If you have been injured while using a lathe, it is important that you know your rights concerning worker’s compensation and product liability. The lathe accident injury attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have helped injured workers secure the compensation they needed that their worker’s compensation benefits were unable to cover. When an accident can be linked to a defect in the machine, it is then possible to seek additional damages from the manufacturer on the grounds of product liability. The right attorney can ensure you are able to cover all of your financial needs by examining every possible avenue for recovery when reviewing your case.
The purpose of a lathe is to shape different materials by cutting and abrading the material being pressed against it. Wood and metal are the materials most frequently used, but lathes are capable of shaping others as well. An array of safety features are normally equipped on a lathe to ensure that the chance of an accident is mitigated and that workers can quickly shut the device off when a dangerous situation surfaces.
Some of the injuries that can occur when these safety features are not installed correctly or fail to perform their purposes include the following.
Loss of vision— while these injuries are often mitigated through the use of protective eyewear, it is possible for lathes to propel objects or debris at high speeds into the face of the operator or a bystander. This can lead to permanent injury loss associated with the injury to an eye.
Electrocution— defective lathes may subject workers to an electrical shock, which may cause loss of consciousness, heart failure, electrical burns and other serious injuries.
Broken bones— it is possible for the moving parts of the machine to break or crush bones and these injuries may require extensive care over time to restore mobility and alleviate the pain.
Traumatic brain injuries— in the event of an injury to the head, it is possible for the victim to suffer permanent brain damage, which may surface over time following the accident. Long term effects of these injuries can include the loss of cognitive function, memory loss, difficulty concentrating and difficulty performing motor functions.
Amputations— whether due to extreme disfigurement, the infection of an injured limb or the loss of the body part during the accident, victims have been known to lose hands, fingers and arms in lathe accidents. The loss of a limb can be devastating from a physical and emotional standpoint as it results in a change in the victim’s quality of living forever.
Nerve damage— while muscle and skin is able to heal, nerves cannot. If a major nerve has been injured in an accident, it may result in loss of sensation, the inability to move the affected limb or neuropathy, which may result in pain, tingling and other sensations in the affected area.
Spinal injuries— in the event that the victim’s clothing or hair becomes caught in the machine, it can pull the victim violently into the machine, causing injuries to the spine from the ensuing contact.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC can help you recover the compensation needed to cover the cost of your medical bills, lost wages, out of pocket expenses and ongoing care following an injury. The law protects workers by guaranteeing worker’s compensation benefits, but these benefits may not always cover the full cost of a tragic injury, especially when a machine defect is involved. One of the avenues we can take to recover additional compensation is to pursue a claim against the manufacturer of the defective equipment.
Contact us today to arrange a free case review with one of our award winning Chicago lathe injury attorneys so that we can determine the best course of action that will ensure you are able to recover the maximum amount of compensation that Illinois law allows. If we are unable to secure damages on your behalf, you are assured that our services will be free of charge.