Handling products liability Claims Since 1986
As consumers, we have the right to expect that the things we purchase and use in our daily lives have been vetted and deemed safe, so when accidents happen as the result of a product defect or flaw, we deserve to be properly compensated for all we’ve suffered. Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC has decades of experience handling defective product claims, including those involving furniture that breaks, tips over, or shatters, from office chairs to mirrors.
Our Minneapolis defective furniture injury lawyers can be trusted with the details of your claim while you concentrate on healing. We’re knowledgeable about U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports and state laws, and our lawyers are seasoned litigators who have recovered millions on behalf of our clients.
Reach out to our office to schedule your free case evaluation today online or by phone at (800) 903-1643. We have the skills needed to hold companies accountable.
What is products liability?
In all states, including Minnesota, consumers can hold manufacturers and/or sellers responsible for their injuries and obtain compensation from them by filing what is known as a products liability claim.
Under state products liability laws, manufacturers, designers, and distributors have a responsibility to keep consumers safe, and when they fail to do so, they can be held accountable for negligence.
The basic elements you need to prove in a products liability claim include:
- The product was defective in a way that made it dangerous to use
- The defect existed at the time it was made/sold
- The defect caused injuries and damages to the injured individual
All kinds of products have been found to contain flaws or defects, but furniture often causes injuries and deaths—between 2000 and 2016m there were 514 tip-over fatalities and more than 30,000 emergency department-treated injuries in the United States, according to a report filed in 2017 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
While adults can be injured by defective furniture, children are at a greater risk of furniture-related injuries, and around 14,700 injured children are sent to hospital emergency rooms every year to be treated for furniture tip-over injuries.
Common injuries associated with furniture defect accidents include head injuries, lacerations, fractures, contusions and abrasions, and internal organ injuries.
Common Types of Defective Furniture
People assume their ordinary household furniture is safe. However, a failure to design and guard these products has resulted in serious injuries and even deaths. Here are a few recent examples.
Defective Dressers: IKEA settled three wrongful death lawsuits for 50 million dollars after its dressers were tipping over when the drawers were pulled out and killed three young children. Three other deaths have been reported as well. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) 25,000 children and 15,000 adults are injured in defective furniture tip-overs. In 2011, 49 children were killed in tip-over incidents. Bolton Furniture recalled its dressers because of the same hazard.
Defective Mirrors: On Feb 2, 2017, Restoration Hardware recalled 1,400 glass mirrors due to laceration hazards, based on faulty glue that failed to hold the mirror to the backing. The company received reports of laceration injuries as a result of the mirrors falling and shattering, which resulted in the recall.
Defective Beach Chairs: On January 29, 2017, IKEA recalled thousands of Mysingso Beach chairs because it had received reports of serious injuries, including fingertip amputations. IKEA had even admitted in its recall that “the beach chairs can collapse, posing fall and fingertip amputation hazards.”
Other known defective and unstable types of furniture that can cause injuries when they break or tip over include:
- Unstable beds
- Dining chairs
- Office chairs
- TV stands and wall mounts
- Barstools
- Cabinets
- Bunk beds
- Patio furniture
- Bathroom appliances
Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Defective Furniture Injury Claim?
There are no mandatory safety standards for furniture, but products liability laws distinctly outline the responsibility all designers, manufacturers, and retailers have to produce and sell safe products. The at-fault party will depend on what kind of defect the furniture in question has.
The three main types of defects include:
- Design defects: Design errors are made during the engineering and planning phase before the product is manufactured and sold. One example of a design effect is a dresser that has been designed with instability issues, which can lead to it tipping over. In these cases, the designer would be held responsible for damages.
- Manufacturing defects: Manufacturers can be held liable in products liability claims when the defect in the furniture occurs at the production stage or during assembly. One example is a bed that has been assembled but is missing parts, which can lead to its collapse.
- Marketing defects: Manufacturers or other companies that fail to provide warnings or adequate instructions in the safe use of the product in question can be held responsible for injuries that occur. All furniture must come with instructions regarding safety hazards and risks.
Our team handles complex defective products liability litigation and can walk you carefully through the steps of your case to get the compensation you deserve. From determining whether your claim is valid to collecting evidence and obtaining testimonies from your loved ones, we have everything you need to achieve your legal goals and make your life easier.
Get started on your injury claim today by calling our office—our Minneapolis defective furniture injury lawyers can shoulder your burdens so you can sleep soundly at night. Call (800) 903-1643.