When Heavy Machinery Fails: Understanding the Risks and Your Rights

Cranes, bulldozers, excavators, and other heavy machinery are essential tools on construction sites, industrial sites, and large-scale infrastructure projects. When these powerful machines malfunction, the consequences can be devastating. Workers and bystanders may suffer horrible injuries or lose their lives, all due to faulty design, insufficient safety features, or even manufacturing defects. When that happens, victims deserve justice. 

At Morgan & Morgan, we understand the immense damage that defective heavy machinery can cause. As America’s largest personal injury law firm, we’ve spent decades standing up to powerful manufacturers, fighting For The People, not the powerful. You may be entitled to significant compensation if you or a loved one has been injured due to a machinery failure.

The Dangers of Heavy Machinery

Even under ideal conditions, these heavy machines are inherently dangerous. They weigh tons, operate under high pressure, and often function in high-risk environments. Workers depend on proper design and regular maintenance to ensure safety. Unfortunately, equipment is frequently rushed to market without adequate testing, manufactured with subpar materials, or sold without appropriate safety instructions.

Common examples of dangerous equipment include:

• Cranes: Tower and mobile cranes can tip over, collapse, or drop heavy loads if not properly engineered or maintained.
• Bulldozers: These machines can malfunction due to brake failure, visibility issues, or steering problems.
• Excavators: Faulty hydraulics, defective attachments, or electrical issues can cause unexpected movements or loss of control.

In many cases involving heavy machinery, accidents aren’t just “workplace accidents” but are preventable tragedies caused by negligence. 

Causes of Heavy Machinery Failure

While user error may result in some accidents, many machinery accidents stem from underlying defects. These include:

• Design defects: The machinery may be inherently unsafe due to a flaw in its original design.
• Manufacturing defects: Errors in the production process, such as using cheap materials or skipping critical assembly steps, can make the equipment unreliable.
• Lack of safety features: Some machines are released without proper guards, emergency shut-offs, or warning systems.
• Inadequate instructions or warnings: If the manufacturer fails to provide sufficient guidelines for safe operation, users may unknowingly put themselves at risk.

When any of these issues occur, the distributor, manufacturer, or another party may be responsible and held liable for the resulting injuries or death.

Injuries Associated with Machinery Malfunctions

Heavy equipment-related injuries are often severe, life-altering, and may even result in death. Victims may suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Crush injuries
• Amputations
• Burns
• Internal organ damage
• Wrongful death

Recovery can require years of medical treatment, physical therapy, and emotional rehabilitation. Victims may be unable to return to work, care for their families, or live the life they once knew. That’s why holding negligent parties accountable is so critical.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Defective Machinery?

One of the most critical steps in any heavy machinery injury case is determining who is responsible. With large, complex equipment like cranes, bulldozers, and excavators, multiple parties may share liability when something goes wrong.

Depending on the facts of your accident, you and your attorney may pursue legal action against one or more of the following:

• Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers: If a defect originated during the design or production of the equipment or if faulty machinery was introduced into the marketplace without adequate warnings, the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer may be held accountable.
• Component makers: In some cases, a faulty component can substantially contribute to the injury. If a specific part is found to be the source of the problem, the manufacturer or distributor of that part may be legally responsible.
• Rental and maintenance providers: Even if the original manufacturer has gone out of business, liability doesn’t necessarily disappear. Under the Product Line Exception theory, a new company that continues to produce or support the same product line may still be held liable for defects tied to earlier models.
• Successor companies: If the machinery was leased, sold as used, or maintained by a third party, those service providers could be liable, especially if improper upkeep, lack of inspections, or faulty repairs contributed to the accident.

Legal Options for Victims

You have legal rights if you’ve been injured by a defective crane, bulldozer, excavator, or another piece of heavy machinery. A product liability claim may be filed against one or more parties involved in the machine’s design, manufacture, or distribution. Sometimes, you may also have a claim against a contractor, employer, or maintenance provider.

These claims can help you recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disability and disfigurement
• Wrongful death (in fatal cases)

To succeed in a product liability case, you’ll need to prove that the machinery was defective and that the defect directly caused your injury. That’s where experienced legal representation becomes essential.

Why Choose Morgan & Morgan?

At Morgan & Morgan, we don’t back down from big manufacturers or insurance companies. We have a proven track record of winning complex product liability cases, including those involving industrial and construction equipment. Our attorneys work with engineers, accident reconstruction experts, and medical professionals to build strong cases that stand up in court.

We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win. Our goal is simple: to help you get the maximum compensation possible so you can move forward with your life.

Take the First Step Towards Justice

If a defective heavy machine has injured you or a loved one, you don’t have to face this alone. Morgan & Morgan is ready to fight for you. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and guide you every step of the way.