Overview
A Grade 9 student suffered a serious crush injury to her hand while using a leg press machine during physical education class. After four surgeries left her with permanent scarring, disfigurement, and substantially reduced hand strength, the case settled before trial for more than $200,000.
Key Takeaways
- Settlement amount: More than $200,000
- Accident type: Gym class leg press machine injury
- Primary injury: Crush injury to two fingers
- Medical treatment: Four surgeries
- Long-term impact: Disfigurement, scarring, and substantially reduced hand strength
- Notable legal issues: Little or no instruction on use of the machine and allegations of negligent design
- Defendants: Student’s teacher and school board
- Additional parties: Manufacturer and distributor of the leg press machine
- Resolution method: Settlement prior to trial
The Case
Our client was a Grade 9 student attending physical education class when she used a complicated leg press machine with little or no instruction from her teacher. As she was exiting the machine, the weight sled came crashing down on her hand and crushed two of her fingers.
She underwent four surgeries as a result of her injuries. Despite the treatment, she was left with a disfigured and scarred hand with substantially reduced strength.
We sued the student’s teacher and school board. They, in turn, sued the manufacturer and distributor of the leg press machine for negligent design. The case was resolved before trial for more than $200,000.
Why It Matters
This case involved a serious injury to a student while using exercise equipment during a school physical education class. The resulting legal proceedings addressed both the instruction provided to the student and allegations concerning the design of the leg press machine.
The settlement reflected an injury that required multiple surgeries and left the student with lasting changes to the appearance and strength of her hand.