If you’ve ever used a pressure washer, you know that they pack a powerful punch. Pressure washers use a highly pressurized stream of water to wash heavy dirt off of driveways, boats, cars, and other exteriors. The stream of water exits a pressure washer with a force of 1,500 – 4,000 pounds per square inch. That amount of pressure can be incredibly effective when cleaning, and incredibly dangerous when applied to the human body. If you have been injured by a pressure washer, it’s important to seek medical attention. Although people assume that any wound inflicted by water will be clean, the opposite is actually true. Pressure washers have the force to instantly lacerate skin upon contact. The pressure washer then injects all tissues surrounding the wound with water and any bacteria that it contains. This can result in serious infections and even amputation and disability if left untreated.
Avoiding Pressure Washer Injuries
Be sure to read all accompanying instructions before operating a pressure washer. Although it may seem like just another appliance, it can have serious and painful consequences if not used correctly. If a pressure washer isn’t accompanied by sufficient warnings and instructions then the manufacturer can be liable for any harm that is caused as a result. However, if the pressure washer has adequate warnings and instructions that you failed to read, your options for legal recourse will be far more limited. It’s important to treat the pressure washer like it’s a serious piece of equipment, and never use it to roughhouse or use it to play practical jokes. If someone else sprayed you with a pressure washer as a joke and you sustained injuries as a result, you can likely hold them liable for negligently and recklessly using the machine. It’s also critical that you never use a pressure washer while barefoot or wearing flip-flops. It’s easy to put the sprayer down without thinking and seriously lacerate your foot. If you were injured as a result of a faulty design or manufacturing error, a lawyer can help you bring a product liability lawsuit to recover for the harm suffered.
Pressure Washing Injuries at Work
If you are injured by a pressure washer at work, how you should proceed depends on your employee classification. If you are classified as an employee, you will likely have to move forward by filing a workers’ compensation claim. A lawyer can help you to navigate this process by ensuring that your claim is accepted and that you get the maximum amount of benefits that you are entitled to. If you are an independent contractor, you do not qualify for workers’ compensation coverage, however, you are also not limited in your ability to sue your employer. In the event that your employer’s negligence or recklessness resulted in your harm, you can hold them accountable by bringing a personal injury lawsuit.
Talk to a Pennsylvania Personal injury Attorney
If you have been injured as a result of a pressure washer, whether it was due to a design defect or another’s negligence, the experienced personal injury attorneys at O’Donnell Law Offices can help. Schedule a free initial consultation with the personal injury attorneys at the O’Donnell Law Offices serving clients in Kingston, Wilkes Barre, Hazleton and Pittston at 570-821-5717 or online today. There is no fee or costs until we win your case.
Resource:
cdc.gov/disasters/pressurewashersafety.html