saw horrible accident in n-paper

[txhawg]

So far, I haven't seen or read anything that changes my opinion. It may seem a little harsh, but until you have experienced the loss of someone close due to a stupid, irresonsible, preventable act of another, you couldn't understand.

 

[Junkman]

These type of people don't have to be drunk to do stupid things. A neighbor, a person that holds a doctorate degree put his hand under the running lawn mower and lost a few finger tips. He then sued and received a settlement from Sears, the lawn mowers seller. Just goes to prove, that intelligence and education are no substitute for common sense, which isn't too common any longer. It also furthers that belief that someone else is always the blame for what happens when stupid people do stupid things. I am continually baffled why insurance companies don't take a stand and not pay for stupid acts like this....

 

[SkyPup]

I totally agree 100% but I'm sure all the trial lawyers don't, it's their bread and butter.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[keeney]

The big mfg's have a tough time winning these kinds of lawsuits. Its cheaper to settle than fight. Most corporations would rather be profitable than take a stand on principle. If a child gets hurt, they have _no_ chance with a jury anyway. Their only goal is to limit their liability to normal levels and avoid punitive damages for gross negligence.

In terms of safety features, the not mowing in reverse feature may have prevented some of the injuries in this specific case, but kids still get hurt all the time just getting run over by a 500lb - 2000lb machine even if they never get hit by the mowing blades. Broken bones and other "recoverable" injuries are common but don't make the news nearly as spectacularly as severed limbs.

Other than accidents involving extra riders, I think being backed over by an operator who doesn't check behind before reversing is one of the more common causes of injuries. Kids like to follow the mower thinking its the safest place.

Some top child safety mowing rules in my book are:

1. No Riders!

2. Look where you are going at all times!

3. Don't operate any power equipment with kids around.

- Rick

 

[Junkman]

No question that the companies want to limit there liability. I will add one more to your list of tractor safety. Make sure that the pets are also confined. A dog or cat can run faster than most children and they too can be injured. My dogs want to be out when I am on the tractor, but I keep them inside. I know that the Dachshund would be under the tractor faster than a speeding bullet. That dog can't run in a straight line for more than 3 feet with her nose to the ground looking for whatever animal was there before her. I have installed flashing lights on the house so people know that she is out side when they approach the house. Our friends all know the signal. She is almost always chained, but even then, the little runt can come darting out from under a bush and get run over if they didn't know about the flashing lights.

 

[bandit67]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I still cringe driving down the road when people mow with their discharge aimed out in the road at cars...)</font>

I don't just cringe, I get flat out pissed off /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif, and have entertained the thought of stopping and pounding some sense into the idiots. One of these days, I'm going to call the police and insist they ticket one of those morons for public endangerment. God help the person mowing their lawn, if one of my kids or my wife ever gets injured by something thrown from a mower we are passing by in our vehicles. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Sad part is, I see just as many "professional" mowers spraying stuff into the road as I see oblivious homeowners doing it.

I make my kids stay on the other side of the house, or inside the house when I'm mowing. Heck, I even ask the neighbor kids to go play on the other side of their house when I'm anywhere near their property with my mower.