What Legal Action Can You Take?
You trust the appliances in your New York home. The toaster that browns your bagel each morning. The pressure cooker that promises a fast, delicious dinner. The small space heater that takes the chill out of a bedroom.
You use them every day without a second thought. They are designed to make your life easier and more comfortable.
But what happens when that trust is broken?
A sudden flash. A burst of scalding steam. A fire that starts without warning. When a household appliance malfunctions, the results can be catastrophic. Like the flip of a switch, your life can be turned upside down by a severe burn injury, property damage, and deep emotional trauma.
You are left in pain, facing mounting medical bills, and wondering how something so ordinary could go so wrong.
If this has happened to you or a family member, you have options. More importantly, you have rights. The companies that design, manufacture, and sell these products have a legal duty to ensure they are safe for consumers.
When they fail in this duty, they can and should be held accountable.
Contact Hach & Rose Today for a Free Consultation
The Hidden Dangers in Everyday Appliances
We often hear about major product recalls on the news. But many dangerous defects go unnoticed by the public until it is too late. Seemingly harmless devices can harbor serious flaws that lead to life-altering injuries.
These incidents are not just “freak accidents.” They are often the result of companies cutting corners to save money, rushing products to market, or failing to conduct proper safety testing.
Some of the appliances frequently involved in injury claims include:
- Pressure Cookers and Instant Pots: A defective sealing ring or a faulty lid-locking mechanism can cause the lid to fly off under pressure. This can spray scalding hot liquid and food, causing severe, disfiguring burns.
- Toasters and Toaster Ovens: Faulty wiring or malfunctioning sensors can cause these devices to overheat. They may fail to shut off, catching fire and potentially igniting nearby kitchen towels or cabinets.
- Air Fryers: Like toasters, these popular gadgets can have electrical defects or faulty components that create a serious fire hazard.
- Space Heaters: A lack of an automatic tip-over shut-off switch or an inadequate design can lead to overheating. When placed near flammable materials like curtains, bedding, or rugs, they can easily start a devastating fire.
- Coffee Makers: Defective wiring or thermostat controls can cause these machines to overheat, melt, and ignite.
- Lithium-Ion Batteries: Found in everything from vacuums to laptops to e-cigarettes, these batteries can have manufacturing defects that cause them to overheat, explode, and start intense fires that are difficult to extinguish.
- Washing Machines and Dryers: Electrical faults can cause fires. In some cases, washing machines have been known to vibrate so violently due to design flaws that they essentially explode, causing serious impact injuries and property damage.
When you are injured by one of these products, the path forward can seem confusing. You may wonder who is to blame. Is it the store where you bought it? The company whose name is on the box? This is where the legal field of product liability provides a clear path to accountability.
Product Liability in New York
Product liability is the area of law that deals with injuries caused by unsafe or defective products. In New York, the law provides powerful protections for consumers.
It recognizes that you, as an individual, cannot be expected to test every product for safety. That responsibility lies with the businesses that profit from them.
To hold a company responsible, you generally do not need to prove that they were intentionally malicious.
The law allows for several ways to establish a claim. An experienced product liability attorney will determine the strongest legal strategy for your specific case.
There are three main legal theories used in these cases:
Strict liability
This is often the most direct path to justice for injured victims. Under the rule of strict liability, you do not need to prove that the manufacturer was careless or negligent.
Negligence
A negligence claim focuses more on the company’s actions or inaction. To prove negligence, your attorney must show that a company in the chain of distribution failed to use reasonable care. This could have happened at any stage.
Breach of warranty
When you buy a product, it comes with certain promises, or “warranties.” These can be expressed or implied.
- Express Warranty: This is a specific promise made by the seller. It could be a statement in an advertisement (“This heater is 100% safe for indoor use”) or a guarantee on the packaging.
- Implied Warranty: This is a promise that is not written or spoken but is understood to exist. The most common is the “implied warranty of merchantability.” This means the product is reasonably fit for its ordinary purpose. A toaster that catches fire is clearly not fit for its purpose.
If a product fails to live up to these warranties and you are injured as a result, the company has breached its promise. This can be a strong basis for a legal claim.
The Three Types of Product Defects
When we say a product is “defective,” it can mean one of three things. Identifying the specific type of defect is a critical step in building a successful case.
- Design defects: The problem is with the product’s very blueprint. The entire product line is dangerous, even if each one is manufactured perfectly according to plan. A classic example is a pressure cooker designed without a safety valve to prevent it from being opened while still under pressure. No matter how well it is built, the design itself is fundamentally unsafe.
- Manufacturing defects: The design was safe, but something went wrong during the production process. A mistake on the assembly line, a contaminated batch of materials, or a failure in quality control created a flaw in one specific unit or batch of units. For example, a single batch of coffee makers might have been assembled with frayed wires, making them a fire risk while the rest of the product line is safe.
