Product Liability Attorneys in Sacramento

Were You Injured by a Defective Lawnmower?

It's no secret that lawnmowers can be dangerous machines that can cause devastating injuries to unsuspecting victims, including young children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 15 children are killed every year due to lawnmower accidents. Additionally, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 9,282 people killed or hospitalized in 2010 as a result of lawnmower-related injuries.

At Piering Law Firm, our Sacramento product liability attorneys understand the kind of harm a defective product can cause. With an item like a lawnmower—where sharp, powered blades are involved—the risk of serious injury is especially high. Unfortunately, people often take for granted that their lawnmower is going to work as it should. Sometimes, a design or manufacturing defect can make an item impossible to use safely, even when the utmost care is taken.

If you or a loved one has suffered from an injury related to a defective lawnmower, call our office immediately at (916) 476-2399 to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Common Lawnmower Defects

When working properly, lawnmowers are dangerous devices due to their immense weight and sharp blades. A defective lawnmower can be downright deadly. Defects may occur because of a problem with the design, a mistake made during manufacturing, or an adverse condition that affects how the device works, such as improper storage or extreme temperatures.

Lawnmower defects that have been known to cause accidents include:

• Defective blades
• Defective fuel system
• Flimsy components that break easily
• Improper or insufficient instructions
• Improper or insufficient warning labels
• Rollovers (riding lawnmowers that overturn easily)

Recalls of Dangerous Lawnmowers

In 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Commission provided notice that the Black+Decker cordless electric lawnmowers were subject to a recall. Reports indicated that the mowers would start unexpectedly even after removal of the safety key. There had been 34 incidents of unexpected start-ups and two of those incidents included injuries to the consumer. Over 160,000 lawnmowers had been recalled as a result of this defect.

California law covering product liability holds that both the manufacturer and the sellers of defective products are strictly liable for injuries caused by defective products. A product is deemed defective if it fails to meet ordinary consumer expectations as to safety. To see a comprehensive list of lawnmower recalls nationwide, visit the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) recalls page.

Call our firm at (916) 476-2399 to speak with an attorney about your case.