During the colder winter months, many people use space heaters to help save on heating bills and to warm up cold or drafty parts of their home or office. These devices can make a room much more comfortable and allow consumers to selectively heat areas of their living or working space. Unfortunately, these devices are also inherently dangerous. They are capable of becoming extremely hot and can ignite furniture, drapery, or other household items if they are left on for too long or placed too close to objects. In addition, they are often capable of causing severe burns without starting a fire at all. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports1 that electric space heaters were involved in an average of 1,200 fires per year between 2008 and 2010.
While all space heaters are dangerous, they can be particularly dangerous when they are defectively designed, designed, or manufactured. Fortunately for victims, when these kinds of defects cause injury, Michigan products liability law2 often people who are injured to significant recovery. Below is some information about the kinds of space heater defects that often lead to serious injury. For specific information regarding your case, you should talk to an experienced Michigan defective products attorney as soon as possible.
Common space heater defects
There are a number of space heater defects that have the potential to cause injury. Some of the most common include the following:
- Improper materials used in construction
- Defective temperature controls
- Poorly constructed or attached electrical wiring
- Insufficient warnings regarding use
- Defective fans
- Defective oscillating mechanisms
- Defective thermostats
- Faulty auto-shutoff switches
- Poor design making the likelihood of burns or fires more likely
If you believe that your injuries were caused by a defective space heater, you should have an experienced attorney review the facts of your case as soon as possible. In many instances, the fact that a particular device was defective may not be apparent to the untrained eye. When you retain an attorney, he or she will fully investigate your case and determine whether you can assert a legal claim against the manufacturer or some other party in order to recover for your injuries. It is important for victims to be aware of the fact that these kinds of claims are subject to Michigan’s statute of limitations, meaning that any delay in filing a claim could jeopardize you right to recover for your injuries and other losses.
Contact a Michigan defective products attorney today to discuss your case
People who are injured by defective consumer products can often obtain significant financial compensation for their losses. The kinds of damages often available in a Michigan products liability case include those for medical bills, property damage, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and lost income, as well as others. In some instances, significant punitive damages may also be available. At Michigan Injury Lawyers, we have committed to helping our clients get their lives back on track as soon as possible and have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. To schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys, call our office today at (313) 438-4357.
References:
1 https://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Safety%20Education/Home-Appliances-Maintenance-Structure/098.pdf
2 http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28hw33x100mk3s5qnlz2fznzju%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectname=mcl-600-2946
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