A major concern with defective medical devices is that they cause injury to already compromised patients. Therefore, the injuries that occur from these accidents can often be much more severe due to the victim already being weakened from existing conditions.
This can provide another problem for victims and their families when defective medical devices cause serious injury or death. A defense many St. Louis defective products attorneys see against these claims is that the claimant was already injured and the device did not create the additional injuries they suffered from using defective medical devices.
Power Wheelchairs: Common Defective Medical Devices
Many disabled individuals rely on power wheelchairs to move about in their daily lives. These devices have allowed for more paralyzed patients to regain their independence and mobility, giving a greater quality of life. Unfortunately, with these advances in mobility equipment also come increased risk of product failure and defects.
Power wheelchairs have become so advanced in recent years that they are becoming more difficult to manufacture and maintain. The more complex a wheelchair becomes, the more components there are to be damaged, neglected or prone to failure. Even manual wheelchairs can become defective medical devices due to manufacturing or design errors.
While manual wheelchairs pose a risk of breaking down and injuring the operator, power wheelchairs have additional risks of electrocution, fire, and loss of control due to their electronic components. Some specially designed chairs also contain medical equipment such as respirators, vital sign monitors, IV controls, and speech assistance. If any of these components fail, it could be life-threatening to the operator.
St. Louis defective products attorneys see cases of defective medical devices on a regular basis. These claims are no less serious than a car accident or workplace injury, and are often made even more complicated due to the existing conditions the victim already suffered.
There are many more factors to consider when filing a dangerous product claim for power wheelchairs. St. Louis defective products attorneys are well versed in Missouri product liability law and can help you determine what your options are for filing your claim.
Hazards and Accidents from Defective Power Wheelchairs
Even basic models of power wheelchairs can become fodder for claims of defective medical devices.
Power wheelchairs can be prone to accidents involving:
- electrical shorts;
- inability to handle operator weight;
- stability issues;
- improper construction; and
- many other types of manufacturer defects.
In addition to these common hazards, many power wheelchairs are produced to meet specific medical needs. More advanced chairs can be equipped with additional medical devices such as respirators and monitors. Each additional component increases the risk of a product defect causing serious injury.
As with any mobility device, an error in the control system could cause loss of control of the wheelchair. Because the operators are generally too incapacitated to assist themselves in the event of a loss of control, the injuries sustained from this accident are often more severe.
Common Injuries Resulting From a Defective Power Wheelchair
Impact injuries are most common with power wheelchairs when they become unstable, lose control, or cannot stand up to the operator's usage. Most power wheelchairs are sold after a consultation with a professional salesman who should take care in evaluating your needs and providing a chair that will stand up to your weight and degree of use.
When a power wheelchair fails to properly maintain stability for the users and accommodate their needs, or if a manufacturer's defect causes a hazard, serious injury can occur.
The commonly seen injuries in claims for these defective medical devices include:
- burns;
- bruising;
- internal bleeding;
- head trauma;
- spinal cord damage; and
- broken or fractured bones.
Many of these injuries are caused by impact from being thrown from the chair, either in a collision due to loss of control or from abrupt failure and stopping. Burns can occur when an electrical short causes electrocution or fire, or from overheating of the motor.
St. Louis defective products attorneys have seen a variety of serious, sometimes fatal injuries arise from defective medical devices such as power wheelchairs. Our loved ones rely on their power wheelchair to improve their life, not pose another potential risk to their well-being. For injuries sustained from a defective medical device, you need experienced legal help from St. Louis defective products attorneys.
Contacting A St. Louis Defective Products Lawyer
When a defective product causes serious injury or death, the liable party needs to be held accountable for negligence. Filing a Missouri product liability claim is no easy feat, but with the help of experienced St. Louis defective products attorneys, you can feel confident knowing your case is in good hands, while you focus on your recovery and getting your life back on track. To get started with determining if you have a viable defective product case, contact the team at Bollwerk & Associates, LLC - 314-315-8111.