Recently, a man filed a Maine personal injury lawsuit against Ford Motor Company claiming that the defective design of a lawnmower caused a blade to fly off a mower and strike his leg. According to a local news report, the man was bicycling with his son when a pickup truck towing a trailer with a mower passed them. The blade on the mower came loose, struck the man, and severed his leg. The impact was so severe that the man may have bled to death. However, in a fortuitous turn of events, a nurse happened to witness the incident. The nurse stopped and used a beach towel as a tourniquet until further emergency help arrived. Although the man survived, he required amputation above the knee.
Following the accident, the victim filed a lawsuit against the mower’s manufacturer, the Ford Motor Company. The complaint alleged that the mower was defectively designed because there was no backup mechanism to prevent this type of accident. The mower’s design allowed the blade to drop when transported in an upright position. The plaintiff argued that the manufacturer should have designed a backup mechanism to ensure that the blade did not drop during transportation. Further, the plaintiff pointed out that the factory-installed safety device failed, and the manufacturer did not provide any warning to users that this type of accident could occur.
There are generally four types of product liability lawsuits in Maine; including:
- Manufacturing-defect claims – Manufacturing defect lawsuits arise when a manufacturing error results in a defective product.
- Design-defect claims – A design defect claim, such as in the case above, arises when the design of a product is inherently and unreasonably dangerous. In these cases, the plaintiff must show that a safer reasonable alternative design exists.
- Failure-to-warn claims – A failure to warn lawsuit occurs when the manufacturer fails to provide users with appropriate safety instructions or does not inform potential users of inherent risks of the product.
- Breach-of-warranty claims – A breach of warranty claim occurs when a product does not perform in the way that the manufacturer claims it does.
In Maine product liability lawsuits plaintiffs can sue any party in the “chain of distribution.” This means that a plaintiff can choose to hold the manufacturer, the retailer, and/or distributor liable for the defective product. Those injured as a result of a dangerous product should have an experienced attorney on their side to help them navigate this complex area of the law.
Have You Suffered Injuries Because of a Defective Product?
If you or a loved one suffered injuries because of a defectively designed product, you should contact the experienced Maine product liability attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates. Product liability lawsuits often entail going up against large corporations, and it is essential that plaintiffs have dedicated and knowledgeable attorneys to assist them. The attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates have extensive experience handling Maine product liability lawsuits. If you are successful, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries you sustained. This compensation may include damages for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. Contact our Maine personal injury law firm at 1-800-804-2004 to schedule your free initial consultation.