Wood Chipper Manufacturer Sued After Wyoming Workplace Accident
There are risks of harm associated with any type of work. Those risks increase when heavy machinery is needed to get the job done, but that doesn’t mean a worker should be subjected to an unsafe product.
The workplace death of William Crnkovich, 43, in June 2024, is a prime example of how an equipment manufacturer’s cost-cutting measures can result in tragedy.
Brenda Crnkovich has sued Michigan-based Bandit Industries, Inc, in the wrongful death of her son due to his use of a less-safe type of wood chipper sold by the company. Etna-based attorney, Jack Edwards, is representing the family and bringing three causes of action against Bandit: negligence, wrongful death, and liability for an allegedly dangerous product.
The unfortunate incident took place on June 18th, 2024, when William was clearing land for a home construction project in Lincoln County.
He was using a Bandit Intimidate 18XP wood chipper, the lawsuit says. This is a piece of heavy machinery marketed as “highly productive.” It uses two hydraulic motors that deliver 4,480 pounds of pulling power.
What it doesn’t have is a pressure-activated “bump bar,” which is a safety feature that could have shut the machine down and prevented William’s death
Compromising Safety
According to the civil complaint filed by Edwards, Bandit is all too familiar with the bump bar technology, as it offers it on other models. However, with the 18XP wood chipper, the manufacturer “chose to treat this life-saving feature as a revenue opportunity rather than a safety obligation.”
The bump bar wasn’t the only feature left off the machine. It also lacked a safety shield, which deactivates when it detects magnetic bands worn on the user’s wrists and ankles
When William’s leg was inadvertently pulled into the device, there was no way for him to shut it off, and the last-chance cable was out of reach. By selling a less-safe type of wood chipper as a cheaper alternative, the company was acting negligently.
Edwards calls this a “preventable consequence of Bandit’s choice to sell safety.”
The complaint seeks a jury trial to recover compensatory and punitive damages, as well as other relief to which Mrs. Crnkovich and William’s surviving family are entitled.
Holding Companies Accountable for Their Defective Products
Every company that sells a product attaches a warning label to it. That is true if the company sells aspirin or woodchippers. However, that warning label does not absolve the company from liability when its product causes harm. Proving product liability can be a challenge.
It takes the kind of experience and skill demonstrated by Edwards Law Office, P.C. to prevail in these types of claims.
We have a proven track record of success that we’re extremely proud of. Even with the complex nature of these cases, we won’t move forward unless we’re confident of the outcome. If you or a loved one has been hurt, be a product, don’t assume there is nothing you can do or that it was your fault.
Call to schedule a free consultation today. Let’s talk about what happened and explore the options for fair compensation for any losses.