How Do Defective Household Products Cause Injury?

Content Legally Reviewed By Matt Conner

You do everything you can to keep your loved ones safe, but is every item in your home free of defects and operating as it should? Defective products harm people every day in the United States.

In fact, all it takes is a quick look at the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s annual report page to see how many injuries and deaths come from ordinary household products. They have statistics for everything from carbon monoxide, to electrocutions from household products, to accidental poisonings.

The reality is everyone will come into contact with a defective product in their lifetime. However, that does not mean that everyone will suffer catastrophic injuries and losses. For those that do, there are legal options that allow them to seek compensation for those injuries and return them to a financially whole state.

Defective Product Claims Could Be on the Rise

With so many stay-at-home orders from COVID-19 and more individuals staying and working from home, the likelihood of more defective product claims entering the courts is likely. That does not excuse the manufacturer. Manufacturers have a strict obligation to the public that, if they are selling a product, the product must be free of harm. If there is a risk to using that product or household item, then the manufacturer must clearly state those risks, give proper operating instructions, and do everything they can to ensure no one is harmed while using a product as intended.

What Injuries Are Common from Defective Household Products?

A defective product can come from anywhere in the home. It can be an electrical appliance, a cleaning chemical, yard work equipment, or even your home’s hardware. These defective products can impact an entire household in an extremely negative way. Whether it is you that suffers injury or a loved one, you will find yourself facing physical, emotional, mental, and financial trauma.

Some common injuries include:

• Broken bones and fractures. A common injury from defective equipment includes broken bones and fractures. These might heal fully, while others could leave a person with chronic pain, requiring long-term physical therapy, or never heal completely and leave a person permanently disabled. While some may see broken bones or fractures as minor, there is a high potential for these to be serious, long-term injuries a victim suffers.
• Burns and scars. Electrical, chemical, or other fire-related burns are traumatic. These can leave a person permanently disfigured, and in some cases, require expensive reconstructive surgery. If these burns or scars appear on someone’s face, it can lead to emotional trauma and suffering. For example, a small child that is permanently scarred from a chemical will live with that scar the rest of his or her life – as a constant reminder of the defective product which caused them harm.
• Traumatic brain injuries. Another common injury seen is a traumatic brain injury. Not only can these be serious immediately after they occur, but for more serious injuries, a person may have permanent deficits, be left disabled and unable to care for themselves. The long-term medical care and treatments associated with these injuries could easily bankrupt even the more financially stable family.
• Amputations. A defective tool, such as a saw, could lead to amputations of fingers, toes, or even a limb, depending on the severity of the injury.

Holding Manufacturers Accountable for Their Defective Products

Manufacturers are required to make safe products, but that does not mean that all household items out there are 100 percent safe. In fact, there are items in your home right now that you know are unsafe, but if you use them correctly, there is little to no risk to you or your loved ones. For example, a lawnmower keeps your grass cut and yard looking great, and it is not hazardous when used correctly. If, however, you were to ignore all safety instructions and warnings, and say try to repair the blades while they were moving, then that is no longer on the manufacturer – that is on you.

Other times, you could have used the item per the instructions and the defense will still try to argue that you were partially at fault or that you did not follow all instructions. Even a minor deviation will be used against you because the ultimate goal of any insurance company or defense attorney is to lower the compensation value of a case. Even if they know their product is defective, they will not offer the settlement you deserve right away.

That is why you need an attorney. An attorney knows what the defense will do to try and discredit you, and they know how to collect evidence and present it to the other side, leaving them with little to no options other than to pay you what you deserve. Most importantly, they know how to value your case. They know the compensation you need right now as well as the compensation for items you might not have even considered, such as future medical costs, lost wages, and the emotional toll the incident takes on you and your loved ones the rest of your life.

Hire an Experienced Attorney Today

If you or a loved one were injured by a defective product, you deserve maximum compensation for your case. Contact the team at Brett McCandlis Brown & Connor, PLLC now. Our team has helped countless families just like yours hold manufacturers responsible for faulty products. Schedule a consultation with our team or contact us online to learn more.

About the Author

Matt Conner

Matt Conner has a proven track record of success. Following his graduation from Willamette University with a double major in mathematics and economics, Matt worked as an economist for the Office of Economic Analysis for the State of Oregon before moving onto working in mortgage banking and real estate. Although Matt would move on to law school shortly thereafter, his experience in the financial sector has provided him with valuable experience in how to achieve maximum compensation for his clients.

Learn More About Matt