Man dies under car after jack fails

Tea drinker

Just wanted to give everyone a reminder not to rely on a jack or otherwise unsafe method of lifting a car.

A MAN died while fixing the brakes on his wife's car after the vehicle dropped on top of him while he lay underneath, an inquest heard yesterday.
Coroner Ronan Maguire said a jack on its own is never safe enough to hold a vehicle while someone is working underneath.
Zygimantas Grabys (31) usually put a tyre underneath the car -- as well as using a standard 'scissors' jack -- but didn't when working on the car last May 2.
He had decided to do the work on the Renault Megane because it was a bank holiday and the garage was closed.
Dundalk Coroner's Court heard his wife, Lina Balcuite, went to work and he rang her at 10.30am to say he would fix the brakes himself.
The car was parked outside their home in Inniscrone Mews, Avenue Road, Dundalk, Co Louth.
A short time later she was called by neighbours who had found him lying on the ground under the car.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/husband-died-after-jackedup-car-collapsed-on-head-2892437.html

Gary ITR

Poor guy

Mr Benevolent

Ouch.

corktina

RIP...axle stands are a must and even they might not be enough.I changed my exhaust the other day, I used 4 axle stands and left the trolley jack in and put a wheel under the sill....still would want to proceed very cautiously.

biko

Unfortunately not the first time, nor the last, I read about this,

lafors

Was just about to post that, terrible story. RIP
Even with a tyre under the car its still not safe especially with a scissor jack. I've heard them called widow makers so many times and its for a reason.

Kenny Logins

Terrible way to go, and it seems to happen occasionally too.

Axle stands are very cheap too.

Bruthal

Yea the jack does not actually have to fail either, a car supported only by the jack is not very stable. Solid support is essential.

colm_mcm

They need to start putting warning stickers on jacks, this is happening too often. I'm usually against nanny state American style stickers on everything but people just see a 2 ton trolley jack and forget or don't know that they can't be trusted.

Would be great if the likes of top part, Halfords, etc got behind this.

deandean

A relative of mine died in the same way about 15 years ago in the UK, wife and kids were in the house not 10 yards away and they never heard a thing. Very sad.

I am under cars a good bit; I trust neither axle stands or jacks. I bought a couple of railway sleepers and cut them into 2' lengths, and I let the car gently down onto the stack of timber.

The fall-off-jack accidents usually occur when the car moves, e.g. if you are swinging out of a bolt and/or or the wheels aren't chocked.

Tazio

deandean wrote: »

I bought a couple of railway sleepers and cut them into 2' lengths, and I let the car gently down onto the stack of timber.

That is a great idea. Thanks.

Bruthal

deandean wrote: »

The fall-off-jack accidents usually occur when the car moves, e.g. if you are swinging out of a bolt and/or or the wheels aren't chocked.

They need to be solidly supported alright, its the stuff of nightmares but easily preventable with the right items.

Hard to believe someone will get under a car with just the jack supporting it. Even if another person is there beside them, and immediately can lift the car, it will be likely horrific injuries or death anyway. The potential to be trapped under the car and conscious for a long time is another horrific possibility.

colm_mcm

I have an rsj for the same thing. Awful way to go, happened some poor ladunder an Avensis last year, was using 2 scissor jacks.

Mr Benevolent

I've a hydraulic jack and two axle stands and I'm still too afraid to get under the car.

Rowley Birkin QC

Wow terrible way to go.

I've had a jack collapse on me before, €15 Aldi Axle stands caught the car though. Horrible experience.

unkel

We had a thread about this when it happened, I think it was early this year. Tragic and preventable death