Does this story about faulty equipment injury sound familiar to one that you have experienced yourself?
Even though we’re only a month in, 2020 is already shaping up to be a great year. Recently switching to overnights at a local super market earlier this month in January, you have already been promoted to shift leader. With a sales week coming up in the next few days, you have your team clock in a half hour early, and get right to work.
With several pallets of sale items needing to be broken down and stocked on shelves, you inform your employees where each item needs to go, and begin working on the store’s main display at the front entrance. After an hour of hard work, you only have a few items left to stack on the top of the display.
Calling over one of your workers, you properly set up a small ladder, climb up four steps, and ask your employee to hand you the remaining items. Setting each one down in its designated spot, you smile over at your handy-work, and decide to check on how your team is doing with breaking down the pallets.
Suddenly, while stepping down, a loose screw pops free along the side of the ladder. With the third rung falling off just as you place your weight onto its surface, you lose your balance, and plunge backwards onto the tile floor. Hitting your back hard against the tiles, a shooting pain reverberates along your spine. With your nearby employee calling emergency services, you painfully await for the paramedics to arrive.
Serious faulty equipment injury in the workplace
Unfortunately, it’s all to common to hear about workers getting hurt by faulty equipment. Such equipment ranges from heavy machinery to everyday used items, such as:
- Ladders
- Forklifts
- Industrial vehicles
- Backhoes and tractors
- Scissor lifts and boom lifts
- Cranes
- Scaffolding
Workers compensation benefits may be the only means of compensation you have available when you’re hurt and recovering from a workplace faulty equipment injury. But the amount you receive may not be enough. If you experience a faulty equipment injury, you may have a claim against the owner or manufacturer. Many construction companies lease large equipment or specialized tools from outside companies. While this is cost-effective, it can also be dangerous. If the equipment leasing company fails to provide or falsifies evidence that proper maintenance was done on the equipment they’ve rented and serious injuries result, you may have a right to pursue compensation due to negligence.
What if the equipment was properly maintained?
Injuries due to faulty equipment don’t always occur because machinery or equipment was improperly taken care of. Sometimes equipment is defectively designed or manufactured. If this is the case, you might be able to file a product liability claim. Against the company that created the product. In addition to the companies that sold or leased the defective product.
Help is available for South Carolina Workplace Injuries
Have you been injured on the job as a result of faulty equipment? If so, then you may be entitled to workers compensation. Contact us at The Clardy Law Firm! We’ll be more than happy to review your case, and get you the compensation that you need.
