Texas Industrial Equipment Injury Lawyer: Who Is Responsible When Machinery Fails?

Industrial workers depend on working machinery to complete their jobs safely every day. Defective machinery can disrupt this process and lead to Texas workplace injuries. Injured workers may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim and sue a manufacturer for damages. A local personal injury lawyer can help workplace accident victims understand their legal options.

Texas work injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw help clients with work injury claims, ensuring they manage insurance claims and potential lawsuits effectively. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online to schedule a free case review. Someone is available to speak with you 24/7, and you owe no money unless we win.

Multiple manufacturers may contribute to a complete industrial machine, and each entity may have strict liability for the components it creates. Product liability laws make manufacturers responsible for defects even if they weren’t negligent in their production. A Texas industrial accident lawyer can hold companies like Caterpillar or General Motors liable for product defects even if the defect was a random flaw outside of the control of the company.

Sellers are generally not liable for machinery defects unless they helped to design a machine or modified the product in some way. They may also be liable if they misrepresented a product's use or knew about a design defect. An industrial injury attorney must prove that the seller’s actions contributed to the cause of the accident to successfully claim damages.

Employers can also be responsible for failed machinery if they neglect to maintain equipment or know about an equipment hazard and fail to address it. A workplace injury lawyer in Texas can help you sue an employer for negligent use of equipment if they don’t subscribe to workers’ compensation insurance. They can also help surviving family members of a worker sue employers who carry insurance if their actions were grossly negligent and resulted in a workplace fatality.

Determining whether to file a lawsuit against an employer or a manufacturer depends on your lawyer establishing causation. Even in strict liability cases, where proving negligence is not necessary, the defendant’s defective product must have caused the injuries. In a manufacturer’s case, their role in product creation may establish liability for product defects. In an employer’s case, an attorney shows causation by proving their role in using and maintaining the equipment.

The Texas Workers’ Compensation Act limits a worker’s ability to sue employers and offers insurance coverage as an “exclusive remedy” for workplace injuries. A lawyer can help you file a claim or dispute benefits, but your compensation may only include those benefits. In defective machinery cases, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit against a product manufacturer.

A defective machinery lawyer may recommend an insurance claim and a lawsuit to help you receive broader compensation for your losses. In a workers’ compensation claim, benefits typically include:

• Income
• Medical
• Burial
• Death

However, personal injury cases provide the opportunity for noneconomic compensation for damages like pain and suffering or emotional anguish. Read our law firm’s client reviews to discover how the legal team at Carabin Shaw helps clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Contact our law firm as soon as possible after a workplace accident involving failed machinery to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. The top Texas machinery accident attorneys from Carabin Shaw will help you examine your legal options, negotiate with insurance companies, and manage the legal steps required to receive fair compensation for your injuries from the correct liable party.

Hiring an attorney does not cause you financial harm. In fact, you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our English- and Spanish-speaking staff is ready to take your call.

For more information:

• Cornell Law School
• Texas Statutes 82
• Texas Statutes 408