We’ve all heard about everyday products we use in our homes that can be dangerous and put users at risk. While that may sound dramatic or over the top, recent reports confirm this statement is not too far from the truth.
Here are just some of the dangerous products we’ve heard about over the years that have caused catastrophic injuries or even death.
Dangerous Furniture
You don’t often think of beds as dangerous. But a defective bed was lethal for Helen Davey. The 39-year-old British woman leaned into the storage unit under her ottoman-style bed, and the faulty mattress platform slammed shut, trapping her neck under its weight.
The pistons holding the mattress aloft had failed, causing it to pin the woman’s neck against the bed’s base. She died minutes later. The medical examiner ruled the cause of her death as “positional asphyxia,” meaning the weight of the bed pressed against her windpipe, suffocating her.
There are numerous examples of dangerous furniture here in the U.S. as well. One of the most notorious cases involved Ikea’s dressers, which could tip over and crush people, especially young children. Millions of these products were recalled over several years. These products have resulted in at least nine child deaths.
Dressers that are not adequately balanced or secured can tip over if a child pulls on drawers, climbs on them, or places weight unevenly. Heavy furniture and a child’s smaller size make these incidents particularly deadly.
Some dressers have design flaws that increase instability, such as narrow bases, high centers of gravity, or insufficient weight distribution.
Manufacturers may neglect to include anti-tip brackets or other safety features. While voluntary safety standards exist, not all manufacturers comply. Unsafe dressers without proper testing or certification may enter the market, putting children at risk.
Exploding Washing Machines
Due to safety risks, incidents involving exploding washing machines in the U.S. have drawn significant attention. Reports of explosions have been linked to various models, including Samsung, Whirlpool, Maytag, and GE washers.
Specific top-load models sold between 2021 and 2022 were recalled due to risks of overheating and fires. These incidents involved issues with software control, causing 51 reported cases of overheating or fire, including 10 instances of property damage and 3 injuries from smoke inhalation. Consumers were advised to update their washer software or request assistance from Samsung for repairs.
Whirlpool and Maytag washers have also been scrutinized. The explosion of these machines is often tied to failures in internal components like bearings or counterweights. When the balancing mechanism fails, some defective washing machines can violently shake or explode during the spin cycle.
GE recalled over 180,000 front-load washing machines due to defective wiring that posed fire and shock risks. At least seven cases of minor fires or smoke damage were reported. GE advised owners to stop using the machines until repairs were completed.
Defective Lawnmowers
Faulty lawnmowers cause injuries and fatalities every year in the United States. These incidents often stem from design flaws, such as instability that leads to rollovers, inadequately shielded blades, or issues with automatic shutoff mechanisms.
Between 2005 and 2017, studies reported an average of 90 fatalities every year linked to lawnmower accidents, surpassing deaths caused by rare animal attacks like sharks or bears. Additionally, lawnmowers are responsible for thousands of serious injuries each year, including amputations, burns, and fractures, many of which are preventable.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), lawnmower accidents cause approximately 90-100 deaths annually in the United States.
Children are particularly vulnerable, accounting for a significant percentage of injuries. Each year, lawnmowers injure about 9,400 children, frequently due to rollovers, projectiles ejected by the mower, or direct blade contact.
These injuries commonly occur in rural areas, where lawnmowers are used more frequently. Tragically, lawnmowers are a leading cause of pediatric traumatic amputations in the United States.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has previously recalled lawnmowers for defects, such as models that unexpectedly restart even after the safety key is removed. Some manufacturers fail to include essential features like rollover protection or blade-shutoff mechanisms despite established safety standards.
Dangers in the Kitchen: Toasters, Blenders and Pressure Cookers
Injuries caused by faulty toasters, blenders, and cookers in the United States include burns, lacerations, and even more severe harm. Many of these injuries are due to design or manufacturing defects. Blenders, for example, have been linked to incidents where defective components cause explosions or blade malfunctions. In some cases, users have suffered severe cuts and burns.
A notable instance involved NutriBullet blenders, which caused injuries such as burns and facial trauma due to pressurized explosions. Lawsuits have alleged that manufacturing defects in the blending mechanism led to these hazards.
Toasters and toaster ovens can also pose significant risks. Defective heating elements or timers have been known to cause fires, even when the appliances are not actively used.
