The Dangers of Defective Household Appliances

Sometimes, the products we use around the house are unsafe because manufacturers put their profit ahead of our safety. At Larson Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we hold manufacturers accountable for defective products that you use in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, patio, or any other part of the house. Our product liability lawyers work with product safety experts, your doctors, and other professionals to show why the manufacturers are liable and to help you obtain all the compensation you deserve.

When is a product defective?

Products are considered defective if:

• Something is wrong with the design
• The product is not properly constructed
• The instructions are unclear
• The manufacturer fails to provide warnings about known dangers

If a household appliance has a design defect, every appliance built according to that blueprint will likely be defective.

What types of household appliances are defective?

Some of the different types of household appliances that have been the subject of recalls or litigation include the following:

• Kitchen appliances. Toasters, microwaves, and ovens may be defective if they overheat or catch fire due to faulty electrical wiring, a lack of ventilation, or other causes. Kitchen appliances that ignite or spread sparks can cause a catastrophic fire within just a short period.
• Electrical appliances. Any home electrical appliance, including dryers, dishwashers, fryers, hot plates, electric coffee makers, and washing machines, can cause a fire if there is a short circuit, the wires are damaged, the installation is improper, or for other reasons.
• Many Minot residents use heaters in the winter when the chill can be unbearable. Heaters that malfunction can cause fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, and explosions.
• Dishwashers and washing machines. Defects in these household appliances can cause leaks, water damage, mold, and electrical dangers. The defects may include clogged or broken hoses, worn seals, and fault installation.
• Gas appliance. Stoves, furnaces, water heaters, and any home appliance that use gas can easily cause flames and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Other types of household appliances that are dangerous include pressure cookers, slow cookers, and refrigerators.

What is a product liability claim?

If your home appliance causes injuries or the death of anyone in the home, our Minot and Fargo product defect attorneys file a product liability claim against the responsible parties. Generally, the responsible parties are the manufacturer, the distributor of the household appliance, and the seller of the household appliance.

We may assert the following grounds:

• Strict liability. Manufacturers are generally strictly liable if the products they make are defective and the defect causes harm. There is no requirement to prove fault – that the manufacturer failed to follow certain design, testing, and other safety standards.
• Breach of warranty. Manufacturers of household appliances normally provide specific express warranties that guarantee the safety of their products for a specified period of time. They also normally provide implied warranties, such as that the product will be fit for its intended purpose.
• A manufacturer can be held liable if it fails to follow acceptable industry standards for the type of household appliance or fails to design, test, and market the product reasonably.

For a household appliance to be considered defective in North Dakota, the appliance must be “unreasonably dangerous.” In North Dakota, a product is considered “unreasonably dangerous” if the product is dangerous beyond what an ordinary buyer, consumer, or user of the product would expect – considering the product’s regular risks and dangers – and the level of training or experience necessary to use the product.

In addition to the manufacturer, every business or person in the supply chain may be liable if a product defect causes harm. To hold a seller liable in a product liability claim, the accident victim must show that the seller was involved in the design or manufacture of the household appliance or the instructions and warnings about the use of the household appliance.

A few other considerations include determining if a safer alternative was available and whether the appliance could not have been modified to be used safely.

Our Minot defective product lawyers also file claims against electricians, repair companies, and others for the improper repair or installation of household appliances.

Larson Law Injury & Accident Lawyers also works with product safety experts who can explain why household appliances are defective.

What types of injuries do defective household appliances cause?

At Larson Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, our product liability lawyers work with your doctors (and our network of doctors when necessary) to verify your injuries, the medical care you need, the cost of the medical care, your inability to work, your pain and suffering, and all the ways your injuries affect every aspect of your life.

Some of the injuries that are common to household appliance defects include:

• Burn injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Electric shock and electrocution
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Crush injuries, including internal bleeding and internal organ damage
• Fractures/broken bones
• Chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain
• Other severe, permanent, or catastrophic injuries
• Death

We understand how upset and worried you are. You never expected that a home product that is supposed to make your life easier and more enjoyable could explode, ignite, fall, or cause harm in any way. Now your life is seeing doctors and worrying about your bills. At Larson Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we have the experience and professional relationships to help you obtain justice. Call our Minot product defect lawyers now or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation in Fargo, Minot, or Bismarck.