We are now in the middle of spring and summer is fast approaching. For many people, the warmer weather inspires them to get out in the garden. At the very least, anyone with a garden needs to carry out routine maintenance.
The most efficient way to do this is by using a state-of-the-art lawn mower. But what if your new lawn mower turns out not to be state-of-the-art?
It may come as a surprise, but defective lawnmowers cause thousands of injuries every year and even some fatalities. Outlined below are some common examples of how these incidents occur.
Safety switches
All lawn mower devices should be fitted with safety switches. These come in numerous forms, but one of the most common types of safety switch is a strap that attaches to the user’s body. For ride-on lawnmowers, this is helpful because if the user falls off the machine, the power to the mower will cut off instantly.
Push lawnmowers also use different types of safety switches. One of the most common types includes a safety button that must first be held in before the power comes on. Once the power has come on, the user has to hold a lever or button in while mowing. If that button is released at all, the engine should cut off immediately. Defects with these safety switches can result in the power staying on when the user is in a compromised position, with the end result potentially being very serious injuries from the mower blades.
Advanced warnings are crucial
While the components of mowers are pivotal to safety, so too are instruction manuals and warning labels. A user cannot instantly know how to operate devices without first having adequate instructions. The user also cannot recognize various safety devices without first being informed about them. A lack of warning labels and safety instructions can be just as dangerous as defective parts.
A lawn mower accident may come as a nasty surprise, especially if it was faulty or did not contain adequate warning labels and instructions. If you have been injured this way, then there may be legal options available to you to pursue financial compensation.
