Injured by Faulty Protective Gear? You May Have a Case

Protective gear is meant to keep us safe, especially in high-risk settings like hospitals, construction sites, and emergency situations. Whether it's a respirator on a healthcare worker, gloves in a lab, or personal protective equipment (PPE) worn on a job site, this equipment is trusted to form a barrier between people and harm. But the consequences can be severe when that gear is defective, poorly manufactured, or falsely labeled.

At Morgan & Morgan, we represent individuals and workers injured or made ill due to faulty or unsafe protective equipment. If your gear didn’t do its job, and you suffered as a result, we may be able to help you seek justice.

When Safety Gear Isn’t Safe

Protective equipment, especially medical-grade gear, must meet strict regulatory standards. However, during times of high demand, like the COVID-19 pandemic or disaster response efforts, substandard products flood the market, putting users at risk.

Examples of defective or dangerous gear include:

• Respirators and face masks that fail to filter airborne particles properly
• Medical gloves that tear easily or are contaminated during manufacturing
• Face shields or goggles with design flaws that limit visibility or fail to protect the eyes
• Gowns or coveralls that are improperly sealed or allow fluid penetration
• Ear protection, helmets, or hard hats that crack or detach on impact
• PPE falsely labeled as FDA- or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved, when they aren’t

Defective gear puts healthcare workers, first responders, industrial workers, and everyday people at risk of exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous chemicals, and physical injury.

What Can Go Wrong?

When protective gear fails, the outcome isn’t just inconvenient; it can be life-threatening. People count on this equipment to shield them from exposure or injury, and when it doesn’t work, they may suffer:

• Infection from bacteria or viruses, especially in hospitals or clinical settings
• Skin injuries or chemical burns, due to exposure through torn gloves or gowns
• Respiratory illnesses, from inhaling hazardous materials without proper filtration
• Hearing damage or head injuries, if hard hats or ear protection fail on-site
• Long-term occupational illnesses, caused by prolonged exposure to toxic environments

Even a single failure in a high-risk situation can have long-lasting effects on a person’s health, career, and quality of life.

Who’s Liable for Defective Protective Gear?

You may have a product liability claim if you’ve been injured or made ill because your protective equipment didn’t work as promised.

Potentially liable parties include:

• Manufacturers, for producing faulty, mislabeled, or non-compliant gear
• Importers or distributors, especially for substandard or counterfeit equipment
• Employers, if they knowingly provided or approved defective gear
• Retailers, for selling unsafe products or ignoring safety recalls

Your claim may fall under one of the following legal categories:

• Design Defect: The gear is inherently flawed and unsafe, even when used correctly.
• Manufacturing Defect: Something went wrong during production that made the product dangerous.
• Failure to Warn: The product was marketed as compliant or safe when it wasn’t.

Even if you were required to wear the gear by your employer or an agency, you still have the right to hold manufacturers accountable if that gear didn’t meet safety standards.

What to Do If Your Protective Gear Fails

If you’ve suffered an illness or injury due to faulty PPE or safety equipment, follow these steps:

• Get medical care and document your diagnosis.
• Preserve the gear, if possible—do not discard it.
• Take photos of the product, packaging, and any injuries.
• Gather documentation, including where it was purchased or who issued it.
• Contact a product liability attorney to investigate the failure and identify liability.

How Morgan & Morgan Can Help

We’ve handled major product liability cases across the country, and we’re proud to represent frontline workers, essential employees, and individuals who trusted their gear and were let down.

We may be able to help you recover:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages or reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Occupational disability
• Emotional distress
• Wrongful death (in fatal exposure or illness cases)

When Safety Equipment Endangers Lives, We Take Action

If defective protective gear puts your life or health at risk, you deserve answers and for the right people to take accountability. Let us help you fight back.

Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case evaluation. Because when safety is compromised, we suit up For The People.