Drill Press Accident Attorney

Drill presses are common and popular tools that have numerous applications in construction work and home improvement. They can be extremely dangerous when used improperly or when defective parts or design causes them to fail during use resulting in serious drill press injuries.

The personal injury attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC can help you recover fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and out of pocket expenses.

If you were injured due to a defect in the drill press you were using at the time of an accident, we could bring personal injury cases for construction workers with drill press injuries.

If you were injured while using a drill press at work, we can also assist you with filing a workers' compensation claim. Give us a phone call or use our contact form today for a free consultation with one of our Chicago, IL construction accident lawyers.

The accident attorneys of our law offices can speak with you, a loved one, or family member about your life-threatening incident, medical bills, and sensitive information. We offer legal representation in many states. Speak to an individual member of our law firm today about a personal injury case and a financial award!

Defects and Design Flaws Found in a Drill Press Resulting in a Cutting Accident

There are a number of safety features that must be included in the design of a modern drill press machine that include the presence of a safety guard, kickback dog, and saw stop device.

While the design of the saw may include these features, it is possible for them to fail during use, which could result in a severe injury or death. Some common defects we have noticed include the following.

• Defective safety guard— the safety guard is designed to keep the saw from contacting the operator’s hand during use. If the guard fails and the operator’s hand slips, it can result in the loss of fingers or the victim’s hand.
• Kickback dog failure— the kickback dog is meant to keep material that has been cut from being propelled back in the direction of the person using the saw. When the device fails, the objects being cut can become high-speed projectiles and cause injuries to the face, head, or brain.
• Defective blade— if the saw blade does not perform its intended function, it can fracture and send debris flying into the operator’s face or body. Others in the area around the saw may also be hurt by flying pieces of metal if they are in the path of the objects when the blade fails.
• Device alterations— a boss may alter a drill press after purchase in order to make it more efficient for its intended use. (Examples would include removing the safety guard or base plate) Such alteration may compromise the safety, however, putting an employee at risk of injury.

Construction workers should call for a free consultation after incidents with drill presses. We can review the serious injury or multiple drill press injuries.

Often times, injury occurs to construction workers due to defective drill press, faulty safety guards, wrong drill holes, caught long hair or right or left thumb, if they don't wear gloves, etc. Other workers can harm construction workers too if they do not use the drill press right.

Types of Drill Press Injuries Experienced Due to Drill Press Defects

The most commonly associated injury linked to drill press incidents is the loss of fingers or a hand, but there are a number of injuries that may result from the saw’s failure or poor design of the power tool. These can include the following.

• Crushed limbs or digits— it is possible for the drill press to crush the operator’s hand or fingers when it fails rather than removing the affected body parts.
• Injuries to the eyes— if the safety guard or kickback dog fails, projectiles can cause injury to the eyes. In some cases, the worker may be blinded.
• Facial injuries— blade fractures, explosions, projectiles, and other failures can send materials into the victim’s face. This may result in permanent scars, disfigurement, and blunt force trauma.
• Traumatic brain injuries— when objects strike the head at a high velocity, it is possible for the victim to experience an injury to the brain even if he or she does not notice any symptoms immediately. Microtears inside of the brain can cause swelling over time that may lead to permanent brain damage.
• Death— When a person suffers fatal injuries in a cutting accident with a power tool, the family may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible parties.

When construction workers are using a drill press, sudden entanglement with the machine quickly can occur due to the drilling moving parts. OSHA provides equipment machine standards to protect workers using a drill press. Secure your hair, glove, finger, right and left hand, drill press hole, loose machine parts, and more so nothing is caught to cause an injury.

These steps and more will protect the health of a worker as OSHA intended.

Determining Who Is at Fault for Your Accident Is the First Step Toward Recovering Compensation

There are a number of parties (defendants) that can be held liable for a drill press design flaw or defect, from the manufacturer to the store where it was purchased or an employer or general contractor who altered or maintained the equipment.

In many cases, multiple parties can be held accountable for their contributions to the defect, which is why it is important to review your case with an expert construction site accident lawyer before deciding who to pursue a claim against.

Drill press risk of injury can be minimized. You can wear gloves while wearing a drill press machine or similar equipment. While operating a drill press machine, workers should watch every finger, glove, hair, arm, and the general speed during the task.

The point of the drill press operation for workers is accuracy and lowering the risk of accidents during the drill press operation.

Every drill press machine and similar equipment can be used by workers safely. Your finger, hair, clothing, arm, or something else shouldn't get caught and cause you injury.

Sample Verdicts & Settlements Related to Drill Presses and Accidents

The following case summaries highlight the damages and relief available after drill press accidents and resulting drill press injuries.

$1,800,000 Settlement; Cook County, Illinois

In this concrete saw accident, a construction worker in his early forties was leaving the construction site when the drill press disengaged and cut into his harm. The incident left him with lacerations, ulnar nerve tearing, long-term nerve failure, and hand clawing.

He needed tens of thousands of dollars in medical care and was projected to lose over $1 million in lost wages due to his new disability. He sued the concrete saw manufacturer, Husqvarna, as well as the construction companies.

He recovered $1.8 million from them, and $850,000 of that was from the saw maker.

$304,500 Settlement; Cook County, Illinois

The plaintiff in this saw accident lawsuit sued the maker, Stow Manufacturing, after he sustained carbon monoxide poisoning while operating the drill press machine in a confined space.

He argued the company should have supplied better instructions and warnings about this risk. He also sued the saw rental company, insurance company, and engine manufacturer.

Some of these defendants pressed various theories in their defense but the case eventually settled for $304,500.

$1,150,000 Settlement; New York City, New York

Here, a construction worker in his middle forties suffered violent injuries when the saw he was operating kicked back and cut forward into his face. He experienced nerve damage, lacerations, PTSD, jaw discomfort, and possibly TMJ disorder.

This accident apparently happened because his employer ignored manufacturer warnings and improperly modified the device. Also, they instructed the plaintiff to cut into materials that the saw should not cut into. He got caught in the wrong situation. These accidents arise often this way.

He brought this action under the law against the construction site company, the local municipality, and the nearby construction authority. He was able to recover a combined $1.15 million sum. This was for his legal damages including pain, suffering, lost wages, scarring, and disability.

$350,000 Settlement; Brooklyn, New York

This plaintiff in this action was a 47-year-old construction worker. He was operating a concrete drill saw on a bridge when hit struck a metal bar. The object kicked back and flew right into his stomach causing him immense, immediate pain.

The drill caught him in the wrong spot. Unfortunately, these kinds of drill accidents are increasingly more common.

He was sidelined from work for 12 weeks during his rehabilitation. The man sued the construction company and general contractor for failing to install a guide along the bottom of the saw. He claimed that allowed the bar to fly back and hit him. He sought recovery under the law.

All sides settle out of court for a reported $350,000.

Personal Injury Lawyers With Experience in Saw and Construction Accident Injury Cases

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC has extensive experience handling worker’s compensation claims, personal injury, and product liability claims. We have helped thousands of people recover the damages they needed to put their lives back together after a devastating injury.

If you have been harmed while operating a drill press machine and believe that a defect or flaw in the saw’s design is to blame, contact us today to arrange a free case review. A committed attorney-client relationship with our firm may help you move on from this incident.

Our team workers with workers that have been harmed in drill press accidents. We show workers how to access recovery under the law if you are caught or cut by a drill press.

Further Drill Bit and Drill Press Resources for General Information Purposes

• Engineering Controls for Silica in Construction
• Worker Cuts Own Throat in Concrete Saw Incident

Learn about your rights under the law after these accidents.