Machinery Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts

Industrial machinery accidents cause catastrophic injuries. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey pursues workers' compensation and every available third-party claim for Massachusetts machinery accident victims. Free consultation. No fees unless we win.

Industrial Machinery Accidents in Massachusetts

Industrial machinery, presses, lathes, conveyor systems, grinders, saws, mixing equipment, and countless other mechanical systems, creates severe injury risk when it malfunctions, lacks adequate guarding, or is operated without proper training or safety protocols. Workers injured by industrial machinery in Massachusetts are often entitled to both workers' compensation benefits and additional personal injury compensation from third parties. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey represents machinery accident victims and pursues every available source of recovery.

Machine Guarding Requirements and Manufacturer Liability

OSHA regulations require that machinery with exposed moving parts be equipped with guards that prevent workers from contacting dangerous components during normal operation. When a manufacturer designs a machine that lacks adequate guarding, or when an employer removes required guards, and a worker is injured as a result, strong liability claims arise. Against the manufacturer, the claim is product defect; against the employer who removed guards, the claim affects the workers' compensation analysis; against the entity that modified the machine without the manufacturer’s authorization, third-party liability may apply.

Third-Party Claims in Machinery Accident Cases

Workers' compensation covers the immediate medical and wage needs of machinery accident victims, but it is the exclusive remedy against the direct employer. Third-party claims, which recover pain and suffering that workers' compensation does not cover, are available against: the machinery manufacturer for product defects; the maintenance contractor who improperly repaired the machine; the property owner whose premises created an unsafe operating environment; and any other party other than the direct employer who contributed to the accident. Attorney Lavey investigates all third-party theories in every machinery accident case.

Common Types of Industrial Machinery Injuries

Degloving and crush injuries from presses, rollers, and nip points
Amputation injuries from unguarded blades, saws, and cutting equipment
Entanglement in rotating equipment including augers, conveyors, and agitators
Burns from chemical processes, heated surfaces, or electrical equipment
Struck-by injuries from ejected parts, material, or tool breakage
Hearing loss from sustained high-noise machinery environments

Preserving Evidence After a Machinery Accident

The machinery involved in the accident must be preserved for inspection by a mechanical engineering expert. This means the machine should not be repaired, modified, or returned to service before an expert can document its condition. Attorney Lavey issues preservation demands to the employer and any other party who controls the machinery as soon as he is retained in every machinery accident case. He coordinates the expert inspection that is essential to establishing product defect or operator negligence claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue the machine manufacturer even though I was hurt at work?

Yes. Workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against your direct employer, but you can simultaneously pursue a product liability claim against the machine manufacturer if a design defect, manufacturing defect, or inadequate warning contributed to your injury. These are separate claims against different parties. Attorney Lavey pursues both workers' compensation benefits and manufacturer product liability claims in every qualifying machinery accident case.

What if my employer removed the safety guard from the machine that injured me?

An employer who removes required safety guards from machinery is violating OSHA regulations and creating a dangerous condition. Workers' compensation applies to injuries caused by the employer' s conduct, but OSHA violations may affect workers' compensation proceedings and are documented as evidence. If a third party removed the guard, a maintenance contractor, for example, that party may be a third-party defendant. Attorney Lavey evaluates who removed any guards and what claims arise from that removal.

What if the machinery accident was partly caused by inadequate training?

Inadequate training is evidence of employer negligence affecting the workers' compensation claim context. If a third party was responsible for training, a contractor brought in to train workers on new equipment, inadequate training by that third party may create a third-party liability claim. Attorney Lavey evaluates the training provided and who was responsible for it in every machinery accident case.

How important is it to preserve the machine after an accident?

Preserving the machine is critical. If the machine had a defect, that defect must be documented before the machine is repaired, modified, or replaced. If it was missing required guarding, that must be documented in its as-found condition. Attorney Lavey issues written preservation demands to every party that controls the machinery the same day he is retained, and he arranges expert inspection as soon as logistically possible.

Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey — Licensed Massachusetts Attorney

Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and has represented clients throughout Middlesex County and Massachusetts for over 37 years. He handles every case personally, no associates, no handoffs. Call (781) 938-1400 for a free consultation.

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