In simple words, product liability is holding a manufacturer or seller responsible for a product defect. That is, if you suffer an injury or were exposed to an unreasonable danger because of a product defect, the responsibility is on the makers of the product. Of course, it has to be proven that you were not negligent.
Amongst product liability cases, appliances used in the kitchen make up a huge portion of that. Common defects include faulty electrical appliances and defective heating units. Fires and personal injury have resulted from these cases.
We’ll discuss the common defects that occur in kitchen appliances.
Common defects of kitchen appliances
Defective Exhaust Ducts
Some kitchen appliances like washers and dryers have exhaust ducts as part of the machines. An exhaust duct is like a drainage system, but for smoke. It is essentially a conveying system that moves the smoke to the chimney.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, defective washers and dryers cause more than 16,000 house fires every year.
Electrical Defects
Electrical defects also account for thousands of house fires every year. Electrically defective appliances may not turn off when you switch them off or may come on by themselves and so cause fires. The most common hazards that come from electrically defective appliances are fires. And as you know, house fires lead to the destruction of property and sometimes the loss of lives.
Defective Components
In 2018, Whirlpool recalled 310,000 Kitchenaid kettles. The company received many reports that the handles were separating from the body of the kettle which led to spills that sometimes caused burns. At the time of the recall, tens of thousands of units have already been sold in the US. This is one example of a defective product due to the components of the appliance. The handle was not suited for the kettle.
Conclusion
If you’ve been a victim of a defective product injury, you’re entitled to file a product liability claim. In court, you’ll have to prove that the defect is the cause of the manufacturer, the assembler, or the seller. You may have to prove that you were not negligent. As long as a sale was made, you can sue the manufacturer. That is, if you bought the product or someone gifted you a product that they bought, you’re entitled to sue.
Shoop law corporation has been working for many years fighting personal injury cases in court. Shoop has won $550 million in settlements. Feel free to reach out.
