Don't Be Stuck With Unpaid Medical Bills After a Defective Appliance Fire
While household appliances are ubiquitous, many Americans are injured by appliances every year. If you are injured by an overheating appliance even though you were using the appliance properly, then you'll want to get to the bottom of what went wrong. Depending on the cause, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Why Household Appliances Can Become Dangerous
Some household appliances are faulty by design. For example, an appliance might be designed in a manner where it is prone to overheating and might cause a fire. It may also become so hot that it burns anyone who attempts to use it. This might be due to the fact that the appliance was not designed with enough ventilation. Or, the appliance might have been made with substandard materials.
Even if the design for the appliance is sound, there could have been an issue with the manufacturing process that introduced defects to the appliance that then made it inherently dangerous. This is an important distinction and you'll need help from a personal injury attorney who can investigate the original reason for the appliance becoming defective so you'll know who to seek compensation from.
The product might be dangerous depending on how it is used but may not come with the appropriate instructions. You may be able to seek compensation for the appliance failing to include the proper warnings.
Appliances That Can Overheat
Appliances that overheat include:
- Space heaters
- Toasters
- Stoves
- Ovens
Any other appliances that are designed to heat up can cause fires. Also, any appliances that use a lot of electricity can overheat. Electrical wiring that becomes damaged can cause electric sparks that can lead to fires being started as well.
Damages Caused By Overheating Appliances
When an appliance overheats, it can create a fire that might burn your property down. Any fire caused by the appliance might lead to injuries due to smoke inhalation and fire burns. However, even if the appliance does not catch on fire, you may be injured simply by touching it when it is overheated.
This might cause scars and you may also be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering. However, you and your attorney will need to calculate all of the damages so you can maximize your compensation. The last thing you want is to be left with expensive medical bills and no way to pay them.
To learn more about receiving compensation after a defective appliance starts on fire, contact a personal injury attorney.