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Malfunctioning Machine and Equipment Injury Attorneys
Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Defective Product Attorneys
Have you suffered injuries caused by malfunctioning machines, equipment, or household appliances? Serious injuries due to defective machinery and products are often accompanied by severe pain and suffering, in addition to substantial medical expenses, lost wages, and in some cases, even death.
As a result, those who receive injuries from malfunctioning or defective products of any kind should seek legal assistance from an experienced Ohio or Kentucky personal injury lawyer who is familiar with claims involving defective products. With the help of your Covington or Cincinnati products liability attorney, you may be able to bring a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of the machine or equipment that caused your injuries and receive compensation for your losses.
At The Lawrence Firm, PSC, we bring decades of experience, a successful reputation, and an aggressive, committed litigation approach to every case we take on. With offices in both Kentucky and Ohio, our product liability attorneys represent clients in Covington, Cincinnati, and the surrounding areas. Contact our lawyers today to discuss compensation for your defective machinery injuries.
Machine and Equipment Malfunction
Virtually any type of machinery or equipment may malfunction or become defective, and therefore, can be extremely dangerous. Malfunctioning machines, such as drills, nail and staple guns, or steel cutting machines used in construction are notorious for causing extensive personal injuries. However, these kinds of cases are not limited to only heavy equipment and workplace machinery with powerful motors or rapidly moving parts. Even the most basic household appliances can and have caused several injuries each year. Everyday appliances such as heaters, coffee pots, and blenders can all become defective and lead to devastating repercussions, such as fires and electrocutions, to name a few.
Other products that have been known to malfunction and cause serious injury and damage include:
- Power tools
- Motor vehicle acceleration pedals
- Motor vehicle engines
- Grills
- Microwaves
- Refrigerators
- Children’s toys
- Medical devices
- Construction/industrial equipment
- Lawnmowers
- Fireworks
- Air conditioners
- Smoke detectors
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Leaf blowers
- Vacuum cleaners
There are several things that might contribute to a product becoming defective and causing injuries. Sometimes, it is a fundamental design defect that was not caught in the early stages of product development. It is also possible that defective, incorrect materials or processes were used in the manufacturing process of the appliance or equipment. In some cases, the company might have even been aware of the potential problem and decided the risk of injury wasn’t enough to stop selling the product.
At The Lawrence Firm, our product liability attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation into your injury to determine what caused it and further, who is responsible.
What are the Most Common Injuries from Malfunctioning Machinery and Equipment?
As you can see, there are plenty of products that are prone to malfunctioning. Whether it’s a defective machine, defective equipment, or a defective appliance, all may cause serious, sometimes life-threatening or even fatal injuries. The most common injuries resulting from malfunctioning machinery and equipment include:
- Burn injuries
- Electrocution
- Vision or hearing loss
- Crush injuries
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Smoke or toxic chemical inhalation
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Loss of limb (accidental amputation)
- Death
If you or a loved one has experienced any of these severe injuries, be sure to contact our personal injury law firm to see if you have a valid product liability claim.
Can I Sue a Company for Defective Machinery?
Yes, you can sue a company for any injuries sustained from defective equipment. In fact, a product liability lawsuit may be filed against one or more companies. Depending on the facts surrounding the case, a lawsuit may also be filed against the product’s supply chain, such as the designer, manufacturer, wholesaler, marketer, or retailer, depending on the circumstances of the defect.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Defective Product Injury?
In product liability claims, anyone that designs, manufacturers, distributes, or sells faulty equipment and machinery may be responsible for the injuries that ensue. This means that manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and more may potentially all be held liable. A plaintiff must simply be able to show that a product is defective and that the defect directly caused their injury, whether the theory of liability is that of negligence, a breach of warranty, or strict liability.
How Do I Sue for a Defective Product?
There are three different types of claims that a defective product lawsuit may be based on. These include negligence, breach of warranty, and strict liability claims. Further, there are three origins of defects that may incur liability, including design defects, manufacturing defects, or defects in marketing.
