For people living in the Midwest or any place far away from a big body of natural freshwater, lawns have largely been replaced by turf, gravel, or some other form of grass substitute. For example, in Las Vegas where water is being strictly conserved, it’s becoming increasingly rare to find yards with lawns in them. That said, for people on the East Coast or living near a golf course, lawns are still commonplace. And where there are lawns, there are lawn mowers.

The first lawn mower was invented and patented in 1830 by Edwin Budding outside Gloucestershire, England. Ever since, this valuable piece of machinery has been turning backyards into a source of pride for anyone with a lawn. While lawn mowers certainly make our lives easier, lawn mower defects can cause serious injuries for unsuspecting and even experienced users. In fact, studies have shown that lawn mower accidents cause approximately 85,000 injuries per year, and cause roughly 70 deaths per year in the US alone. Sadly, children are often killed by riding lawn mowers or using push mowers without adequate guards and safety features.

If you or your loved ones have been injured in a lawn mowing accident, you certainly aren’t alone. And if the lawn mower was defective in one way or another (see below for common lawn mower defects), the manufacturer and retailer could be liable for any injuries suffered.

Common Lawn Mower Malfunctions and Defects

When we think of the potential dangers associated with lawn mowers, many of us immediately picture injuries caused by the lawn mower’s blades after one’s foot gets run over. While a lawn mower’s blades can certainly be dangerous and defective, the list of potential defects doesn’t end there. Lawn mowers can explode, catch fire, lose parts unexpectedly, roll or tip over, and cause an amputation or serious injury. Some of the most common lawn mower defects and flaws include:

• Rollover defects with lawn mowers that lack rollover guards, or are designed in a way that causes them to tip or flip over easily
• Defective fuel systems that cause lawn mowers to catch fire or explode
• Parts that break easily
• Defective blades
• Lack of blade guards
• Improper or insufficient warning labeling
• Lack of proper instructions or insufficient instructions

Lawn Mower Safety Features and Technology

Handle Levers and Kill Switches: On push-based lawn mowers, handle levers need to be pressed down in order for the lawn mower to move forward. If the lever is not pressed down at any point, the lawn mower stops moving forward. While levers can be annoying for some users, they can save life and limb if someone or something unexpectedly runs in front of your mower and you need to stop abruptly.

Blade-Brake Clutch-System: This allows the operator to disengage the lawn mower’s blade without stopping the engine. This feature is great when you want to step away from the mower for a moment (perhaps to take a call or to remove something in the way) without turning off the lawn mower’s engine. At least this way, if someone comes into contact with the lawn mower’s blade while you’re away from the mower, the blades won’t be spinning.

Back Flaps and Throw-Guards: If you mow the lawn with any regularity, it’s only a matter of time before you run over a foreign object. A back flap is a necessary safety feature that keeps dangerous pieces of debris from shooting back out at you. On the other hand, throw guards on the side of the mower keep objects from flying out the side and hurting people and things around you.

Reverse Awareness System: These safety features are on riding lawn mowers (the kind of mowers people sit on, rather than push). This feature causes the lawn mower to beep loudly when the mower is put in reverse, notifying others that the mower may be moving toward them. This feature is now standard on virtually all riding lawn mowers and saves countless people each year from being run over by lawn mowers. 

Rollover Protection System (ROPS): Rollover Protection Systems, or ROPS, are guards and roll bars on riding lawn mowers that protect the user in the event the lawn mower rolls or tips over during a sharp turn or while on a hill. Lawn mower rollovers are more common than one might think and can happen in the blink of an eye. That’s why this vital safety feature should never be removed from your lawn mower.

While lawn mower safety technology is constantly evolving and improving, the above are a list of safety features that all modern lawn mowers should have. If you were injured by a lawn mower due to a lack of one of the above safety features, contact our lawn mower defect attorneys to determine whether you may be entitled to compensation. 

Injuries Caused by Lawn Mower Defects

When we think of lawn mower injuries, we tend to think of lawn mower foot injuries involving severe cuts, amputations, and mangled feet. But the list does not end there. For example, some lawn mower defects result in the lawn mower catching fire, which can result in burns and even death. Some common lawn mower injuries include:

• Cuts
• Severed feet, toes, and limbs
• Limb disfigurement
• Burns
• Broken/fractured bones
• Amputations
• Death

Determining Liability When a Lawn Mower Is Defective

While every state’s laws are different, to prove a strict product defect claim under Nevada law, the plaintiff must establish that:

1. The defect existed at the time the product left the manufacturer;
2. The defect made the product unreasonably dangerous; and
3. The defect caused injuries or damages

Proving that a product is unreasonably dangerous often requires experts and product testing, both of which demand significant case funding and knowledge regarding which experts to rely on and which tests to perform. Whoever you retain as your attorney, make sure they have a strong knowledge of which experts to rely on, and how to best guide the strategy of your case. 

If a Lawn Mower Is Defective, the Manufacturer and Retailer May be Liable for the Resulting Damages 

Generally, any company involved in manufacturing and distributing a defective product is potentially liable for injuries caused by the defective product. That means if you purchased a John Deere, Husqvarna, or Troy-Bilt lawn mower at Home Depot and you were injured because of a defect in the lawn mower, you could sue both Home Depot and the lawn mower manufacturer.

While sellers and manufacturers are the most common defendants, that does not mean they are the only possible defendants. Each situation is unique and depending on the circumstances, there may be many more hidden defendants who are potentially liable for your injuries. Speak with an experienced attorney to confirm that you haven’t overlooked additional potential defendants who may be responsible for your injuries.

Get Help from Our Nevada, California, Arizona, and Utah Lawn Mower Defect Lawyers

Product defect claims are complicated by their very nature. If you’ve been hurt by a lawn mower that was defective or malfunctioned in some way, it is vital that you reach out to a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as you can. Failure to file a lawsuit by certain deadlines (i.e. the “statute of limitations”) can result in you giving up your claim forever.

Whether you’re in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, or anywhere else in the country, we’re standing by and ready to assist you with your case. Our law firm focuses on product liability cases and our lawyers are ready to talk with you about your unique situation. We’ll provide a free review of your case, and will inform you about your legal options and the best way to pursue a potential claim. If you believe a lawn mower may be defective, and that defect caused injury or death to you or your loved ones, call us now for a free case evaluation.