With so many of us staying at home and practicing social distancing, you may be throwing yourself into lawncare with more than the usual vigor. Now is not the time to have an accident at home, especially a horrific lawn mower accident. But, no matter how careful you are, if your lawn mower is defective, you can still get injured through no fault of your own, injure bystanders, or even burn your house down. If you believe that your injuries were caused by a defective lawn mower, talk to an experienced Georgia product liability attorney today.
Lawn Mower Defects
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets safety standards for lawnmowers. Failure to meet the current standards at the time the lawn mower is sold is considered a defect in and of itself. Examples of safety requirements for walk-behind lawnmowers include:
- The blade must have an automatic brake which causes it to stop turning when the operator lets go of the handle
- Foot shield at the back of the mower to keep the operator’s feet away from the blade
- A warning label near the discharge chute cautioning users to keep hands and feet away from the chute
- A certification label with the inscription, “Meets CPSC blade safety requirements.”
Other types of defects include:
- Faulty safety mechanisms
- Faulty blades that break or fall off during use
- Design defects
- Riding lawnmowers that tip too easily
- Manufacturing defects
- Inferior parts which break or fail
- Lack of proper warning labels
- Instructions which are incomplete, inaccurate, or confusing
- Engines that overheat leading to explosion or fire
- Fuel system defects which can lead to explosion or fire
- Lawnmowers which start without warning and with the key removed
Injuries Caused by Defective Lawn Mowers
Defective lawn mower injuries can be very serious and are sometimes fatal. Contact with the blade, tip overs and objects thrown by the lawn mower are the most common causes of these injuries. Some lawn mower defects can cause fires and explosions and can even cause the mower to catch ono fire when it is not in use, which can lead to a structure fire.
Lawn mower injuries include:
- Amputations
- Severe lacerations
- Brain injuries and other blunt trauma, from being struck by objects thrown by the blades
- Eye injuries
- Crush injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Hearing loss
If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective lawn mower, please call Robbins Law, PC, at 800-772-5555 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.