Sitting down on a chair is something we do multiple times a day, whether we are at work or relaxing on the beach. There are many types of chairs that serve different functions, ranging from household furniture to patient chairs that are used in medical facilities. You also have chairs that are used at stores, restaurants, government-owned buildings, and other properties you visit on a regular basis.
Accidents where a chair breaks while someone is using it seem like rare events. In reality, these incidents can happen in just about any setting, even though the majority of broken chair accidents are preventable. A manufacturer, for example, can exercise due diligence and ensure that a chair is properly designed, according to industry safety standards. In other cases, it may be a property owner that failed to recognize signs of a chair that’s ready to fall apart. Either way, you have the right to seek monetary compensation from a party that failed in their duty of care.
If you were recently injured by a chair that broke while you were using it, you may be asking yourself, “Do I have a case for a defective chair accident lawsuit?” Our law firm is ready to assist you during this difficult time, so contact us today and schedule a free case review.
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Defects that can Cause a Broken Chair Accident
Broken chair accident cases may be attributed to one of many issues that have to do with design and construction. Alternatively, a chair may simply need to be replaced after so many years of use. Defects that can cause you to fall out of a chair include:
- Loose or defective hardware, i.e., nuts, bolts, and screws that do not fit properly or are made from poor quality materials.
- Chars with a uneven base, which will affect its stability when someone is sitting on it
- Folding chairs with faulty locking mechanisms that cause it to collapse
- Usage of cheap, ineffective materials by the manufacturer
- Not meeting federal safety guidelines or industry standards, particularly for chairs used in commercial settings, like hair salons, bars, and medical practices
- Chairs legs that are weak, too thin / narrow, loosen from the base, and other problems that may have to do with negligence by the product maker
Injuries You can Sustain
There is always the potential for an accident when any part of a chair is affected by improper design, mechanical defects, or from being used too long without any sort of maintenance. As a result, an unsuspecting victim can up with one or more of the injuries below:
- Broken tailbone
- Concussion and other head trauma, resulting in traumatic brain injury
- Dislocated hip
- ACL or MCL tear in the knees
- Dental damage, such as broken teeth
- Injuries to your eyes, like corneal abrasions and detachment of the retina
- Neck or spinal cord injury
- Sprain or fracture in the wrist and ankles
- Deep lacerations
- Loss of function caused by nerve damage
- Chronic pain
Don’t wait to seek medical treatment, as waiting more than few days can put you at risk of irreversible damage. We also recommend that you speak with a defective chair lawsuit attorney, who can advise you of your rights and legal options.
Can I Sue the Owner of the Property Where I was Injured?
Yes, you may have grounds to sue the owner of the property where you were injured from a chair that broke. California has a legal standard known as premises liability, which obligates owners to maintain reasonably safe conditions on their property. For example, let’s say you were at an office building for an appointment and sat down in a chair in the waiting room. The chair collapses while you are sitting in it, and you are injured as a result.
If there was a problem with the chair that caused it to break apart, the owner may be liable for the harm you suffered, as they have a duty to inspect and maintain all aspects of the premises. So, the right course of action may be to file an accident claim with the owner of the building. However, there is another party that can be blamed when there is an accident involving a defective chair.
Can I Sue the Chair Manufacturer for my Injuries?
With many of these cases, we find that the chair was unstable even before it was sold to the owner of the property where you had the accident. You may have come across announcements of recalls for chairs that were deemed unsafe because of weak or defective parts, lack of hardware, or other issues that occurred while the product was still with the manufacturer.
Of course, you don’t need to wait for a recall to file a product liability lawsuit. Our law firm has the experience and resources to prove a case of manufacturer liability for accidents caused by a broken chair. If you sustained bodily harm from a chair that broke while you were sitting in it, contact our office and talk to a lawyer who can help you sue a negligent product manufacturer.
Restitution for Broken Chair Accident Victims
If you choose to proceed with a chair defect accident case against the manufacturer or property owner, there are numerous damages that you may qualify to receive. The exact amounts and types of compensation depend on many factors, like the cause of your accident and the severity of injuries. To give you an idea, here are the payments that may be included in a settlement award:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity for accidents that cause disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Attorney’s fees
- Punitive damages
Statute of Limitations for an Accident Injury Claim
The time limit for an accident claim depends on various factors, but most of these cases have a deadline of 2 years. More specifically, you have 24 months starting from the accident date to file a claim against the liable entity. In the event that you are suing a public entity, like a government agency or school district, the statute of limitations for a liability claim is 6 months. There may be other circumstances in your case that have a direct impact on how long you have to sue for a chair collapse accident. If you have questions about the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
The personal injury lawyers of Normandie are here to help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us today if you have questions or concerns about your rights as an accident victim. We are here to provide advice and guidance and bring you the highest settlement from a broken chair accident lawsuit.
We will protect your finances from day one with the Zero Fee Guarantee, so you pay nothing out of pocket to hire an experienced attorney. We only obtain payment once you receive your settlement check, meaning we have to win your case in order to get paid. Otherwise, you owe us absolutely nothing, even if your case goes to trial.
We are ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve, so contact our office to schedule a free case evaluation.
