A moment’s carelessness with a power tool or a piece of industrial equipment can lead to horrendous injuries and a lifetime of disability. Moments of carelessness happen because people are not machines: they can be distracted, they can flinch at sudden noises, they can forget to tell a coworker that they are about to turn on the power. Any of these things can cause death or injury in the right circumstances.
We take it for granted in our homes and workplaces that simple, everyday matters shouldn’t result in death or horrible injury. We insulate electrical wires and hide them in walls. We ground power tools. We look for ways that common tasks are likely to result in injury, and come up with ways to prevent them. Our efforts aren’t foolproof, but we have reduced the number of injuries caused by moments of carelessness.
The potential for modern power tools, industrial equipment, and other products to cause injury in a moment of carelessness makes it imperative that they be designed properly. They must be designed to account for the fact that the operators are human. Many mistakes, many acts of carelessness in the use of a tool or other product, can be anticipated in the design phase. If they can be anticipated, then controls and safety mechanisms can be designed to protect against them. Careful, responsible manufacturers do this religiously, but sometimes they fail.
A manufacturer which fails to take reasonable steps to guard against carelessness or misuse that it should have anticipated may be liable for the injuries that result. In Idaho, a products liability case for personal injuries can be difficult to bring. Your most important step is choosing a lawyer with the experience and the know-how to spot the appropriate defect, to identify the appropriate defendant, and bring the right case in the right court. These things are not as easy as they seem. Many cases fail on these points. Not every lawyer has the experience needed for a case of this type. If you have been injured by a defective product, it is your life and well-being that are at stake. Choose a lawyer carefully.