Months after Harbor Freight recalled 454,000 jack stands because they posed a safety risk, the retailer has now announced that it is recalling the replacement stands. According to a USA Today news report, the company’s CEO and founder, Eric Smidt, wrote in a message to consumers that he is “disappointed and embarrassed” because they have identified a welding defect in a small number of Pittsburgh 3 ton steel jack stands that replaced the recalled jack stands. Smidt said the defect was discovered after the initial recall investigation.
Consumers Can Return the Stands
Harbor Freight is asking anyone who owns one of these replacement stands or the original, recalled jack stands to stop using them immediately and bring them back to a store for a full cash refund or store credit. The original recall was issued because the jack stands had the potential to drop suddenly and cause serious injury for people near or under a lifted vehicle.
Smidt said the company is not recalling other Pittsburgh steel jack stands because their investigation did not find the defect in these items. However, consumers can still choose to return them. For more information, visit harborfreight.com/js-details.
Product Defect Law
All manufacturers have a responsibility and a legal obligation to manufacture products that are safe for consumers. In this particular case, the manufacturer issued a product defect recall for jack stands that could collapse and cause severe injuries. However, the replacement stands that the company made after the recall also contained manufacturing defects, which continue to make the products dangerous and unusable. In product liability cases, manufacturers, retailers, distributors and other parties can be held liable for the injuries, damages or losses caused.
When a dangerous or defective product causes serious injuries or death, victims or families of deceased victims have rights. Injured victims can file a product liability claim against the manufacturer seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, permanent injury, pain and suffering. Families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking damages as well. An experienced product liability lawyer will be able to advise victims or families in such cases regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/07/harbor-freight-jack-stands-recall/5393897002/
