How to Avoid Everyday Products That Hurt People
As a Memphis personal injury lawyer with decades of product liability experience, I’ve seen firsthand the many everyday products that hurt people. What’s more, I’ve seen a number of people not know how to talk about their injuries and not realize the rights they have after something goes wrong.
When you think of dangerous products, you might imagine heavy machinery or construction equipment. But many common household items pose serious risks that most people don’t think about day to day.
Appliances can overheat and catch fire. Power tools can malfunction and cause life-changing injuries. Cleaning chemicals can create toxic fumes. Even children’s toys, which we assume are designed for safety, can contain choking hazards or harmful materials.
We trust these products because they’re sold in major stores and marketed as safe. But that trust isn’t always deserved.
How Do These Injuries Happen?
Many product injuries happen because of design flaws – meaning the product is unsafe even when used correctly.
For example, if a slow cooker’s exterior gets dangerously hot during normal use, or if a power tool is sold without a proper safety guard, that’s a design problem.
But we also see a lot of accidents from inadequate or unclear warnings. Some products are only safe when used a certain way, but the instructions are buried in tiny print or written in confusing language. If a company doesn’t clearly warn users about real risks, that’s on them – not you.
Companies know that most consumers will blame themselves if something goes wrong. That silence benefits the manufacturers, but it hurts people who don’t realize they may have a legal claim.
Common Household Products That Can Cause Injuries
Here are a few examples of everyday items that are surprisingly risky:
1. Air Fryers
Air fryers have soared in popularity, but several brands have faced recalls for:
- Overheating and catching fire
- Melting plastic components
- Burns due to poorly insulated handles or lids
Many of these injuries could have been prevented with safer materials or better safety switches.
2. Power Tools
Drills, saws, and sanders are useful but dangerous if poorly designed. Risk factors include:
- Missing safety guards
- Faulty batteries that overheat
- Lack of proper shut-off mechanisms
- Vibration injuries from long-term use
Even experienced users can get hurt when the tool fails unexpectedly.
3. Cleaning Chemicals
Mixing certain cleaners (like bleach and ammonia) can create toxic fumes that burn your lungs. But warning labels are often:
- Hard to find
- Full of scientific jargon
- Not clear about what not to mix
Some products are even packaged in ways that look similar to food or drinks, putting children at risk.
You shouldn’t have to carefully Google every possible way a product can kill you before you use it to clean your sink. These products need to be labeled appropriately.
4. Children’s Toys and Baby Products
Parents trust companies to keep kids safe, but recalls happen every year. Hazards can include:
- Small parts that break off and become choking hazards
- Toxic materials in paint or plastics
- Sleep products that increase suffocation risk
To make matters worse, many parents don’t even learn about recalls until after an injury happens.
Why Don’t We Hear More About These Injuries?
Most people feel embarrassed when an everyday product injures them. They assume they “used it wrong.”
Shame can be a powerful force in silencing people. No one wants to look stupid or feel responsible for something that happened to them or their loved one.
And companies count on that. They’ll often blame the consumers to avoid responsibility.They may imply the user misused the product or didn’t follow instructions closely enough.
But if a product is unreasonably dangerous or lacks the warnings needed to use it safely that is not your fault.
You Don’t Have to Stay Quiet After Using Products that Hurt People
If a defective or dangerous product has injured you or someone you love, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Ongoing pain and recovery needs
- Emotional impact
- and more.
We help people uncover the truth and hold companies accountable. And we don’t win anything unless and until we win your case, so there’s nothing to lose.
If you’ve been injured by an everyday item in your home, you’re not alone – and you very well may not be to blame. In fact, we have a whole area of the law called product liability, because companies have a responsibility to make safe products and warn consumers about real risks.
When they fail to do that, they can and should be held accountable.
If you or a loved one has been hurt by a defective household product, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us online today or call 901-327-2100 to get started with a free conversation.