Heavy Equipment Failure: What You Need To Know

When large machinery or heavy equipment malfunctions or fails, everyone in the nearby vicinity could be at risk for serious injury. Unfortunately, machine operators and workers usually take the brunt of the damage in these types of accidents, which can result in catastrophic and deadly injuries. Whether you were injured at a construction site, a factory, a garage, a work yard, or any other type of work environment, it’s important to determine how your accident was caused and who may be liable.

If you were harmed due to heavy equipment failure, make sure you know your legal options going forward. Below, we explain how these incidents happen, common types of heavy equipment accidents, and potentially liable parties.

About Heavy Equipment Accidents

Large and heavy machines, like tractors, cranes, forklifts, or factory equipment, can be extremely damaging if they aren’t properly built, maintained, or operated. According to OSHA, heavy machinery issues contribute to many of the most common causes of workplace injuries. If a mistake occurs while using heavy or large equipment, the resulting damage can be extensive.

Common types of heavy machinery injuries involve the following:

• Tractors
• Cranes
• Forklifts
• Farming equipment
• Factory machines
• Conveyor belts
• Bulldozers

Incidents involving the above-listed machines may include issues with dropped loads, backing up, mechanical failure, fallen objects, pinned workers, collisions, and more. These accidents may occur because the machine was defective in design, or a component of the machine was faulty. Other causes include improper maintenance, lack of maintenance, operator error, lack of operator training, and mismanagement of the worksite.

Let Our Firm Help You

If you were injured by heavy equipment failure, be sure to discuss your case with an experienced attorney who can help you seek justice and compensation for the damage you suffered. Our team at BD&J has recovered more than $1.5 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients and we want to help you, too.

Contact BD&J to discuss your case with our attorneys and schedule your free consultation.