An important but under-recognized movement has developed to truly improve safety and prevent “accident injuries.” For way too long designers, manufacturers and society leaders have ignored the well-known dangerous situations and hazardous conditions that exist in the modern world. This sometimes manifests by poor road design, dangerous construction site planning or manufacturing of faulty products. Once someone – or many people – have been injured or were killed by poor design or negligent implementation, the people responsible for the tragedy write it off as an “accident.” Many refuse to take any blame of negligence and refuse to take the opportunity to declare a faulty product recall. More importantly, they don’t make full efforts to redesign their product or re-do their design to prevent further injury or death. It is no secret that some roads and highways are dangerous and are more prone to car crash or pedestrian accidents. Likewise, some high-intensity electrical products are known fire hazards. Yet others pose a serious risk of choking hazards or other similar dangerous situations that need to be corrected. The concept of a wrongful death lawsuit developed in an attempt to hold offending parties accountable for their actions or even inactions. Personal injury lawsuits are likewise used as a tool to not only compensate injury victims but to also create change in the world of those who design, develop and manufacture consumer products or facilities.
A recent book was written about this topic, bringing to the forefront the idea of how to make necessary changes before tragedy strikes. A top New York law firm has a long history of fighting for the rights of people injured in a “car accident” that may not have actually been exactly just an accident after all. This team has a tried a true history of fighting to change the reality and protect victims of faulty products, work injury, slip and fall injury or even medical malpractice. The time has come to make sure that designers, manufacturers and companies are held responsible for their actions.
Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Billie Grace Ward [License]