The average person’s daily life usually involves the use of hundreds of consumer products manufactured by others each day. Examples of these products include toothbrushes, computer, smartphones, vehicles, kitchen utensils, clothing, appliances, and food items, just to name a few. These products can range from seemingly innocuous to the obviously dangerous, but they all have one commonality – the potential to cause injury.
While the vast majority of our interactions with household items occur without incident, there are instances in which they can cause serious injury. Sometimes, these injuries are the result of a consumer’s own carelessness or misuse of a particular product. In other instances, however, consumer product injuries occur because a consumer product was defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed. When this is the case, the individuals who are injured can often recover damages to compensate them for the losses they sustain. For this reason, it is very important for anyone that has been injured by any type of household product to consult with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
A variety of household products have the potential to cause injury
There are many categories of household products that could cause injury due to product defects. Some of the more common are detailed below.
Electronics
Electronics such as televisions, computers, smartphones, tablets, and others can pose a variety of risks to consumers, depending on their particular characteristics. For example, large, flat-panel TVs can fall over onto small children while items that require regular charging could pose a risk of electrical injury or fire in the event that they are incorrectly wired or manufactured.
Kitchen appliances
Kitchen appliances that are used in the preparation of food often have sharp edges or operate at extremely high temperatures. As a result, when they are defective, they have the potential to cause serious injuries. Furthermore, larger appliances can often weigh hundreds of pounds, making them extremely hazardous in the event that they tip over or fall. Examples of the kinds of kinds of kitchen appliances that can cause serious injuries include the following:
- Refrigerators
- Microwave ovens
- Toaster ovens
- Ovens
- Stand mixers
- Blenders
- Food processors
- Toasters
- Coffee makers
- Electric knives
Heating implements
Appliances that are designed to heat the home pose a particular risk of injury to consumers. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports[1] that space heaters were involved In approximately 1,200 fires per year between 2008 and 2010. In addition to fire hazards, defective space heaters also have the potential to cause burns and electrical injuries.
Building materials
Defective building materials used in home construction can cause serious injuries. Common examples of the kinds of defective building materials can include floorboards, rafters, electrical wiring, tile flooring, carpeting, rugs, and others. The injuries that these kinds of defects can cause can be severe, and may include burns, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue injuries, just to name a few.
Product liability claims can be complicated
It is highly advisable for people injured by consumer products to retain a lawyer as soon as possible. These kinds of claims can be extremely complicated, and product manufacturers often have a legal team in place ready to defend against claims alleging that a particular product was somehow defective. For this reason, victims should discuss their case with a lawyer familiar with litigating consumer product claims prior to making any decisions as to how to proceed.
Discuss your case with a Clearwater personal injury lawyer today
There are many items in the average American household that can cause serious injury if they are defective. Thankfully for victims, Florida law[2] often allows individuals who are injured by defective consumer products to recover for their losses by filing a legal claim. The kinds of damages that are available in cases arising from defective household products include medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering, as well as others. By retaining an experienced attorney, victims can make sure that they obtain the largest possible settlement or award available by law.
The attorneys of the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA have been representing the legal rights of people hurt by the negligence of others since 2009. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Clearwater product liability attorneys, call our office today at 727-451-6900.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
References:
[1] https://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Safety%20Education/Home-Appliances-Maintenance-Structure/098.pdf
[2] https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/
