How Common Are Chair Collapse Injuries in Pennsylvania?
Think about how many different chairs you sit in everyday. Whether lounging at home, on a porch or balcony, at work, at a doctor’s appointment, at a restaurant or beauty salon, at school, or at a pool or beach. There probably aren’t many days you can’t recall sitting in a chair. How often do you consider the safety of a chair before you plop down into it? Probably rarely, if ever. People have every right to believe and expect that a chair they purchased or one they sit on in a public place will be safe, and will not injure them. Chairs may be defectively manufactured or poorly designed, and could collapse without warning. Companies may recall chairs for weak frames, failing joints, faulty locks and hinges, missing support braces, weld fractures, and failing bolts and screws.
Why Do Chairs Collapse? Are They Defective?
Chairs may also collapse due to age and lack of proper maintenance and inspection. One metallurgy expert reported that chair failures are not the result of one incident or one person or due to excessive weight, but are the culmination of several parts breaking and failing over time. Metal corrosion, and splintering or rotting wood can cause chairs to become weak and fragile. Business owners have a duty to make their premises reasonably safe to customers and invitees, and warn customers if they know or should know of a hidden hazard or chair defect. Property owners and business owners also have an obligation to regularly inspect and properly repair and maintain chairs intended for the public.
If You Have Been Injured by a Chair Collapse in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania
Chair collapses can result in serious injuries, and even death in some cases. Common injuries from failing or collapsing chairs include lacerations, fractures, broken bones, closed head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, and back injuries. There have been several reports of lumbar disc herniation suffered after a defectively manufactured chair collapsed. Several people reported that surgery and spinal cord fusion surgeries were needed to correct and repair their injuries, and some were permanently disabled and unable to work. Often, chair collapse accidents are exacerbated when the chair occupant strikes his or her head on another object when falling from the chair.
If a collapsing or failing chair caused catastrophic injuries or death to you or someone you love, you may be able to file a claim to compensate you for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain, and suffering. The experienced Pennsylvania product liability lawyers of The Reiff Law Firm have over three decades of experience investigating and litigating claims regarding manufacturing defects, faulty design, and assembly errors. We firmly believe that safety should be a manufacturer’s number one priority, and we will hold them responsible when their negligence causes catastrophic injuries and preventable deaths. Claims regarding failing chairs can be complex because they may include other legal issues, including premise liability, and the legal duty of business owners to maintain safe premises. Our track record of winning hundreds of millions of dollars for seriously injured or wrongfully killed victims demonstrates our skill and determination in premises liability and defective product cases. Contact one of our attorneys for a no-obligation, confidential consultation, and we will begin investigating your case – (215) 709-6940.
