Defective consumer products are all too often a concern for those living in Passaic County. Recently, a New Jersey man who had been working on a Geo-Thermal heating project for his home was killed in his own backyard after becoming entangled with a possibly defective power tool: specifically, a welling drill. Several 911 calls came in reporting the construction accident on Midway Court.
Responding units included the police and fire department. Upon arrival, they discovered the man entangled with the welling drill. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation into the accident by the Rockaway Township Police, the Morris County Prosecutors Office and the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that there was no foul play. It was also reported that the man had been working alone with the machinery in his backyard when the accident occurred.
The man’s death has been deemed an unfortunate and tragic accident, and the police department notified the victim’s family. While the family grieves for the loss of their loved one, they will likely want to know the circumstances surrounding the accident. If the well drilling machine was indeed a defective product, there will likely be product liability involved. Defective power tools kill many people each year, and if the machine that the man was using happened to be faulty, the family may be able to seek financial compensation from the company that made the product.
Anyone in Woodland Park or elsewhere who has lost a family member in a similar manner may benefit from seeking legal counsel to determine if a claim against the company that manufactured the product is in order. Knowing one’s legal rights as a consumer is an important first step to seeking damages from any parties that may have been responsible for the accident. While nothing can bring back a lost loved one, securing due compensation can offer some sense of solace to family members, as well as serve as an important warning to others using the same equipment.
Source: northjersey.com, “Heavy machinery kills resident,” Dec. 8, 2011
