The earliest household appliances such as toasters, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, irons, and small countertop ovens, household appliances have evolved into sophisticated, multifunctional pieces of equipment. Since the invention of the electric toaster in 1905, American homes have embraced all types of assistive, labor-saving technologies known as “appliances.”
Today, we can choose from simple appliances like hand mixers and toasters to the more sophisticated such as pressure cookers, electrically heated mops, air fryers, food processors, and high-speed blenders. All these products are designed to save time and make cooking and living easier.
Many original appliances were not designed with safety in mind. Burn and cut injuries were common, and eventually, manufacturers were required to incorporate safety features into the designs.
Unfortunately, many modern appliances may not be expertly designed or manufactured. And in some cases, household appliances we presume are safe to use can cause severe injuries.
Product Liability
Anytime a company produces and sells a product that ultimately harms someone, it comes under Texas’ product liability laws.
There are three types:
- Design defects, in which you must show that the defect was the actual cause of the injury or death and that a safer alternative existed
- Manufacturing defects, in which a product defect went through production and evaded quality control, and may not be in every unit sold to the public
- Failure to warn, in which a company did not offer adequate instruction for the use and handling of the product. If the product had an unforeseen or unexpected danger, sellers may also be held responsible if the manufacturer is outside the US or has become insolvent.
Also an injured plaintiff bringing an action in a Texas product liability case must act within the statute of limitations. That is, within 15 years of the purchase of the product and within two years of the date of the injury.
Section §82.005 of the Texas Product Liability Act also details that the plaintiff is required to show that the defect was the cause of the injury, property damage, or wrongful death and that there was an alternate design that was safer than the one used.
The Most Dangerous Appliances
Anything that heats up or has sharp blades is most likely something that can cause injuries. Some of the most dangerous appliances in the home include.
- Irons
- Toasters and toaster ovens
- Coffee makers
- Food processors, blenders, and anything else with a sharp blade
- Space heaters
- Microwave ovens
- Dishwashers
- Stoves and cooktops
Even when used correctly, many of these appliances can lead to injuries, especially if there is a defect.
Ninja Blender Injuries
Most people understand that by design, blenders generally have sharp blades. SharkNinja, the company that sells an entire line of high-end appliances under the Ninja name, is facing particular scrutiny after many consumers were injured by their blenders. These appliances utilize powerful motors and have detached blades that are loose inside the canister and can cause severe cuts if the user isn’t aware of this design.
In one case, a woman was using the Nutri Ninja BL480, a smaller blender used for making smoothies. She turned it on with the container firmly attached to the base. The container then flew off the motor base without the blades, causing three of her fingers to become severely damaged. The user alleged that the container was not secured by the jar’s threads. The threads were not strong enough to protect it from the motor’s high pressure and keep it safely attached to the motor and the blade assembly.
SharkNinja also recalled more than 1 million Ninja BL660 blenders after consumers sustained injuries when they removed the lid or attempted to pour liquid from the container with the non-attached blade still in the container. The company recalled a total of 12 different professional-style blenders after 53 reports of laceration injuries.
Your Houston Appliance Injury Attorney
Whether you were injured by a Ninja Blender or suffered an injury by any number of household appliances, you shouldn’t deal with the aftermath on your own.
Contact Paxton Law Firm today, and we’ll review your case and advise you of your rights. The Paxton Law Firm believes in taking the stress of dealing with your legal battles and turning a negative situation into the best possible outcome. We offer free consultations, and you do not pay any legal fees until we recover for you.
