Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Attorneys

Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP may be able to help you file a lawsuit for the injuries you sustained from your faulty pressure cooker. Consumers all over the country are suing Tristar Products, and other manufacturers, for selling defective pressure cookers. In the lawsuits, plaintiffs stated that specific models exploded without warning and caused severe burns.

The manufacturers of best-selling pressure cookers are now at the center of allegations that they knew their products could cause physical harm. The various manufacturers facing legal action include:

• Tristar Products – Power Pressure Cooker XL
• Fagor America
• Tabletops Unlimited
• Maxi-Matic – Bistro Elite
• Nuwave, LLC
• Sunbeam Products, Inc.
• Wolfgang Puck Worldwide

Faulty pressure cookers lead to devastating incidents where victims sustain severe burns and require hospitalization. Medical treatment is costly, and if you’re unable to work, you have the added stress of wondering how to pay your bills. You may be entitled to financial compensation for the injury a pressure cooker caused.

If you want to find out how to pursue a lawsuit against the manufacturer of your pressure cooker, contact the experienced product liability attorneys at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP to schedule your free consultation.

Pressure Cooker Safety Hazards

According to manufacturers of pressure cookers, their product prepares meals faster than traditional cooking methods. Various companies often advertise their pressure cooker as a safe product to use. Unfortunately, many people learned of the dangers that exist when a pressure cooker explodes, leading to burn injuries.

Among those who filed a lawsuit against Tristar Products, some described their negative experience using the Pressure Cooker XL:

• One person turned the lid to open the cooker, and the contents inside burst, causing burns.
• Another victim walked into the room where the pressure cooker was, and the lid exploded.
• A third individual injured by their pressure cooker said she suffered second-degree burns on her hand and breast.
• An additional person stated that the lid blew off, and the hot contents exploded all over their body.

Pressure cookers include a sealed pot that turns liquid into steam when heated. As the steam pressure increases, the boiling point rises as well, which cooks the food faster than usual. Additionally, elevated pressure pushes moisture into the food, efficiently tenderizing and cooking it.

Tristar Products Power Pressure Cooker XL Lawsuits

It seems the popular “as seen on tv” pressure cooker manufactured by Tristar received the most attention for lawsuits filed by victims around the country. In public court documents, the consumers stated that the safety features failed during regular operation and led to explosions that caused second or third-degree burns.

Over the years, law firms throughout the United States filed multi-plaintiff lawsuits against Tristar. All individuals claim that they used the Power Pressure Cooker XL as intended when it exploded without warning. They stated that the lid opened despite the pot being under significant pressure.

A couple in Texas filed one of the first significant lawsuits against Tristar. They alleged that they bought the pressure cooker after seeing an advertisement on TV. Upon receiving the product, the female plaintiff prepared beans and unplugged the cooker. About two hours later, the lid blew off, launching the hot beans everywhere. She sustained severe burns to her body and required 20 days of hospitalization. Tristar ultimately agreed to settle the case for an undisclosed amount.

Another couple from Florida filed a lawsuit for severe burns from their Power Pressure Cooker XL. It exploded unexpectedly, causing second-degree burns to the male plaintiff’s arms, fingers, and leg. Despite being unplugged and adequately vented, when the victim went to open the lid, the cooker blew up. In the Complaint filed with the courts, the couple said an unreasonable danger exists due to the lack of a warning or notice that the cooker could explode, even when it’s unplugged.

Can I Sue the Manufacturer of My Pressure Cooker?

If negligence or clear liability existed at the time of your injury, you could potentially pursue compensation from the manufacturer. You must follow the strict deadline for filing a lawsuit in the state of Alabama. The statute of limitations in a product liability case is two years. That means you only have two years from the date of your injury to pursue legal action.

Under Alabama law, you can prove the pressure cooker manufacturer’s liability based on one of three factors: negligence, breach of warranty, and strict liability.

