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Machinery Accident Injury Lawsuits & Settlements

Machinery Accidents: Injury Lawsuits & Compensation

In an industrial or construction workplace, employees and employers share responsibility for their own safety and that of their fellow workers. However, machinery accidents still can and do occur. In many cases, machinery accidents can lead to severe injuries to workers, including internal injuries, TBIs or traumatic brain injuries, and more.

Not all machinery accidents are truly accidental. Some occur because of negligence or mishandling of the situation by management or supervisors. In such cases, victims may be able to file workplace injury lawsuits and acquire the compensation they need to pay for their medical bills. 

When Do Machinery Accidents Lead to Internal Injuries?

In many workplace environments, heavy machinery is necessary to complete tasks on time, lift heavy loads, and more. Some of the most common workplace machines involved in accidents include cranes, compactors, forklifts, cable plows, loaders, mixers, and more. These advanced machines can be dangerous if not used properly.

Heavy machinery and industrial or construction environment may:

  • Malfunction if it is not properly maintained or if it is used past its intended retirement date
  • Not be used properly by workers if they are not educated on its use correctly beforehand
  • Break if it is not assembled correctly before use
  • And more

Some machinery accidents may occur directly because of the negligence of executive or supervisory staff. For example, management may decide:

  • Not to provide workers with appropriate safety gear out of laziness
  • Not to educate workers about how to use machinery while still demanding deadlines be met
  • Not to upgrade heavy machinery for newer models in order to save money
  • Not provide time for maintenance checks or repairs if the machinery is used frequently
  • And more

Some industries are more likely to have machinery accidents than others. For example, the manufacturing industry alone accounted for 15% of all private industry nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2019. 

Injuries Caused by Machinery Accidents

machinery accident injury lawsuit testimonial

Sam was operating a battery-powered scissor lift to take inventory at his job in a warehouse, when the supports holding the platform suddenly collapsed. He came crashing down from two stories onto his lower back, shattering his tailbone, and bursting several disks. He was rendered unable to work, and now must use a wheelchair to get around.

The maintenance team was supposed to safety check each piece of equipment the night before, but didn’t due to management’s requests to perform other duties. After contacting Sobo & Sobo, his legal team was able to secure him a personal injury settlement by suing the company, as well as social security disability insurance, and worker’s compensation.

”I can continue supporting my family,” said Sam. “And, I’m no longer in debt. Which is the minimum I felt I was owed for an accident that could have been completely avoided, yet changed my life completely. But I didn’t think that’d actually be possible until I met my attorney. They set me up to receive constant income for the rest of my life, as well as settlements that helped pay for all my lost wages and medical bills. And for that I’m incredibly grateful.

This is a true story. We’ve changed the name and photograph of our client to protect his privacy.

Heavy machinery can be very dangerous if it is not operated properly or if it is broken. Some of the most common heavy machinery accidents include:

  • Being pinned by heavy machinery
  • Getting caught between vehicles
  • Getting stuck behind or inside a piece of machinery
  • Being crushed under collapsing structures
  • Slipping or falling into or around machinery

Any of these scenarios carries the possibility of severe injuries. There are good reasons why most construction or industrial workplaces require safety gear to be worn by all employees on the work floor. Heavy machinery accidents may cause injuries including but not limited to:

  • TBIs
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Broken bones
  • Crushed arms, limbs, fingers, and more
  • Burns, both electrical and fire
  • Internal injuries like hemorrhaging, organ damage, and more
  • Amputations
  • Permanent nerve damage
  • Paralysis
  • Wrongful death
  • And more

In some cases, even death can occur from machinery accidents. According to one study, the machine rated annual average fatality rate between the years of 1992 and 2010 was 0.6 per 100,000.

Machinery accident injuries, due to their severity, may incur very high medical expenses and force victims to skip work to recover. This financial burden may be alleviated if the victim files a successful machinery accident lawsuit.

Machinery Accident Lawsuits

Machinery accident lawsuits are contingent on being able to prove negligence on the part of an at-fault party. Negligence can be proven by:

  • Showing that the employer or supervisor of the victim had a duty to provide a certain standard of safety guidance or equipment
  • Proving that the employer or supervisor did not adhere to safety standards
  • Showing that the injuries suffered by the victim are directly related to the proven negligence

When successful, machinery accident lawsuits may award a substantial amount of compensation to victims. Compensation may be awarded to cover medical bills, loss of income due to the accident, pain and suffering, and more.

When Are Employers Liable for Internal Injuries Caused by Machinery Accidents?

Employers may be held liable for the internal injuries suffered by their employees if they are proven to have been negligent in their duties. Workers may examine employer guidelines laid out by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to determine whether their employer was negligent or not.

According to OSHA, employers have an obligation to ensure that the workplace environment, workplace tools, and safety gear are up to OSHA standards of protectiveness and safety. For example, it’s the employer’s responsibility to ensure that a machine is functioning properly. If the machine breaks in a way that could have been predicted or stopped, a victim’s employer may be held responsible for any injuries that occur as a result.

Additional OSHA requirements that may prove negligence on the part of an employer include:

  • A requirement to use color codes and labels to warn employees of potential hazards
  • A requirement to provide safety training to workers
  • A responsibility to provide medical examinations and training when required
  • A responsibility to update operating procedures and communicate them to employees when necessary

OSHA has a great many guidelines for employees to peruse when building their cases. In such circumstances, workplace accident attorneys may be able to help victims acquire the compensation they deserve.

Despite being required for legal operations, OSHA standards are violated frequently. The top OSHA standards violated by employers or workers include:

  • Lack of reasonable fall protection in the construction industry
  • Lack of hazard communication standards in general industries
  • Lack of respiratory protection in general industries
  • Lack of scaffolding in the construction industry
  • Lack of ladders in the construction industry

Contacting Legal Assistance May Help

Due to the complexities involved in machinery accident lawsuits, victims of these accidents should contact experienced, helpful attorneys like Sobo & Sobo. With decades of experience in the personal injury and worker’s compensation arenas, Sobo & Sobo are well equipped and ready to assist machinery accident victims build the best cases possible and acquire the maximum amount of compensation. Contact them today for more information and a free consultation.