Design defects are inherent in the product since they exist before the product is actually made. Most states, including both Kentucky and Ohio, place the burden of proof on the plaintiff to provide evidence of a defect in the products’ design stage. A manufacturing defect, as you may have guessed, occurs during the construction and/or production stage of the product in question. This means that only a handful of products out of the many that are created in the manufacturing process actually possess this defect. When it comes to marketing defects, this relates to the improper instructions and/or failure to warn potential customers of the dangers of the product.
Regardless of the origin of the defect, in order to sue for defective machinery or equipment in a product liability lawsuit, your attorney must be able to prove four elements. These are as follows:
- The actual loss of property, injury, or death occurred.
- The product was defective.
- The defect in question lead to loss of property, injury, or death.
- The product was used by the plaintiff as it was intended to be used or how any reasonable person would have used it.
When a large number of people are harmed by the same product as you, you may be able to join what is called a mass tort case. Mass tort litigation, also known as multidistrict litigation, allows several victims of personal injury caused by defective products to join forces and seek damages for their injuries from a defendant. Plaintiffs’ success against large defendants (companies) can be greatly aided by mass tort proceedings. In addition to malfunctioning machines and equipment lawsuits, there are plenty of other mass tort and class action lawsuits out there, including those involving defective medical devices, dangerous drugs, and more. To see if you are eligible to join in on a multidistrict litigation lawsuit, contact the experienced mass tort attorneys at The Lawrence Firm today.
What Damages Can I Receive in a Machinery Defect Lawsuit?
Product, equipment, or machinery defects can lead to an incredible amount of damages. In addition to medical bills, product liability law allows plaintiffs to seek damages for lost wages, lost earning capacity, and any other expenses associated with the injury (i.e., therapy, medical equipment or devices, future medical costs, hospital stays, etc.). If the victim died as a result of the defective equipment or product, families may also receive compensation for wrongful death in Ohio or Kentucky, which includes things like funeral and burial expenses. However, these damages, known as economic damages, are not the only losses plaintiffs may recover compensation for.
Non-economic damages may also be awarded to the injured party or their family members. These include things like pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of consortium, and more. These aspects are harder to calculate and thus, harder to prove. That is why it is important that those looking to obtain compensation for both the emotional and financial stress they’ve incurred obtain help from an experienced legal team. When you hire a law firm that is familiar with navigating the legal system and product liability lawsuits, you have the best chance of receiving maximum compensation for your losses.
* If the injury occured at the plaintiff’s place of employment, workers’ compensation benefits may also be available.
* If the responsible party knew the product was dangerous, failed to recall the product, or hid evidence of its threat to public safety, punitive damages may also be awarded.
Contact The Lawrence Firm, PSC for a Free Initial Consultation
At The Lawrence Firm, we have decades of combined experience working with defective equipment and machinery cases. When we take your case, we are prepared to focus on everything necessary to succeed. Once we establish a formal attorney-client relationship, we’ll get straight to work on compensating you for your losses as quickly as possible through a product liability settlement. However, if you are not willing to settle, we will go the extra mile to properly set your case up for a successful trial in court.
We have a nurse on staff, and will consult other medical professionals and experts when necessary. This offers a certain degree of medical expertise about injuries sustained due to defective appliances or malfunctioning machines and equipment that most firms are not in a position to offer. We also employ accident reconstruction experts and product liability specialists when necessary.
If you or a loved one has been injured by malfunctioning equipment, faulty machinery, or product defects, reach out to The Lawrence Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case. You can reach our Kentucky law firm at 859-578-9130, our Ohio law office at 513-651-4130, or call us toll-free at 800-698-4054. You can also submit an online intake form here. We look forward to working with you.
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You Pay No Fees Unless We Win!
We are happy to offer a free consultation to evaluate your case. If you hire us as your legal counsel, we will represent you on a contingency-fee basis. You will pay no attorneys’ fees unless we recover financial damages.