Hazardous Household Products Cause Hike in Reported Injury Incidences
Stericycle Recall Index analyzes data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aggregate and track recall data. The data is used to help manufacturers and other industry stakeholders navigate the regulatory environment and identify needs and trends. The index review can also can be help consumers understand what typos of products are most commonly recalled and cause of personal injury or sometimes – death.
According to the index, the latest quarterly report shows several alarming trends such as:
- Injuries reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) jumped 141 percent in the first quarter of 2017.
- Incidents increased 379 percent to 16,649 – higher than any single quarter and any full year since at least 1997.
Household Products Lead The Hazard List
As the first quarter of 2017 has now passed, the index data showed that defective household products are injuring more families than previous quarters even though the number of consumer products recalled were on the decrease. In fact, the incidents related to products for the home and family rose to their highest levels in two decades.
According to Stericylce’s Recall Index, four household product categories were a part of more than 75 percent of all consumer products recalled, accounting for the vast majority of consumer product recalls in the U.S. since 2010. Products like appliances, electronics, furniture, children’s supplies and toys, sports equipment, outdoor gear and common housewares topped the list of the most hazardous or recalled products.
- Home Furnishings and Fixtures
- Housewares
- Toys
- Child Nursery Equipment and Supplies
Hazardous Products Increase Risk of Personal Injury
Defective or dangerous products can result in a serious injury and often be the cause of long term and/or permanent debilitation of individuals, families, adults and children and sadly — infants. All are at risk of having their lives changed by a tragic death or often preventable, serious injury such as:
- Traumatic Brain Injury is an extremely complex disability and can be the cause of a wide array of symptoms and irreversible physical deterioration. The effects on the victim and their family are usually devastating and should, under no circumstances, be overlooked. In Michigan, about 30% of TBIs are caused by car accidents.
- Spinal Cord Injuries are serious matters. The loss of mobility and function sustained after the onset of these injuries can range anywhere from minor to severe, with paralysis as a possible outcome. Spinal injuries fall under two categories – complete and incomplete – and should be addressed for legal compensation immediately.
- Broken Bones or fractures are some of the most common injuries out there. There are many different types of fractures (which can be determined by a medical professional), but many are recognizable by the sound and appearance of the injury when it occurs. These injuries should never be ignored, as bleeding, nerve, tissue, and blood vessel damage are always possibilities with broken bones. These kinds of secondary injuries can cause serious damage. Since the breaking of a bone can lead to permanent disability, it is imperative that victims of negligence resulting in broken bones seek a legal opinion.
For the nearly 75 percent of dangerous incidents reported in quarter 1, top injuries were caused from individuals falling, bleeding, choking or being harmed by a gas leak.
In addition to personal injury, the CPSC has linked household products to 369 deaths per year — mostly the result of defective appliances and housewares. That’s an average of just over one death per day nationwide.
When someone is killed from a product a wrongful death claim could be pursued. Wrongful death is a special type of claim that involves specific duties and deadlines. That is why it is important to contact a Michigan wrongful death attorney if a loved one has been killed by the negligence of a manufacturer or company. Under the Wrongful Death Act, any corporation who caused the wrongful act or negligence resulting in a person’s death may be held responsible in a wrongful death claim.
Keeping Your Home Safe From Dangerous Products
It is a good idea to check and see if a product has been subject to recall before buying it. Stores have a history of selling recalled items. Consumers can’t bet that everything they purchase will be safe just because it is new.
Researching products through a trusted organization can help prevent personal injuries. These organizations can provide the latest product advancements or issues, consumer reviews and recommendations on safety. Once a product has been purchased, consumers should take time to review the manual and fill out registration cards to receive updates and recall information as well.
Additional Resources:
A higher risk of personal injury and harm also carries a greater risk of legal liability for manufacturers. Review these resources to help reduce your risk of personal injury or wrongful death caused by a common household product.
- The full Q1 2017 Recall Index is available for download here.
- Consumer Product Safety Commission: CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction.
Fighting For You
If you, a family member, or a guest in your home has been injured by a defective or faulty household item or malfunctioning appliance or have a wrongful death claim to make because of a manufacturer’s product negligence — the experienced Michigan personal injury and negligence attorneys are here to understand what you are going through. Our personal injury process will not only help you cope with any difficulties, but also makes sure you get the support needed when trying to pursue justice through the civil justice system.
Michigan personal injury cases are fact-intensive and deserve special attention. Whether you live in Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Traverse City or anywhere in between, if you have been injured due to somebody’s negligence call us for free at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733).
