Practice Areas Products Liability Machinery and Equipment

Machinery and Equipment Defects

Moving parts in machinery should have sufficient guarding to prevent serious injury. Yet, nationwide, approximately 58% of work-related amputations of fingers, hands, or limbs are due to machinery with inadequate safeguards, often the direct result of being placed into the market without proper safety protection. Depending on the machine, it may require fixed or interlocked guards.

The technology to prevent injuries from unguarded moving parts has existed since the 1920s. However, some manufacturers, designers, and suppliers still place machines into the marketplace without adequate guarding or effective safety systems, creating an unreasonable and preventable risk for workers. When those defective machines cause harm, those who are injured have the right to sue the manufacturer, distributor, or others responsible.

At Galfand Berger LLP, our Philadelphia products liability lawyers hold manufacturers and suppliers accountable when unsafe products cause life-altering harm, and fight for the full compensation our clients face after a catastrophic workplace injury.

What Are Machinery or Equipment Defects?

Machinery or equipment defects refer to problems with the machine itself that make it unsafe during normal use. Most machinery and equipment defects fall into four main categories:

• Design Defects: Equipment or a machine was dangerous as a result of its design or engineering, even if built exactly as intended. Design defects can include unsafe layouts, exposed moving parts, poor access points, unstable platforms, or control systems that place workers in hazardous positions.
• Manufacturing Defects: Machines or components were made or assembled incorrectly, including missing or improperly installed parts, faulty wiring, defective hydraulic systems, or structural components that fail because of errors during production.
• Warnings and Instructions Defects: Manufacturer failed to provide clear, accurate, or adequate safety warnings or operating instructions, leaving workers unaware of known risks, dangerous operating conditions, or proper safety procedures.
• Safety Device Failures: Built-in safety features did not work as intended or were improperly designed. This can include defective guards, malfunctioning sensors, failed interlocks, or emergency stop systems that do not operate when needed.

Defects can involve many types of workplace machinery and equipment, including hand-held power tools, large stationary industrial machines, automated or computer-controlled production equipment, powered industrial vehicles, lifting and access equipment, and material-handling systems. 

In Philadelphia job sites and facilities, this often means everything from portable tools used in daily maintenance and construction work, to fixed manufacturing and processing machines, to vehicles and equipment used to move, lift, stack, load, or position materials in warehouses, factories, and industrial operations.

These types of equipment are commonly used at warehouse and logistics facilities along I-95, in port-related operations near the Navy Yard and Packer Avenue terminals, and at manufacturing sites throughout North and Northeast Philadelphia.

Where Do Defective Machinery Injuries Commonly Occur in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia has a long-standing industrial history, with clusters of warehouses, port operations, and manufacturing sites throughout North and South Philly, including areas near the Navy Yard, the Port of Philadelphia, and industrial zones along Columbus Boulevard and Delaware Avenue. In many of these, employees work with potentially dangerous equipment every day to perform routine tasks quickly and efficiently. Some of the most common include:

• Manufacturing facilities and assembly plants in industrial zones throughout the city.
• Warehouses and distribution centers located along major transportation routes such as I-95, I-76, and Route 476.
• Construction sites in areas under development, redevelopment, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Food processing and packaging facilities, cold-storage operations, and industrial kitchens.
• Equipment repair shops, fabrication shops, and heavy equipment service facilities.
• Maintenance and public works operations for municipal, transportation, and utility departments.

Despite safety protocols, machinery defects put workers at risk of catastrophic injuries, including amputations, crush injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, deep lacerations, and serious electrical or thermal burns. For many, the impact often involves surgery, long-term rehabilitation, time away from work, permanent physical limitations, and significant financial and emotional strain.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for Defective Machinery or Equipment?

Products liability law allows you to seek compensation from parties anywhere in the chain that brought the defective product to market, including:

• Designers or engineers responsible for defective design.
• Manufacturers of the machine or critical parts.
• Distributors or wholesalers who failed to ensure safety.
• Retailers or suppliers who sold the unsafe product.
• Maintenance or repair firms that improperly serviced equipment.
• Entities that modified safety guards or warnings.

Anyone who supplied the product or caused the defect that led to your injury can be held accountable.

Do I Need a Lawyer for Defective Machinery or Equipment Accidents?

If you were injured by defective machinery or equipment, consulting an experienced lawyer early helps to protect your rights and secure critical evidence for claims that may ultimately be filed in Philadelphia County courts or federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Beyond just Philadelphia, our product liability attorneys represent victims of defective products in Central Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania, and throughout New Jersey. At Galfand Berger LLP, our Philadelphia product liability lawyers can and frequently do:

• Preserve the machine or equipment before it is repaired or discarded.
• Obtain maintenance records, inspection reports, and internal safety documentation.
• Identify the manufacturers, suppliers, and companies involved in the equipment’s design, production, and distribution.
• Locate and interview witnesses who observed the incident or the condition of the machine.
• Document the full medical impact of your injuries.
• Determine whether any prior incidents, recalls, or known defects exist.
• Coordinate a third-party product liability case in conjunction with a Workers’ Compensation claim.
• Build a case clearly demonstrating how the defect caused your injuries
• Handle communications and negotiations with insurers.
• Represent you at trial if settlement negotiations fail.

Frequently Asked Defective Machinery and Equipment Questions

1. What is the difference between a product liability claim and Workers’ Compensation in Pennsylvania? Workers’ Compensation provides benefits for medical coverage and partial lost wages, regardless of fault, but not pain and suffering. A products liability claim allows you to pursue additional damages from companies beyond your employer.
2. What if the machine was old, used, or refurbished? Age does not automatically eliminate a defect claim. If the machine was defectively designed or assembled, or lacked proper warnings or guards, you still may have a case. 
3. What should I do if defective equipment injures me? Report the accident to your employer immediately, document the scene and the equipment, get witness information, and seek prompt medical care. Consult a Philadelphia products liability lawyer as soon as possible.
4. What compensation can I seek after a defective equipment injury? You may be entitled to medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term or permanent impairments through a products liability claim. 
5. How long do I have to file a products liability claim? In Pennsylvania, you have two years from the accident date to file a product liability claim for your injuries and losses.
6. How much does it cost to hire a Philadelphia products liability lawyer? At Galfand Berger LLP, with our “No Fee Guarantee,” you pay no fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Philadelphia Products Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Fight for Workers Injured by Defective Machinery and Equipment

Defective machinery and equipment can cause unsuspecting workers devastating or life-altering injuries. If you were injured by defective equipment at work, you may have a third-party claim separate from Workers’ Compensation. Schedule a free consultation with the experienced Philadelphia products liability lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP today to discuss your case. Call 800-222-USWA (8792) or contact us online. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.