Faulty Equipment Injuries in the Workplace

Last Updated: August 2026

When you’re at work, you’re expecting that the equipment you use to do your job will work, and work safely. You should be able to trust that the machinery, tools, or factory equipment provided to you won’t cause you injury or fail to work in unexpected ways. Sadly, this is not always the case. Workers in physically-demanding and dangerous fields such as construction or manufacturing should not have to take on even more risk of injury beyond that which is already involved in the profession.

You are entitled to be paid for your injuries

As a South Carolina employee, you have a right to expect that your employer will take steps to prevent as much potential for injury as possible. If you are hurt by faulty equipment at work, you deserve to get compensated for the costs you incur to bring yourself back to full health. At Peake & Fowler, we understand the financial burden imposed by a workplace injury, both through the high costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, and by forcing you off the job so that you’re unable to earn a paycheck while you recover. We can help you through the process of applying for workers’ compensation, and we can also investigate your claim thoroughly to determine if you may have a right to file an additional legal claim for your damages. After a faulty equipment injury in Columbia, contact the law offices of Peake & Fowler to consult with one of our attorneys about your case.

An outside party may be responsible for your workplace injury

Workers’ compensation may be the only means of compensation available when you’re hurt on the job, although it is not always enough to make you whole. If you’ve been injured when a piece of equipment has malfunctioned, however, you may have a claim against the source of that equipment. Often, construction companies will lease large pieces of equipment or specialty tools from outside companies. Large pieces of machinery require regular maintenance in order to function safely. If an equipment leasing company has failed to provide that maintenance and the product causes your injuries as a result, you may have a right to money damages from that negligent company.

Even when equipment has been properly maintained, the product may have been defectively designed or manufactured in the first place. This could entitle you to file a product liability claim against the company that created the product, as well as the companies which sold or leased the dangerous product.

Serious injuries can result from a number of common pieces of workplace equipment, including:

• Ladders
• Forklifts and other powered industrial trucks
• Backhoes and other earthmovers
• Scissor lifts and boom lifts
• Cranes
• Scaffolding

Help is Available for Columbia Workplace Injuries

If you’ve been hurt in a defective or faulty equipment workplace injury in South Carolina, seek experienced legal help to get you the money you deserve for your injuries. Contact the compassionate and determined Columbia workplace injury lawyers at Peake & Fowler for a free consultation at 803-788-4370.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Faulty Equipment Injuries in Columbia, SC

What should I do immediately after suffering a workplace equipment injury in Columbia?

You must report the incident to your supervisor or manager right away. South Carolina law requires you to provide written or formal notice within ninety days under the South Carolina Legislature code to protect your eligibility for benefits. Seek immediate medical attention, and ensure you request that your employer authorize the appropriate doctor visits for your recovery. 

Can I sue my employer directly for a faulty equipment accident in South Carolina?

Under standard state laws, workers’ compensation acts as the exclusive remedy for job-related injuries pursuant to South Carolina law. This means you typically cannot file a standard civil lawsuit against your direct employer. However, exceptions apply if your employer intentionally caused harm or lacked mandatory insurance coverage.

Am I able to file a lawsuit against someone other than my employer?

Yes, you can often pursue a third-party claim if a designer, manufacturer, or maintenance provider of the machinery was negligent. Product liability lawsuits allow injured workers to seek damages outside of standard workers’ compensation limits, holding external companies completely accountable for dangerous industrial defects under South Carolina law.

What kinds of compensation can I recover through a workers’ compensation claim?

A standard claim provides coverage for all necessary medical treatments, hospitalization costs, and specialized rehabilitation governed by South Carolina Legislature code. Additionally, you can receive partial wage replacement benefits if your injury forces you to miss extended periods of work while recovering from your physical condition.

Are pain and suffering damages covered under South Carolina workers’ compensation?

South Carolina does not allow injured employees to recover financial compensation for pain and suffering through the traditional workers’ compensation system outlined in South Carolina Code. These non-economic damages can sometimes be pursued through separate third-party product liability lawsuits if an outside equipment manufacturer’s severe defect caused your accident.

How long do I have to file a formal claim with the state commission?

You must officially file a Form 50 with the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission within two years of the accident date, according to South Carolina Legislature code. Waiting past this strict legal deadline can permanently bar you from recovering any financial benefits or medical coverage for your workplace injuries and losses.

Who chooses the doctor I must see for my equipment-related injury?

Your employer or their insurance carrier generally holds the legal right to select the treating physician for your work injury under South Carolina law. Seeking unauthorized medical care from an independent doctor outside of this designated network can result in you having to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses yourself.

What types of industrial equipment frequently cause severe workplace injuries?

Heavy machinery such as forklifts, commercial cranes, power presses, conveyor belts, and industrial scaffolding frequently causes severe workplace harm. Malfunctions involving defective safety guards, electrical wiring, or structural components regularly lead to catastrophic crushing, amputation, or electrocution injuries across local job sites governed by standard South Carolina Legislature code.

What constitutes a product liability claim involving defective machinery?

A product liability claim arises when a tool or machine contains an inherent manufacturing flaw, a dangerous design error, or inadequate safety warnings under the South Carolina Code. If these specific issues cause the equipment to malfunction during standard operation and injure an employee, the manufacturing company faces legal liability.

Can I still recover benefits if I was partially at fault for the accident?

South Carolina operates under a no-fault workers’ compensation system codified in the South Carolina Legislature code, meaning you can secure benefits even if your own mistake contributed to the incident. Benefits are typically denied only if the injury resulted from intentional self-harm or severe intoxication by drugs or alcohol.

What role does equipment leasing play in third-party workplace injury claims?

Many businesses lease heavy industrial machinery from third-party rental companies rather than owning it outright. If an outside leasing company failed to perform routine maintenance or ignored known mechanical problems, they can be held legally liable for the resulting equipment failure injuries under South Carolina law.

Why should I hire an attorney for a faulty equipment injury case?

Navigating complex third-party liability lawsuits and workers’ compensation hearings requires specialized legal knowledge and thorough accident investigations monitored by the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. An experienced local lawyer ensures all state deadlines are met while aggressively pursuing every available avenue of financial recovery to maximize your total compensation payout.