One of the most dangerous places in our home is also the place we go into most frequently. That would be your kitchen. From a young age, you’re taught about all the potential dangers from a hot stove and sharp knives. When injuries occur because your knife slips or you accidentally grab a hot pot handle, you have no one to blame but yourself.
What happens when a kitchen device like a pressure cooker or tabletop grill causes injury? That might be a case of product liability.
A product liability claim involves an injury caused by a defective product that has flaws in its design, manufacturing process, or failure to warn the user. This is the type of issue where a Lanham product liability lawyer can provide the information you need to take your claim forward. These are complex liability cases that require strong supporting evidence. They also happen more frequently than you might think.
How Frequently Do Pressure Cooker and Tabletop Fire Explosions Happen?
Each year, thousands of people are injured in kitchen accidents. Many of those accidents can be attributed to defective products. Recently, SharkNinja recalled 1.8 pressure cookers due to a burn hazard. This type of recall does not absolve the manufacturer of any potential liability.
There have also been many serious injuries caused by tabletop grills for indoor use and for outdoor firepits. Here are some other recent examples of pressure cookers and tabletop fire pit explosions:
Indoor S’mores Kit Sparks Fire, Badly Burning Child in Laurel
The Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit investigated an incident involving a 9-year-old and a tabletop kit used for making s’mores. As reported by WUSA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission released an alert warning of the dangers of this product.
Southern California Teen Severely Burned by Tabletop Fire Pit
KTLA reported on a Southern California teen who was severely burned when flames from a tabletop fire pit. The accident happened when Viana Poggi poured the isopropyl alcohol into the pit, not realizing the small flame was still burning inside.
Firefighters Warn About Tabletop Fire Pits After Explosion Inside Massachusetts Home
In Massachusetts, a tabletop fire pit exploded inside a home, leaving a person with third-degree burns. Assistant Fire Chief Brad Cronin commented to CBSNews, “These have been increasingly more popular from online retailers or mercantile stores,” Cronin said. “Having an open flame device and a pouring of liquid into something that’s already hot or maybe ignited just creates a very high fire risk. We’d caution anybody not to use this type of product.”
Pressure Cookers Sold at Aldi Recalled After Several Severe Burn Injuries Reported
KPLC TV reported on a recall from Ambiano Electric Pressure Cookers sold at ALDI because of multiple severe burn injuries. Consumers were warned to stop using the pressure cooker immediately and to contact Tempo or ALDI for a refund.
These are the types of incidents that could be blamed on consumer misuse. However, the fact that so many of these products have been recalled indicates there are issues with them. These are the exact type of issues that you should discuss with a knowledgeable product liability lawyer.
How to Calculate Compensation for a Pressure Cooker Injury
As the name implies, a pressure cooker requires intense steam to create pressure and cook the contained food. There are ways to release the pressure, but that doesn’t guarantee there will not be any injuries. The same applies to the tabletop devices that lead to injuries due to refueling and other issues.
If you’ve been injured by one of these products and decide to move forward with a claim, you will need to speak with an experienced product liability lawyer who can help you calculate the total amount of your injuries. It is vital that you get the correct amount because you won’t be able to go back and get additional funds once you’ve agreed to a settlement.
Your potential damages can include the following:
Medical Costs
Exploding pressure cookers and tabletop devices can cause severe burns that require extensive treatment. That can include surgery and hospitalization. A study published by the National Library of Medicine about pressure cooker injuries found the average hospital stay for victims was 10 days. All of your medical expenses associated with the injury should be part of your final damage number.
Property Damage
These types of defective device explosions often ignite fires that cause additional destruction in the home. You should be compensated for any repair or replacement costs for damaged items and property repair.
Lost Income
Recovering from severe burn injuries can make working impossible for weeks or months. It could also mean permanent job displacement. You are entitled to pursue compensation for income lost during recovery. You can also seek future earnings that you might miss out on.
Pain and Suffering
Burn injuries can be extremely painful and emotionally traumatic. Victims may recover damages for both physical discomfort and the emotional strain caused by the incident.
Getting Support for a Product Liability
The attorneys at GDH Law have extensive knowledge and experience in product liability. We provide support to our clients from the initial filing of an insurance claim. If the negotiations with the insurance carrier reach an impasse, we can recommend filing a civil complaint, which would mean presenting your story to a jury.
There may also be active class-action lawsuits involving multiple plaintiffs. We can provide the guidance for joining those lawsuits.
The support we offer begins with a free case evaluation where you can share your story, and we can answer all your questions.
Call to get that support started today.
