Every day, thousands of Illinois workers go to a job that requires them to use equipment which has the potential to cause serious injury or death. Without that equipment, much of industry would ground to a halt or be far less productive. When workers are injured on the job, they look first to receive worker’s compensation benefits to address the immediate need to support their family and pay their medical expenses.
However, when the true cause of their injury was a dangerous or defective piece of machinery or industrial equipment, the injured worker can look to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of the equipment for damages for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and disability.
Some products which have been involved in work-related accidents include:
- Asbestos – this product was commonly used in many industries and products because of its heat resistant properties. Unfortunately when inhaled, it caused a serious illness known as mesothelioma, as well as lung and stomach cancers.Punch presses – unguarded pinch points and defects in the activation system for the ram have been the cause of many Illinois workers losing fingers, hands, and arms in these powerful machines.Nail guns – these devices propel nails at speeds as high as 1,400 feet per second. They are subject to accident discharges, with the speeding nail causing serious injuries once it reaches a person.
When a workplace accident happens that involves an industrial product, it is crucial that the remains of the product be preserved and not be altered or repaired until it can be carefully examined by a qualified engineer or other expert. Destroying or altering the product may result in the loss of your case and the potential for thousands of dollars in compensation.
Workplace injuries involving dangerous and defective products are complex cases which should not be undertaken without the assistance of an experienced, well-qualified personal injury lawyer who can obtain the necessary experts to show the defect in the product and handle the relationship between the products liability personal injury lawsuit and the worker’s compensation claim.To help injured workers navigate the difficulties of this difficult situation, we have written a free book on Illinois worker’s compensation cases and a free book on third-party liability suits in Illinois. Follow the links or click on the images on the right side of the page to obtain your copy. You may also call our office at (312) 263-1080.