Table saws have long been known as one of the most dangerous tools to work with. In fact, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are nearly 40,000 blade injuries every year. Nearly 4000 of these injuries involved amputation. The economic cost of these injuries amounts to more than $2.3 billion annually.
Heygood, Orr & Pearson represents people across the United States that have been injured due to defective table saws. If you or someone you know has suffered an amputation or other severe injury, you have important legal rights. Contact our firm at 877-446-9001 and tell us what happened, or you may send us an email by clicking here.
In a recent blog post, partner Eric Pearson explained that each of these injuries was entirely preventable. Technology known as “SawStop” has existed for more than 10 years that immediately stops a spinning saw blade once it comes into contact with human skin. Rather than a serious injury or amputation, a consumer who comes into contact with a spinning table saw blade armed with SawStop will merely suffer a slight nick or cut.
SawStop’s remarkable flesh-sensing technology has been available for more than 10 years. However, large tool companies have refused to incorporate the technology into their saws, claiming it is too expensive. But now they may not have a choice.
Recently, a federal appeals court upheld a $1.5 million verdict for Carlos Osorio, a Massachusetts man injured in a construction site accident involving a Ryobi table saw. The accident occurred when Osorio’s hand slipped while cutting along the length of a piece of hardwood flooring, causing his left hand to slide into the saw’s blade and leading to a severe injury to his hand. At trial, the jury heard about the SawStop technology that could have prevented Osorio’s injury.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has also taken recent action that may force saw companies to adopt the SawStop technology. On October 5, 2011, the CPSC unanimously approved a recommendation to begin the process of creating new performance standards for table saws that would require the reduction or elimination of blade contact injuries.
Popular Manufacturers of Table Saws:- Sears
- Ryobi
- Makita
- Kwikset
- DeWalt
- Bosch
- Skil
- Delta
- Grizzly
- Craftsman
Traumatic Amputation – Is an amputation of the finger that is NOT caused by an injury or illness, but instead is an accidental severing, as such is the case from an accident involving power tools. Surgical intervention may be necessary to complete a partial traumatic amputation for the best recovery. Salvaging a finger or thumb (digit) is justified to improve overall hand function, particularly the thumb.
Rehabilitation – Those that have suffered a traumatic amputation and sought medical attention stand the best chance of avoiding infection, necrosis, or further injury to the amputation site, thereby improving the quality and speed of the recovery and rehabilitation.
WATCH THE VIDEO of Dr. Stephen Gass and his invention of SawStop.
