Hurt by a Defective Appliance? How to Sue the Manufacturer in Ohio
Your kitchen is supposed to be the heart of your home, not a danger zone. But every year, thousands of Ohioans suffer serious injuries from appliances that malfunction without warning—toasters that explode, ovens that leak gas, blenders with blades that fly off mid-use.
The dirty secret about these “accidents?” When these everyday products turn dangerous, the manufacturers often know about the problems long before consumers do.
What Manufacturers Aren’t Telling You
Here’s what appliance companies don’t want you to know: many dangerous defects are discovered during internal testing, but products still make it to market. Why? Because fixing the problem costs money, and legal settlements often cost less than recalls.
Thankfully, you have legal recourse if you’re injured by a defective appliance. Under Ohio law, manufacturers can be held liable for three distinct types of defects. Understanding which category your case falls into determines your legal strategy—and how much you can seek in damages:
- Design Flaws: Engineers design toasters without proper heat shields or create coffee makers with inadequate pressure valves. These aren’t accidents—they’re cost-cutting decisions that put profits before safety.
- Factory Mistakes: A single bad wire, missing safety component, or contaminated materials can turn a harmless kitchen tool into a weapon.
- The Warning Game: Manufacturers know their products can cause specific injuries but provide vague warnings or bury critical safety information in tiny print.
What to Do When Your Appliance Malfunctions
Don’t touch anything. Preserve the evidence exactly as it is—it could be worth tens of thousands of dollars to your case. Take photos from every angle, document exactly what happened, and get medical attention immediately. Then, become a detective. Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for recalls. This research can reveal whether your “freak accident” is actually part of a pattern the manufacturer has been hiding.
Why Companies Fight Back (And How to Win)
Appliance manufacturers have teams of lawyers whose only job is making your injury claim disappear. They’ll argue you misused the product or caused the defect yourself. But here’s their weakness: companies hate bad publicity and expensive trials. When you have solid evidence and experienced legal representation, they often prefer to settle quietly rather than risk a jury hearing about their cost-cutting decisions.
Don’t Let Manufacturers Escape Responsibility
If a defective appliance has turned your safe space into a scene of injury and trauma, don’t let the manufacturer escape responsibility. The Law Offices of Tim Misny specialize in holding corporations accountable when their products cause harm.
When appliance companies choose profits over safety, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so I can evaluate your product liability case right away.
