Each year in the United States, there are between 35,000 and 40,000 serious injuries caused by table saws. Common injuries associated with table saw accidents include severe lacerations, amputations of fingers, and bone fractures. Despite the high number of accidents linked to table saws, few safety measures have been put in place to protect consumers and their families.
Free Table Saw Accident & Injury Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been injured by a table saw, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer of the table saw and we can help.
What’s the problem?
Construction sites are commonly ranked among the most dangerous workplace environments in all of the United States. Each year, more than 10% of all construction workers suffer an injury that results in permanent disability or substantial lost time from work. One of the main causes of injuries to construction workers are power tools used on building sites, the most dangerous of which is the table saw.
Table saws are designed to be used on level ground, with a safety guard covering the moving blade. However, the ground on a typical construction site is rarely if ever perfectly level, and many table saws are operated without the safety guard properly in place.
In most cases, table saw accidents occur when the wood ‘kicks back’ at the operator. This sudden movement causes the worker’s hands to jolt forward toward the spinning saw blade, resulting in a severe cut, laceration, or, in the worst cases, amputation of the fingers or hands. Manufacturers of table saws include:
- Sears
- Ryobi
- Makita
- Kwikset
- DeWalt
- Bosch
- Skil
- Delta
- Grizzly
- Craftsman
Table Saw Injuries
The most common table saw injuries include:
- lacerations (affect approximately two out of three victims)
- amputation of the fingers or hands
- severe cuts / gouges
- bone fractures
- injuries to the head, neck, eyes, legs, upper arms, and chest
See more: Product Liability Cases
Preventing Table Saw Injuries
More than a decade ago, new safety technology called SawStop was developed that has the ability to stop a saw blade instantly once skin contact is detected. While SawStop technology is widely available, few table saw manufacturers have chosen to implement it. In 2003, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was petitioned to require SawStop devices to be included on all table saws on the market. Although the agency has not made a final ruling on the matter, they have recommended that table saw manufacturers include this technology on their products.
The CPSC estimates that the cost of table saw-related injuries is about $2 billion a year. The manufacturers of these products face hundreds of lawsuits and at least 50 legal claims alleging that SawStop could have prevented their injuries. In March 2010, a jury awarded $1.5 million to a man who severed his fingers on a table saw that was not equipped with SawStop.
Unfortunately, most injury cases involving table saws will not be fully covered by workers’ compensation. Although you may not be able to pursue additional monetary damages from your employer, you may be able to seek full and fair compensation from the manufacturer of the table saw that caused your injury. This is what is referred to as a ‘third party lawsuit,’ which seeks damages against all negligent parties and their insurance providers.
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Do You Have a Table Saw Accident & Injury Lawsuit?
The Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in table saw accident & injury lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new laceration and amputation cases in all 50 states.
Free Table Saw Accident & Injury Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been injured by a table saw, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a table saw injury suit and we can help.