Accumulated crumbs or grease in the toaster can exacerbate this risk. Recent recalls have included toasters that overheated or caught fire, underscoring the importance of properly maintaining and inspecting such devices.
Defective pressure cookers have also caused numerous injuries nationwide, often resulting from safety malfunctions such as faulty seals, defective lids, or improper pressure release mechanisms. These failures can lead to explosions that eject scalding liquids and steam, causing severe burns, lacerations, and other injuries.
For instance, many users have reported incidents where the lids detached under pressure, unexpectedly releasing hot contents. In one case, a woman suffered extensive burns when her pressure cooker lid blew off despite built-in safety claims.
Similarly, product recalls, such as the Sensio Bella, Instant Pot, and Crock-Pot brands, highlight systemic design issues where lids failed to lock securely or pressure release mechanisms malfunctioned, creating dangerous conditions during use.
Injuries commonly associated with these accidents include second-and third-degree burns, scalds, and traumatic injuries from exploding parts. Some victims also report permanent scarring and long-term emotional distress due to these incidents.
Fitness Equipment: Treadmills
Treadmill accidents involving faulty Peloton models have raised significant safety concerns recently. In 2021, Peloton recalled its Tread+ model after multiple incidents. There was one fatality involving a child and dozens of other reported injuries.
The accidents were linked to the treadmill’s design, which allowed children, pets, and objects to be pulled under the machine, creating a severe entrapment hazard.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received 72 reports of injuries, including broken bones, lacerations, and abrasions, before the recall was issued. Peloton initially resisted calls for a recall but later cooperated, offering full refunds and improved safety features in redesigned models.
In addition to design defects, user errors and a lack of proper safety features, like adequate guards or stop mechanisms, have contributed to treadmill injuries.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning poses significant dangers in homes due to its invisible and odorless nature, making it difficult to detect without proper equipment. Here are the key dangers and precautions:
Sources of Carbon Monoxide
Various commonplace devices and activities can produce carbon monoxide, including:
- Fuel-burning appliances like water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and gas stoves.
- Wood-burning and gas fireplaces, wood stoves, and grills.
- Motor vehicles, especially when left running in attached garages or carports.
- Generators, power tools, lawn equipment, and fuel-burning lanterns.Charcoal grills, camp stoves, and portable gas camp stoves when used indoors.
Health Risks
Carbon monoxide is highly dangerous because it displaces oxygen in the blood by bonding with hemoglobin, leading to a lack of oxygen for cells, organs, and tissues. This can cause:
- Mild Exposure: Symptoms similar to the flu, including dizziness, headaches, nausea, sleepiness, fatigue, weakness, disorientation, and confusion.
- Medium Exposure: Throbbing headaches, drowsiness, disorientation, and an accelerated heart rate.
- Severe Exposure: Unconsciousness, convulsions, cardiorespiratory failure, coma, and death.
Potential Dangerous Household Items
Here are some household products that can pose significant safety risks in the United States:
1. Cleaning and household chemicals: Many contain toxic substances with potential poisoning, especially for children. Risk of chemical burns, dangerous if ingested or improperly mixed
2. Medications and prescription drugs: Accidental overdose, potential for child access, medication interactions, risk of poisoning
3. Power Tools: Potential for severe cuts, puncture wounds, electrical hazards, and risk of eye and body injuries, particularly dangerous without proper safety equipment
4. Electrical Appliances: Risk of electrical shock, potential fire hazards, and dangers from faulty wiring. Risks increase with older or damaged equipment
5. Kitchen Appliances: Sharp knives, hot surfaces, potential for burns, risk of fires from cooking equipment
If Dangerous or Defective Everyday Products have injured you
Taking the appropriate actions as soon as possible can protect your health and rights and potential claim for compensation if a defective product causes harm.
- Get medical attention and care for your injuries. Keep detailed records of your treatment and medical care expenses.
- Keep the defective product in its post-incident condition. Please do not attempt to repair or alter it, as it may be critical evidence in your case.
- Take photographs of the product, your injuries, and any damage caused. Record details about the accident, including the product’s purchase date and location.
- Research whether the product has been recalled. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website is a reliable source for this information.
- Contact product liability lawyers experienced in product defect cases. They can evaluate your claim, help identify liable parties, and navigate the legal process.
Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, you may be eligible for compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Our attorneys at Bisnar Chase have an outstanding record with cases involving dangerous and defective products. Contact us today for a free consultation.
