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Understanding Your Rights After a Defective Appliance Injury

Key Takeaways

  • Defective appliances can cause serious injury.
  • Holding companies accountable for product liability can be challenging in North Carolina.
  • An experienced personal injury attorney can help you recover the most from your claim.

In This Article

kitchen counter with pressure cooker

When you buy an appliance for your home, you expect a safe, functional machine. In most cases, this is what you get. However, companies can fail consumers by producing appliances with hidden dangers. A defective product is not only a consumer issue but also has the potential to cause serious injury. If you were injured by a defective home appliance, contact the product liability lawyers at Maginnis Howard for assistance.

Common Appliance Defects & Injuries

A normal daily activity like cooking dinner should not make you fear for your safety. Sadly, kitchen appliances are among the most frequently reported products with safety concerns in homes, such as:

  • Pressure Cookers & Air Fryers: Appliances that cook at high heat and pressure can injure consumers in several ways. Defective lids or seals that fail can allow a unit to burst open, expelling scalding steam or food. A 2025 lawsuit against SharkNinja alleges that the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker’s lid locks were erroneously allowing the lid to open before pressure was released. This is said to have caused a consumer severe burns and permanent scarring. The company recalled 1.8 million units after receiving 100 reports of serious burn injuries.
  • Blenders & Food Processors: Modern blenders and food processors feature professional-grade blades that spin at high speeds. These blades pose a safety risk, though companies claim they can be safely maintained when operated properly. Nonetheless, faulty manufacturing or irresponsible design can lead to loose blades that cause serious cuts. Blenders and food processors can also cause severe burns.

Product Liability in North Carolina

Most states allow an injured consumer to recover under strict liability by showing the product was defective and that the defect caused harm. This means the manufacturer is liable regardless of how carefully the product was manufactured or designed. Unfortunately, North Carolina does not recognize strict liability and instead places the burden on the victim to prove the manufacturer was negligent. To recover compensation for your injuries, you must prove that a manufacturer’s or designer acted recklessly or unreasonably.

Compensation for Defective Appliance Injuries

A North Carolina product liability lawyer can help you recover monetary damages after a defective product harmed you. State law allows victims to collect compensation, such as:

  • Medical treatment, hospital visits, and ongoing rehabilitation
  • Lost wages for the time you were unable to work, and loss of future earning capacity
  • Scarring or disfigurement
  • Physical pain and emotional distress

The amount of compensation you can recover in a product liability lawsuit depends heavily on the facts of your case. An experienced attorney can guide you through the steps to obtain the best outcome on your behalf.

Filing a Lawsuit

Preparing a case against a corporation with significant resources requires you to gather evidence and act promptly. With most personal injury claims, you have three years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. However, some special circumstances apply to specific product liability claims. Regardless, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible to avoid missing deadlines. You will be asked to collect as much evidence as possible, including setting aside the defective appliance, seeking prompt medical treatment, and documenting the scene and injuries.

Contact Us

North Carolina law imposes more obstacles on injured consumers than in most states, and manufacturers often aggressively fight product liability claims. That’s why having an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side is essential to recovering the full value of what you are owed. Maginnis Howard represents people across the Carolinas who were injured by defective and dangerous products. Our firm offers free consultations for injury claims and a contingency-fee arrangement. That means you don’t pay anything unless and until we recover compensation on your behalf. Call or email our offices today. We proudly serve clients from across the Carolinas from our Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville offices.

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