- Marketing defects (Failure to Warn): The product may be designed and manufactured correctly, but it has hidden dangers that are not obvious to a consumer. The defect lies in the lack of adequate instructions or warnings. For instance, if a powerful cleaning agent can cause chemical burns but lacks a clear warning label about wearing gloves, the manufacturer could be liable for failing to warn users of that risk.
An experienced attorney analyzes the failed appliance with engineers and industry experts. They pinpoint the exact type of defect, which is essential for proving your case and holding the right companies responsible.
The True Cost of an Appliance Injury
The harm caused by a defective appliance goes far beyond the initial incident. The consequences can impact your health, your finances, and your family’s well-being for years to come.
This is why seeking compensation that covers the full scope of your losses is so important.
- Economic damages: These are the measurable financial losses you have suffered.
- All past and future medical expenses (emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, skin grafts, physical therapy, medication).
- Lost wages from being unable to work.
- Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries leave you with a long-term disability.
- The cost to repair or replace your home and belongings after a fire.
- Non-economic damages: These damages compensate you for the profound personal losses that do not have a specific price tag.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress and mental anguish.
- Disfigurement and scarring from burns.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
In New York, you deserve compensation for every aspect of your suffering. Insurance companies will try to downplay these non-economic losses. We make sure they are fully recognized.
Critical Steps in the Days and Weeks After an Appliance Injury
The initial shock of the accident may have passed. But now you are navigating the difficult reality of recovery. In the days and weeks after being hurt by a faulty appliance, the path forward can feel overwhelming.
You are likely dealing with pain, medical appointments, and growing financial stress. The steps you take during this period are vital for protecting both your long-term health and your legal rights.
- Follow through with all medical care. Your initial emergency room visit was just the beginning. It is essential to attend every follow-up appointment with your doctor, see any specialists they recommend, and diligently follow your prescribed treatment plan.
This includes physical therapy, wound care, and taking medication. Doing so not only supports your physical recovery but also creates a clear and continuous medical record. This record is crucial for proving the full extent of your injuries and their impact on your life.
- Safeguard the defective appliance. By now, you may be tempted to get the broken appliance out of your sight. It is critical that you resist this urge. The product itself is the single most important piece of evidence in your case. Do not throw it away, try to fix it, or return it to the store.
Keep it in a safe, dry place where it cannot be altered. If you have not already, continue to take pictures of your injuries as they evolve — this helps document the healing process, and more importantly, any scarring or disfigurement that remains.
- Maintain a detailed record of your losses. Now is the time to be organized. Create a dedicated folder for everything related to the incident.
- Financial documents: Collect all medical bills, pharmacy receipts, pay stubs showing lost work time, and records of any other related expenses, such as travel costs for doctor visits.
- Pain and impact journal: Continue to write down how your injuries affect you daily. Note your pain levels. More importantly, describe the specific ways your life has changed. Can you no longer lift your child? Do you need help with simple tasks like cooking or cleaning? These details provide a powerful account of your suffering.
- Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters. In the weeks following the incident, the manufacturer’s insurance company may become more persistent. They may call you, expressing sympathy and asking for “your side of the story.”
Remember, these adjusters are highly trained to protect their company. Their goal is to get you to say something that minimizes your injury or suggests you were somehow at fault. You have no obligation to speak with them. Politely decline and tell them your attorney will be in contact.
- Consult with an experienced New York product liability attorney. Dealing with the aftermath of a serious injury is a heavy burden. You do not have to carry it alone. This is the perfect time to seek legal guidance.
An experienced attorney can lift the weight off your shoulders by handling all communication with the insurance company, preserving evidence, and building a powerful case on your behalf.
In New York, strict deadlines limit your time to file a lawsuit. Consulting an attorney now ensures your rights are protected before it is too late.
Take the First Step Toward Justice Today
If a defective household appliance has injured you or a loved one in New York City, do not delay. The law limits the amount of time you have to file a claim.
Taking aggressive action is not just about getting money; it is about holding a corporation accountable and ensuring no other family has to go through what you have experienced.
Contact the dedicated product liability attorneys at Hach & Rose, LLP today. We provide sound and honest legal representation with diligence and integrity. Let us put our experience to work for you.
Call us now at (212) 779-0057 for a free and completely confidential consultation. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe us nothing unless we win your case.
Ayuda Legal en Español Para la Comunidad de Nueva York
En Hach & Rose, LLP, nuestro equipo habla español. Si usted o un ser querido ha resultado herido en un accidente, estamos aquí para servir a la comunidad hispana de New York. Usted merece entender sus derechos y opciones legales en su propio idioma.
Lucharemos incansablemente para conseguirle la justicia y la compensación que necesita. Llame hoy al (212) 779-0057 para una consulta gratuita y confidencial con nuestro equipo.