Google Screened
Client Awarded $1.35 Million after Press Machine Injury
Richard Jurewicz, a senior partner at Galfand Berger, recently secured a $1.35 million settlement for our client, who lost his left ring, middle and index fingers after they were pulled into a press machine at his workplace.
Case Summary
Our client was a temporary employee at defendant’s manufacturing facility. On the day that the accident occurred, our client was still within his “training” period. He was loading a press machine when the press caught his gloved left hand in its automatic push mechanism. As a result, the machine pulled our client’s fingers into the press and crushed them with more than 700 pounds of pressure.
Because the press mechanism did not reopen on its own, our client’s co-workers had to take the press apart in order to remove our client’s hand from the press. Our client’s hand was stuck in the machine for approximately 30 minutes before his co-workers could free it. As a result, our client lost three fingers because of the severity of his injuries.
Although the employer claimed our client was at fault for his severe injuries, Attorney Jurewicz argued that the employer had outfitted other machines in the facility with complete barrier guarding. However, the press machine that our client was operating had no upgraded guarding features. Had the employer configured the press machine with access doors and other control features that prevented bypassing guarding, our client’s injuries would have been avoided.
Mr. Jurewicz sued the employer’s parent company because in its employment contract with our client’s temporary work agency, it agreed to provide all laborers at the plant with a safe place to work. Mr. Jurewicz claimed that the press our client was learning to operate was not in a safe condition because the machine’s guard was inadequate: someone’s fingers were still able to get into the point–of-operation area and that it was the responsibility of the parent company defendant to have detected and corrected the guarding inadequacy on the press before the employer allowed our client to work on the machine. They did not do so.
Damages
Attorney Jurewicz alleged that our client not only had s past wage losses and medical expenses resulting from his injuries, but also that the injury compromised his ability to work in the future because of his injuries. Our client had accrued nearly $200,000 in medical expenses for treatment of his injuries.
Outcome
Mr. Jurewicz’s handling of the case resulted in a settlement of $1.35 million dollars for our client. Based on our information, this recovery is one of the largest hand-injury recoveries in Central Pennsylvania.
Galfand Berger Senior Partner Richard Jurewicz represents individuals injured by dangerous or defective products, as well as those who have been involved in construction site and train accidents. If you would like to speak with Attorney Jurewicz or one of his team members, please contact a representative at our firm who can help direct your call.
Philadelphia Products Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP Pursue Recoveries for Victims of Dangerous Products
If you have any legal questions about injuries you sustained because of a defective product, please contact our Philadelphia products liability attorneys. With offices located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Reading and Lancaster, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule a consultation, call us at 800-222-8792 or complete our online contact form.