Exploding Blenders And Product Liability: What Consumers Should Know About Appliance Defects
Household appliances are designed to simplify our lives while making them safer. Coffee makers, blenders, and other appliances are some of the products that we depend on to perform our day-to-day activities. But what about those household appliances that are defectively designed or made? Even an ordinary household appliance like a blender can turn dangerous and threaten our safety. In recent years, lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers for exploding blenders. These lawsuits help injured consumers hold companies that manufacture defective products accountable for their negligence.
Background of the lawsuit
In a recent lawsuit that garnered a great deal of media attention, a consumer sued a high-powered blender manufacturer, alleging that their blender exploded during normal usage. According to the lawsuit, the container part of the blender failed due to pressure, resulting in serious injury that required immediate medical attention.
The manufacturer knew or should have known about the danger that was being presented by their product. In a product liability suit like this one, the plaintiff will often argue that the blender was defectively designed or manufactured in a way that allowed pressure to build inside the container during normal usage. When the container or the cap fails, the contents are propelled out in a violent manner, which can result in burns or other serious injuries for the consumer.
In a product liability lawsuit like this one, the manufacturer failed to properly test the product or heed previous complaints that had already occurred. If previous complaints or injuries have already occurred, then the manufacturer failed to redesign the product or issue adequate warnings to the consumer.
Product liability law and defective appliances
Product liability law enables injured consumers to seek compensation if a defective product caused them harm. In most cases, product liability suits are divided into three categories. These include:
- Design defects – The product is defective in its design, and as a result, it is dangerous for consumers, even if it was made according to specifications.
- Manufacturing defects – This type of defect occurs when something goes wrong in the manufacturing process, resulting in a product that is different from its original design.
- Failure to warn – This occurs when a product does not contain adequate warning about an inherent danger.
In exploding appliance cases, design defects and failure to warn are common arguments made by plaintiffs in their product liability suits. For example, a blender may need certain features, such as a pressure-relieving device, so that its container does not explode during use.
Key takeaways for consumers
Manufacturers must ensure their products don’t pose a safety hazard. In many cases, their first indication that something is wrong is an injury report from a consumer. This can result in a recall. In other cases, the company does nothing about the problem. Either way, they are liable for the injuries caused by their product. This is where a Florida product liability attorney can be of great help.
Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today
Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of injured consumers in product liability lawsuits. If you’ve been injured by a dangerous or defective product, call our Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment.
