Construction Accidents and Defective Products
Millions of Americans are injured on the job each year. These injuries stem from various lines of work, but some jobs are known to be more dangerous than others. Construction workers have one of the highest rates of accident injuries. Construction accidents have many causes, but one of the most common is defective products.
Construction accidents caused by defective products can result in a wide range of physical, emotional, and financial damages. The construction accident attorneys at G.R. Randy Akin, P.C. work with injury victims in the Longview, TX, area to assist them in holding liable parties accountable for damages related to defective products.
Examples of Product Defects
Construction sites contain a large number of tools, equipment, and other products that allow workers to do their jobs or to perform job duties with an added degree of safety. These products vary in size and complexity. Whether a defective product is a safety helmet, a skill saw, a forklift, or any other piece of equipment found on a construction site, it can cause catastrophic injuries and damages. There are a number of defects that could make a product unsafe, including:
- A defect in the way a product was designed or manufactured
- Missing product components
- Loose components (screws, bolts, etc.)
- Use of inferior materials
- Lack of proper warning labels
- Insufficient safety guards
Why Are Defective Products Used?
Most often, defective products arrive at a construction site without workers knowing that the product is unsafe. If a product is new, there is really no way for a worker to know that it is defective until it has caused an accident or injury. Once a product has been identified as defective, it should be tagged and, whenever possible, removed from the site. Unfortunately, sometimes defective products are used on construction sites because workers are unaware of their dangers or someone neglects to label it or remove it.
Another reason that defective products may be used is because they haven’t been repaired properly or received adequate maintenance. Even if a product is designed and manufactured safely, it can become defective over time. Construction tools and equipment should be regularly inspected, maintained, and repaired (as needed) to ensure their safety. Neglecting to perform necessary maintenance, or poor repair work, can lead to defective products being used by unknowing construction workers.
Who Is Liable for Construction Accidents Caused By Defective Products?
It is essential to determine what caused a construction accident, and who is liable, so that injury victims can be justly compensated for their losses. Our construction accident attorneys work with injury victims in the Longview area to prove liability for construction accidents involving defective products. In these types of cases, a third party is usually responsible for accident damages. Liability may fall on:
- The product designer
- The product manufacturer
- The product retailer
- A maintenance or repair worker
- The owner or operator of the construction site
Get In Touch
Construction workers are often unaware of the compensation they may be due following a workplace injury. If you have been injured in a construction accident that you believe was caused by a defective product, the attorneys at G.R. Randy Akin, P.C. can help you explore your legal options. To schedule a personal consultation, send us a message online or call our Longview law firm at (903) 297-8929.