• Negligence occurs when a manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer places a product for sale with inaccurate or inadequate labels or a manufacturing or design defect.
• A breach of warranty is when a manufacturer supplies a product that doesn’t work as intended.
• Strict liability exists when the at-fault party’s action or inaction leads to someone’s physical harm.

In some situations, you don’t have to prove liability if the following conditions existed at the time of your injury:

• The pressure cooker’s defect was unreasonably dangerous;
• That defect caused your injury while you used the product for its intended use; and
• You or someone else didn’t change the condition of the cooker from the time you originally purchased it.

Damages and Compensation

Damages are all losses resulting from an accident or injury. In your case, the losses you suffered probably came from medical expenses to treat your injury, and any physical or emotional trauma.

Most businesses carry general liability insurance with bodily injury limits. Those limits pay compensation to people injured because of the company’s negligent actions. Depending on the limit of bodily injury available from the pressure cooker company, you could receive up to the maximum amount listed on the policy.

The different types of damages you could claim in your lawsuit include the following:

• Medical expenses: Necessary treatment to recover from the injury, such as physical therapy, hospitalization, medications, and home health care.
• Physical pain: Significant pain endured as a result of the injury.
• Emotional distress: Emotional trauma or psychological effects experienced from the incident, such as stress or PTSD.
• Lost wages: Pay you couldn’t earn while you were out of work recovering.
• Loss of future earning capacity: Any future pay you won’t receive because your injury keeps you from performing your job, either partially or entirely.
• Disfigurement of impairment: Scarring or another injury that creates a permanent physical condition.
• Loss of life enjoyment: Inability to enjoy the life you had before you sustained the injury.
• Punitive damages: Financial award paid directly by the defendant as opposed to a liability insurance carrier.

Your total costs from treatment, time away from work, and emotional or physical pain experienced fall under the category of compensatory damages. There’s no limit to the amount of compensatory damages you could win in a pressure cooker lawsuit. However, Alabama law dictates the maximum financial award for punitive damages.

Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages don’t reimburse you for your expenses and suffering. Instead, it punishes the party responsible for your injury. The limit is three times your total compensatory damages up to a maximum of $1.5 million.

What Should I Do if I Can’t Afford a Lawyer?

The biggest mistake victims of product liability cases make is refusing to seek legal representation. A lot of people assume the legal fees are too high and they can’t afford it. However, most personal injury lawyers work on contingency.

A contingency agreement is a contract between the lawyer and their client, promising not to collect a legal fee until the case resolves. Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP works on a contingency fee basis so you won’t owe any upfront costs or fees. Additionally, if we’re unable to secure compensation for you, we won’t expect you to pay us anything. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

We also provide a free consultation for those interested in speaking with us about their case. We understand the financial burden you’re facing. Most people injured by a faulty pressure cooker suffer severe burns to their body that requires time away from work and in the hospital. Over time, medical bills add up and could reach tens of thousands of dollars. We don’t want to add any stress to your life by charging you to receive legal advice. We’re happy to review the details of your case and determine the best option moving forward.

Injured by a Pressure Cooker? Find Out How Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP Can Help

At Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, we dedicate our time to each client. With one-on-one attention, we treat you like our family. We understand the importance of receiving the maximum compensation available so you can pay your expenses. When you hire us, we will fight hard to seek the justice you deserve.

Over the last 20 years, we secured millions of dollars in cases just like yours. Our experience helps us navigate the complicated legal road and provide sufficient evidence in a product liability lawsuit. We work efficiently to exceed your expectations and win the financial award you need.

You can depend on our attorneys to prioritize your case and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. It’s tough finding the right person to trust with your livelihood. You need a team of professionals from Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP with the skills and knowledge to ensure fair treatment from the second you retain us up until it’s time to collect your compensation.

Call us at (205) 324-1212 or use our contact form to schedule your free consultation. We’re ready to take your call and help you recover from your pressure cooker injury.