{"id":1072,"date":"2016-08-23T07:00:47","date_gmt":"2016-08-23T12:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.illinoisinjurylawyerblog.net\/?p=1072"},"modified":"2018-04-12T12:38:39","modified_gmt":"2018-04-12T17:38:39","slug":"manufacturer-not-liable-man-trapped-lawn-mower-failed-purchase-optional-safety-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.molllawgroup.com\/blog\/manufacturer-not-liable-man-trapped-lawn-mower-failed-purchase-optional-safety-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"Manufacturer Not Liable after Man Trapped under Lawn Mower Because He Failed to Purchase Optional Safety Equipment"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a recent case<\/a>, a man\u2019s decision to forego optional safety equipment later prevented\u00a0compensation\u00a0for his injuries. The man was riding his lawn mower when the mower fell off the edge of an embankment and rolled on top of him. He was trapped under the lawn mower, and tragically he died from suffocation. The man\u2019s wife alleged that the lawn mower manufacturer was negligent because the machine did not come with\u00a0a rollover protection system. However, the defendant pointed out that the man had the option of adding the rollover protection system when he bought the lawn mower, which he neglected to purchase.<\/p>\n

A federal appeals court dismissed the plaintiff’s case, holding that, according to the optional equipment doctrine, a manufacturer generally will not be found negligent if a purchaser had the option of buying safety equipment that would have prevented the accident. The court explained that the doctrine may apply where a buyer is knowledgeable regarding the product\u2019s use and the availability of the safety feature, there are normal circumstances in which the product without the optional equipment would not be unreasonably dangerous, and the buyer can balance the risks and benefits with\u00a0regard to the buyer\u2019s use of the product. Since\u00a0the rollover protection system was an option when the man bought the lawn mower, the manufacturer could not be held negligent for failing to install the equipment.<\/p>\n

The Optional Equipment Doctrine in Illinois<\/strong><\/p>\n

The optional equipment doctrine arises in the context of negligence in manufacturing. It is not exactly\u00a0a defense, but instead it\u00a0is a way a defendant can show that it fulfilled its duty to the purchaser. That is, the defendant, by informing buyers that an optional feature is available and can make the product safer for certain users, may have satisfied its duty to make a product safe.<\/p>\n

Continue reading \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a recent case, a man\u2019s decision to forego optional safety equipment later prevented\u00a0compensation\u00a0for his injuries. The man was riding his lawn mower when the mower fell off the edge of an embankment and rolled on top of him. He was trapped under the lawn mower, and tragically he died from suffocation. The man\u2019s wife […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dangerous-products"],"yoast_head":"\nManufacturer Not Liable after Man Trapped under Lawn Mower Because He Failed to Purchase Optional Safety Equipment — Illinois Injury and Mass Tort Lawyer Blog — August 23, 2016<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a recent case, a man\u2019s decision to forego optional safety equipment later prevented\u00a0compensation\u00a0for his injuries. 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