Not Only are Snow Blowers Removing Snow, Defective Snow Blowers are Also Removing Fingers, Causing Amputations, and Even Death

I guess I do not have to tell you that we have been experiencing larger snowstorms lately. Even areas that do not usually get large snowfalls like, Washington DC, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and the New Jersey Shore or Coastline are experiencing larger than normal snowfalls. Because of the increase in snow storms, many home owners and business owners are buying snow blowers to help remove the snow. As you and I know, the back can only take so many manual snow shoveling episodes. Obviously, snow blowers can make snow removal easier, but defective snow blowers can also cause lacerations or deep cuts, nerve injuries, amputations, catastrophic injuries, and even death.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), estimates that over 5,700 patients each year are evaluated in hospital emergency rooms or emergency clinics for snow blower related accidents or injuries. Over 600 patients per year are treated for finger amputations and since 1992, it is documented that 19 people that we know of have died as a result of snow blower accidents. Injuries from snow blowers are caused by defects in the plastic rims of the tire, carburetor leaks, fuel tank joint and O-ring leaks, auger and discharge chute defects, clutch malfunctions, absent safety shields, and carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, even if a snow blower’s engine is turned off, there still may be enough torque built up to cause a life altering injury or even death.

On February 17, 2011 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada recalled Sno-Tek Snow Blowers due to a laceration hazard. The blower’s engine does not have a safety shield in place above the electric starter that would protect the consumer’s fingers from lacerations or potential amputations. There have been approximately 1,500 of these machines sold to people just like you in the United States and 300 units in Canada. They are manufactured by Ariens of Brillion Wisconsin and Imported by Liquid Combustion Technology, LLC (LCT), of Travelers Rest, South Carolina. The engine of the Sno-Tek is manufactured in China. Many of these defective snow blowers have been sold at Home Depot and authorized Ariens dealers nationwide and in Canada.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic injury, laceration, nerve injury, amputation, eye injury, or any other devastating injury while using a snow blower, the Beasley Firm Philadelphia product liability lawyers are here to help you. The attorneys on our specialized snow blower teams are also owners and operators of snow blowers and are well aware of the many safety issues. We will help you obtain compensation for the thousands of dollars in medical expenses you have been forced to pay, the income you have lost from not being able to work and the severe pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the careless behavior of the company who defectively designed or manufactured your snow blower. We believe that these manufacturers should be held accountable for taking their customers’ money while failing to take the time to provide them with a safe product and failing to protect them from amputations, nerve injuries, eye injuries or even death.

Since 1958, the legendary Philadelphia product liability and wrongful death lawyers of The Beasley Firm have been awarded in excess of $2 billion dollars and have sustained hundreds of verdicts, settlements, and awards in excess of $1 million dollars. Our record of success speaks for itself. If you or a loved one has been wrongfully injured or killed due to a snow blower, please contact one of our experienced product liability and personal injury lawyers. As always, we offer a zero fee guarantee which means that if we don’t make a recovery on your behalf, you don’t owe us any money. We always offer a free, no obligation, consultation.