Injured Employee Wins $1.2 Million

Back in 2008, a Best Buy employee slipped out of his safety belt/harness and onto the floor while he was attempting to retrieve a television in the store’s storage facility. Subsequently, he sued the company that manufactured the faulty harness, ultimately (and just recently) obtaining a settlement of $1.2 million for his injuries.

Our personal injury lawyers at Aronberg & Aronberg know that when most people think of personal injury cases, what comes to mind is the image of an auto accident or perhaps a slip-and-fall incident at the local grocery store. However, the fact remains that a great many personal injuries occur at the workplace, as evidenced by this case in which a then-29-year-old employee suffered severe back and spine injuries due to the negligence of the defendant, Big Joe Manufacturing Company.

The lawsuit filed by the victim against the responsible party claimed that the company that manufactured the harness was negligent because it failed to state that a full body harness must be used as a fall protection system. By not requiring or disclosing such preventative measures, the company provided Best Buy – and thus Best Buy’s employees, including the victim – with unsafe and improper warnings and instructions.

The attorneys representing the victim argued that if Big Joe Manufacturing Company had provided a full body harness – something it is actually required to do in Canada – the victim would likely not have incurred the injury.

Having handled many cases stemming from premises and product liability injuries, such as those experienced by the victim in this case, our lawyers at Aronberg & Aronberg know that incidents like these happen all too often. Another misconception regarding these cases (aside from those having to do with their commonality) involves the issue of liability. Many people think that if you’re injured at work, your employer is entirely and solely responsible for the injuries.

However, as confirmed by the case of this Best Buy employee, often times third parties can be responsible for the injuries if it is determined, as it was in this case, that the injury occurred due to their negligence in manufacturing the faulty product and/or recklessness in advising (or failing to advise) the victim’s employer on proper operating procedures.

At the Law Offices of Aronberg & Aronberg, we are dedicated to ensuring that individuals injured to the recklessness or negligence of others have the opportunity to seek justice in the most effective way possible. To this end, our personal injury lawyers work diligently on behalf of our clients, regardless of their case type, in collecting the facts and pursuing an outcome beneficial for our client, whether that outcome is the result of an amicable settlement process or an intensely fought jury trial.

If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another, please contact the Law Offices of Aronberg & Aronberg. To schedule a free and legal consultation, please reach out to us by calling 561-266-9191 or by e-mailing daronberg@build.simple.biz. 

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