On February 18, 2017, Aiden, then ten-years-old, was visiting his friend at 5500 Shoal Creek Boulevard. He slid into a gap between the home’s security gate and a stone wall. His finger triggered the gate, which opened and crushed him between the gate and wall. Ultimately, Aiden was choked until he was brain dead. He was transported to the hospital, where he died five days later. The autopsy report detailed the cause of death as asphyxiation. Aiden’s parents, Jennifer Rodriguez and Manual Criado, have filed suit against several parties, including the gate’s manufacturer and the homeowner. They are claiming over $1M in damages.
According to the lawsuit, the gate was sold under the brand name Liftmaster and “was defectively designed because it did not have a mandatory safety system that stopped and reversed the motion of the gate when it encountered resistance during the process of crushing (Aiden).” Other defendants include Fusion Gate, Inc., which designed the gate, George Dahmen Construction, which installed the gate, and Omron Electronics, which manufactured the electric eye.
When someone is injured or dies as a result of a product defect, financial recovery may be available. Such recovery is particularly important when permanent, life changing injuries are incurred. It is important to contact someone who understands the intricacies of the injured party’s right to recover.
Abraham Watkins offers a free consultation to anyone wishing to pursue a claim for injuries that occurred as a result of a product defect.