Workplace Accidents and Robots: Our Lawyers Advise

Our workplace accident lawyers in Raleigh have seen the use of Artificial Intelligence robots causing, and complicating, workers’ compensation and liability. As we see the “cobot,” or collaborative robot and other sophisticated devices become prevalent in modern society, we also see a rise in related injury claims.

Consider the example of a cobot security guard brought on by one shopping center. The idea wasn’t to replace any workers but to augment their existing security capacity. The thing came with all the bells and whistles—motion sensors, alarms, live video streaming—all in the form of a 300-pound egg.

It seemed great until a toddler tried to play with it. At that point, everything went wrong. The cobot knocked the child down and ran over his feet.

“Collaborative robots have taken the robotics industry by storm over the past several years,” says a spokesperson for the Robotic Industries Association.

In 2016 alone, more than 24,000 robots and cobots, worth as much as $1.3 billion, were ordered from North American companies, according to Risk & Insurance magazine.

Cobots are cheaper, lighter, and more versatile than ordinary robots. Many even have artificial intelligence capacities, allowing them to develop skills and learn new tasks. They are rapidly being introduced into a variety of industries, including construction, automotive manufacturing, electronics assembly, plastics, machine tooling, and even healthcare.

Just because cobots are helpful doesn’t mean they don’t contribute to workplace injuries. An OSHA report stated that there were 77 robot-related accidents from 2015 to 2022, resulting in finger amputations and fractures to the head and torso.

“Cobots are still machines and things can go awry in many ways,” says a spokesperson for a risk management firm. “The robot can fail. A subcomponent can fail. It can draw the wrong conclusions.”

What that means for you is that you might end up being injured by a robot or cobot—just like the boy whose feet were run over.

If you are injured at work by a robot, cobot, or any faulty piece of machinery, a workplace accident lawyer may be able to file more than one type of legal claim. Because you were injured at work, your injury may be eligible for workers’ compensation. At the same time, you could have an equally valid product liability claim against the manufacturer of the device.

If this happens to you, we recommend you talk to an attorney with experience in both product liability and employment law. They can investigate the robot’s failure, look for similar instances of harm, and identify what is covered under workers’ compensation. When you understand your rights, you can better maximize the compensation you receive for your injuries.

Don’t try to navigate these complicated laws alone. Workplace accident lawyers can help you find the best path forward. Contact Miller Law Group for guidance to help you recover from workplace injuries, whatever the cause.