Is Your Life at Risk From Your Lawn Mower?

Is Your Life at Risk From Your Lawn Mower?

So you’re thinking that is possibly one of the most random questions you have ever been asked – “Really” how dangerous can cutting the lawn be unless of course its at the control of the crazy Lawnmower man from that Pierce Brosnan movie of the same name?

Well, Lawnmower accidents, are more common and more serious than you might first think.

We all do it, every year the minute the weather turns nice we’re straight out there cutting the grass back and keeping it neat.

It is usually a job taken up by our other half’s admittedly (i.e. men) but should we all be aware of the risks?

The BBC has reported on a study carried out over the last 5 years in America. The study reported that approximately 66,000 Americans over the last 5 years have ended up in Accident and Emergency departments!

The majority of injuries included minor cuts and bruises but there were cases of broken bones, amputations and scarily, 6 deaths!

The majority of these cases are caused by using ride-on lawnmowers rather than your standard push along ones and injuries are caused whilst the mower is in motion or by them being flipped over. However, there are estimates that some 6500 people are injured every year by lawn mowers of all types in the UK alone!

A lot of the time injuries are caused as a result of the user not reading the instructions correctly (if at all!) or misusing the product. But what if you are injured due to a faulty lawnmower? Do you have to live with the consequences or can you bring a claim?

Yes is the answer, you may very well have a product liability claim and be entitled to bring a claim for damages.

The Sale of Goods Act states that goods sold must be of a satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. If you have been injured due to a fault on the product then it was not fit for purpose and the supplier of the goods has breached their contract with you.