Burn Injuries from Defective Products: When Can You Sue the Manufacturer
Burn injuries are among the most painful and life-altering types of personal injury. When these injuries are caused by defective products—such as faulty electronics, flammable furniture, or malfunctioning appliances—victims may have the right to file a lawsuit against the product’s manufacturer. At Mainor Ellis in Las Vegas, we help individuals and families seek justice and compensation when defective products lead to serious burn injuries.
How Defective Products Cause Burn Injuries
Many everyday items have the potential to cause burns if something goes wrong. Some of the most common culprits include:
- Kitchen appliances (e.g., pressure cookers, microwaves, toasters)
- Personal electronics (e.g., cell phones, laptops, chargers, batteries)
- Space heaters and electric blankets
- Hair styling tools (e.g., curling irons, straighteners)
- Automotive parts (e.g., faulty fuel systems, airbags, or electrical components)
- Flammable furniture or clothing
Burn injuries may result from electrical malfunctions, overheating, explosions, or flammable materials that ignite too easily. These types of product failures often stem from poor design, substandard materials, or a lack of adequate safety warnings.
When Is a Manufacturer Liable?
Manufacturers can be held liable under product liability law if their defective or dangerous product causes injury. In Nevada, there are three main legal theories under which a burn injury victim can bring a lawsuit:
- Design Defect: The product’s design is inherently unsafe, even when used as intended. For example, a space heater that lacks automatic shut-off functionality when tipped over may be considered defectively designed.
- Manufacturing Defect: The product was properly designed but became dangerous due to an error in the manufacturing process, such as a wiring mistake that causes a device to overheat.
- Failure to Warn (Marketing Defect): The product lacked adequate warnings or instructions that could have prevented injury. For instance, if a chemical product can cause burns but the label doesn’t clearly warn users to wear gloves, this may support a failure-to-warn claim.
What Must You Prove?
To succeed in a product liability case, you must generally prove the following:
- The product was defective
- You used the product as intended or in a foreseeable way
- The defect directly caused your burn injury
- You suffered damages (such as medical bills, pain, or lost income)
Nevada follows a strict liability standard for product liability cases, meaning you don’t have to prove the manufacturer was negligent—only that the product was defective and caused your injury.
Compensation for Burn Injuries
Victims of burn injuries may be entitled to recover:
- Medical expenses (including future surgeries or rehabilitation)
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
- Punitive damages in extreme cases
Speak to a Las Vegas Product Liability Lawyer
If you or someone you love has suffered a burn injury caused by a defective product, you may have a right to seek compensation from the manufacturer or other responsible parties. At Mainor Ellis, our Las Vegas Product Liability Lawyers have the experience and resources to hold powerful corporations accountable.
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn your options and protect your legal rights.
Source:
leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-695E.html
