A Best Buy worker has been awarded $1.2 million in a products liability lawsuit following a serious fall at work at a Bloomingdale, Illinois store in 2008.
According to court documents, Best Buy employee Christopher Connors was retrieving a television from an elevated storage area when he slipped and fell from the platform. Connors was wearing a safety belt around his waist which had been supplied by Big Joe Manufacturing Company. Though Connors was wearing the belt, it was loose and slipped over his head when he fell from the platform. Then 29 years old, Connors suffered severe spine and back injuries which prevented him from returning to work and resulted in Connors needing to undergo corrective surgery for his injuries.
The lawsuit alleged that Big Joe Manufacturing Company was negligent in that it failed to mandate the use of a full body harness as a fall protection system and that the company did not provide Best Buy with adequate instructions or warnings about the product.
In a statement made by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Edward G. Willer, Willer said “”Had the defendant provided a full body harness as it was required to do if sold in Canada, it is unlikely Mr. Connors would have suffered this type of injury.”
Workers’ Compensation & Products Liability Lawsuits
The above mentioned case illustrates just how complex personal injury cases can be. Not only was Mr. Connors injured at his workplace Best Buy, which justifiably could be held responsible for Mr. Connor getting hurt, but the plaintiff was injured because of a faulty product he was using to do his job.
When a worker becomes injured at work, inevitably serious questions arise including:
– Who is responsible for paying my medical bills?
– How can I collect any lost wages and who is responsible for paying those?
– What happens if I cannot return to work after my benefits have expired?
– Is there a third-party responsible for my injuries?
– Can I collect compensation for emotional suffering?
When the question of a third-party, such as a products manufacturer, comes into play, it is generally in the best interest of the plaintiff to explore whether he or she may be eligible for filing a products liability lawsuit, in addition to a workers’ compensation claim. Under federal law, product manufacturers are supposed to guarantee that their products are safe for consumption and use by consumers. Failing to ensure this, puts the company at fault should a consumer be injured as a result of their negligence.
At the law offices of Altman & Altman, our team of seasoned attorneys has more than five decades of experience handling all types of personal injury as well as workers’ compensation cases. At our firm, we pride ourselves on delivering our clients the highest quality legal counsel in the Commonwealth, and we have the knowledge and resources to help connect you with the best medical professionals available, and settle your claim in a timely manner while also helping you achieve the financial compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one was recently injured at work, or were injured because of a faulty product, do not hesitate to contact one of our esteemed attorneys today to discuss your options. Our team is available around the clock to answer any and all questions about your case, and all initial consultations are completely confidential and free of charge.
Original article from National Trial Lawyers