Amazon Seller From China Linked To Two Deaths, One Serious Injury
Amazon links with sellers all across the globe to bring consumer products into the homes of Americans. To what extent Amazon vets these products and their sellers remains a mystery. In many cases, consumers are being seriously injured by products they purchased on Amazon from foreign businesses.
According to a recent article by the New York Post, a Chinese-based seller on Amazon sold allegedly defective tools linked to two deaths and at least one major injury. According to the article, a 30-year-old father of three from Menifee, California, was working under his vehicle when the car jack he’d purchased from Amazon collapsed, causing the car to fall on top of him. The father suffered a fatal injury caused by “blunt force trauma,” according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed in January on behalf of his sons.
Another incident occurred in Alabama in February. An Alabama truck driver was using a Vevor “chain load binder” to tie down items on his truck when the chain failed, causing him to fall backward and break his neck. The family has hired an attorney to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Vevor has accrued several whistleblower complaints to U.S. consumer watchdog agencies concerning fake reviews on Amazon. The company has amassed 1,430 Better Business Bureau complaints over products alleged to be faulty and substandard customer service.
According to the Post’s article, Amazon is facing a growing number of product liability lawsuits. These lawsuits not only target the vendors who manufactured and sold the product, but also Amazon itself for placing the dangerous product into the stream of commerce.
Can you hold Amazon liable for defective products in Florida?
Yes, you can, but this is a bit of a tricky issue, with the answer varying from state to state. In California, an appeals court ruled that Amazon is responsible for connecting the consumer with the defective product and thus, can be held responsible for deaths and injuries caused by their products. On the other hand, Amazon has argued that it’s not a “retailer” but rather a “marketplace” in which vendors can make their products available to the public. They believe that you should only be able to file a lawsuit against the vendor on their site, and not the platform (Amazon itself). In some states, the courts have sided with Amazon. In other states, the courts have sided with the injured consumer.
The Florida courts have rejected Amazon’s argument that it is “just a marketplace” and is not, therefore, responsible for the quality of the products it places into the stream of commerce. However, Amazon stores, handles, and ships products to consumers, blurring the lines between marketplace and retailer.
Ultimately, if you were injured by a product on Amazon, you should consider hiring a Florida product liability attorney to pursue your claim against both the vendor and Amazon itself.
Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today
Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of consumers who have been injured by defective products. Call our Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your case right away.
Source:
nypost.com/2025/06/04/business/chinese-seller-on-amazon-sold-defective-tools-linked-to-deaths-life-changing-injuries-lawsuits/
