Injuries Caused by Machines

We don’t often think about it, but machines are what make our modern world run. And while we’ve come a long way from the wildly unregulated plants of the Industrial Revolution, which housed dangerous machinery that injured thousands of workers annually, machines still can cause horrific injuries today. If you or a loved one was harmed while operating any type of machinery, contact the personal injury experts at the Cambridge firm of Altman & Altman LLP today.

There are many different types of machinery that require hands-on operation, from advanced CNC lathes to less sophisticated tire rim removing machines. Each type of machinery comes with its own risks and potential for injury. These risks are amplified when employees aren’t given adequate supervision, training or equipment to work with. Such negligence can lead to serious injuries or even wrongful deaths, and Altman & Altman LLP will hold all negligent employers accountable.

What Caused Your Machinery-Related Injury?

As with any personal injury claim, proving that the person injured was reasonably not at fault for their sustaining of the injury is the most crucial aspect to achieving a successful outcome. In the case of machinery injuries, operator error can certainly be a factor. However, injuries may also occur through no fault of the employee. Injuries caused by negligent employers and machinery malfunctions are good grounds for personal injury claims, and we can help get you started on a path towards success right away.

Different causes of machinery accidents that lead to injuries and could possibly be grounds for a personal injury claim could include:

• Injuries due to supervision failures – Employers are responsible for their employees’ wellbeing, especially when those employees are operating potentially deadly machinery. A trained supervisor should always be ensuring that work is being done properly and safely, and should always be at least available if an employee has any doubts or concerns about the work they’re performing.

• Injuries due to inadequate training – Employers have an obligation to ensure that their employees are adequately trained in how to perform their work responsibilities in a way that is safe and keeps them out of harm’s way. Improper training, or total lack of training can lead to inexperienced employees becoming seriously injured, which would make the employer liable.

• Injuries due to defective equipment – Some work requires specialized equipment. This may be something as simple as a special pair of gloves or a mask to prevent injuries to the eyes during the operation of the machinery. If provided equipment is faulty or, even worse, not provided at all, and the worker is injured as a result, the employer could be held liable.

  Injuries due to lack of adequate safety guards – Some machines have so many dangerous moving parts – like grinders, presses or machinery that cuts or shapes various material – that they come equipped standard with certain safety guards, such as shields or emergency power cutoff switches, to prevent employees from becoming injured. If these safety guards are malfunctioning or missing entirely, it is highly likely employers could be held liable.

• Injuries due to improperly maintained and serviced machines – Just as with a car or any other consumer grade machine, industrial machinery must be carefully maintained to ensure it works as expected and does not have any potentially harmful malfunctioning pieces. If a machine hasn’t been serviced as required by federal law and it causes an injury, the owner of the machinery may be liable for injuries that ensue.

Altman & Altman is Here to Help

With over 50 years of experience in personal injury law, you won’t find better legal representation following your injury than with Altman & Altman. We can help you earn financial compensation to pay for medical expenses and make up for money missed from being too injured to work. We will work with you every step of the way in order to achieve a satisfactory result.

Contact us online or call for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.