mr. Lyon has worked with experts in the fields of accident reconstruction, biomechanics, epidemiology, metallurgy, pharmacology, toxicology, human factors, workplace safety, life care planning, economics, and virtually every medical discipline in successfully representing Plaintiffs across numerous areas of law. The Lyon Firm is dedicated to building the strongest cases possible for clients and their critical interests.

Results:  Mr. Lyon has obtained numerous seven and six figure results in personal injury,  automotive product liability, medical negligence, construction accidents, and auto dealership negligence cases.  The cases have involved successfully litigating against some of  the largest companies in the world 

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Your Right to Safety
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Defective products on the market present safety and health hazards for adults and children. Cheap and defective products may pose fire and burn risks; electrocution, strangulation and choking risks; and severe health risks. The manufacturers of consumer products have a duty to foresee potential injury and properly design and test products before they are released.

Companies must also properly warn consumers of any risks associated with their products. Any failure to protect consumers that results in accidents and injury can lead to lawsuits filed by plaintiffs and their product liability lawyer.

power tool defects
Our Victories

The Lyon Firm aggressively, professionally, and passionately advocates for injured individuals and families against companies due to a defective product or recalled product to obtain just compensation under the law. 

DEFECTIVE LAP BELT RESTRAINT

SPINAL CORD INJURY

(Pikeville, Kentucky): Confidential settlement for Plaintiff who suffered spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia due to defectively designed seat belt. Four passengers with three-point (lap/shoulder) belts walked away from the accident, and the only passenger wearing a two-point belt (lap only) suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury. The settlement assisted with home improvements to assist in daily living. GM entered federal bankruptcy during the process and no longer manufactures two-point lap belts for vehicles.

DEFECTIVE PROPANE WALL HEATER

WRONGFUL DEATH 

(Hillsboro, Ohio): Confidential Settlement for the family of elderly man who was catastrophically burned while operating a propane wall heater. The burns resulted in his unfortunate death. The heater, manufactured and sourced from China, was alleged to allow the flame to reach outside the grid area in violation of ANSI standards. The Defendant resolved the case following discovery and mediation. The recovered funds were paid to the victim’s surviving spouse and children. The company no longer manufactures this type of heater.

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