Over the past century, there has been no lack of new innovations to make our lives supposedly easier and more efficient. By extension, of course, our lives are supposed to be better off for the advent of these varied household appliances and their technical wizardry. Though this is typically the case (for those who actually make use of the devices instead of letting them gather dust), it is with regrettable frequency that both small and large home appliances cause members of a household to suffer serious or even fatal injuries.
While many of these devices come with instruction manuals that outline some of the specific dangers that a particular product may hold, these written materials often fail to fully express the range of potential hazards. They certainly lack any direct engagement with the real world circumstances in which the appliances are likely to be used and deployed, instead covering only those elements that are required by law or regulation. Depending upon the full facts of the situation, it may be appropriate to consider filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer of a home appliance that causes you or your loved one to suffer injury when it is used as intended.
Sources of Household Injury
Perhaps the most alarming thing about the threat posed by household appliances is that it comes from both the objects that seem relatively harmless and also from those that are obviously coupled with some degree of inherent danger. It is incumbent upon the owner or operator of a device to be aware of the hazards that are to be expected and to use it as prescribed by the directions and common sense. There is little planning that can be done, however, to avert disaster when design defects, manufacturing defects, or malfunctions present themselves in the form of an accident.
Some of the household appliances that may prove dangerous and some of the potential adverse effects that a person might experience include:
Toasters and Convection Ovens – May cause electrical shock or start fires Garbage Disposals, Food Processors, and Trash Compactors – Can start due to electrical surge and lead to amputations or severe lacerations Gas Stoves and Water Heaters – Improperly built gas lines can cause gas to leak, creating an explosive danger and the possibility of poisoning; poorly functioning water heaters can lead to scalding burns Space Heaters – If unstable they may tip over and cause fires, also pose electrical risk
Product Liability Professionals
If you have suffered injuries that have required you to seek medical attention, then it may be in your best interest to contact a skilled and experienced attorney. The Phoenix product liability lawyers of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.L.C. are happy to assist you with all your legal needs as you seek to recover.
By: Joseph Devine
Posts Tagged ‘Toasters’
Home Appliance Dangers
December 29th, 2009Home Kitchen Appliance
December 13th, 2009
Home kitchen appliances make your domiciles technical and convenient. With cooking gas, electric chimney, dishwashers, electric kettle, fridge, food processors, toasters and coffee makers in your kitchens, are you still wondering who the real homemakers are. Remember the good old days when your mother-in-law screamed ‘if you can’t stand the heat, get out.’ Reducing your stress and domestic working hours, they, no doubt are working wonders!
Cooking three to four meals a day with special requests for cocktails and cakes can leave you in excruciating pain. Even the kitchens with modest means are boasting about these flip of a switch gadgets. So such promising brands in the market, we are all set to rock the evening for our guests. Make philter instead of soda fountain drinks for the party or that perfect cake for your daughter, put your favorite shade of lipstick on and break free of the kitchen constraints. Falling under the domotics (information technology in the domicile) umbrella, home kitchen appliances can now be networked together to even out the electricity consumption and energy distribution. A kitchen without them does not only look primitive but also a one with fundamental flaws.
Gone are the days when you would catch on fire (figuratively) whenever organizing a barbeque and people from miles would come to watch you burn. Imagine if even a single day is celebrated as kitchen appliances turn-off week, no marks for guessing that the world’s economy would be the price to be paid. Like the different speeds of the blender you can choose the pace of your life. Successful in shaping your destiny, kitchen appliances have brought with them a revolution in the world of cooking. So now you decide if you want to work hard or play smart. All right future birds, so what’s cooking tonight?
By: Kent Pinkerton
Six Great Small Appliances
December 3rd, 2009
One of my favorite commercials features Dyson vacuum inventor, James Dyson. It’s his understated way of saying that he invented his vacuum because he believes things should just work properly that appeals to me so much. And that’s the problem – few things do. That’s why when something does work well, it’s nice to know about it. In columns past, I’ve written about some of my favorite small appliances.
However, I was vexed by some of my other small appliances, like toasters that must have been assembled by Linda Blair. I’ve spent the gross national product of some small island nations trying to find a toaster that doesn’t suffer from premature toasting or that “grrrssss” when you push the lever down again for another round of browning. Or, my quest for a blender that makes smooth smoothies. Is it so much to ask to have smooth liquids and brown toast? Apparently it is. However, I’ve since found a toaster that, in the words of James Dyson, works properly, and I thought you’d like to know about it and some of the other discoveries I’ve made in small appliances that make my life a little easier, a little toastier, and a little smoother.
Get up
Sleeping’s great, but waking doesn’t seem so bad with the Timex T307S alarm clock. This clock has a variety of pleasing, realistic nature sounds ranging from waves to birds to windchimes (my favorite). Best of all, the volume for the alarm is adjustable. At about $30 at most major home centers, it’s not too pricey and with its vertical shape, it doesn’t take up the whole nightstand.
Rub the right way
The Homedics Therapist Select Massaging Seat Cushion will make you want to marry it. With both a rolling and shiatsu massage and the option of spot massage where you need it, you’ll fall in love again. At about $100, it’s just a little more than the cost of a massage at a day spa and you don’t have to worry about how your hair looks afterwards.
Get toasty
The Avante Delux toaster by T-Fal is the toaster that saved my morning sanity. It’s about $50, which might seem high at first blush. But when you’re in hurry and pushing levers and trying to get some breakfast in you, that $50 will seem cheap. It doesn’t pop up toast prematurely and the settings actually work. It also handles frozen garlic toast and large waffles easily.
Smoothies, anyone?
Some companies just know how to make an appliance. Cuisinart is one of those companies. The Cuisinart SmartPower SPB-7CHseven speed blender makes smooth smoothies in a flash. Its one drawback is the duh button. You have to push an on button before pressing blend or other blending option. Other than this nuisance, the blender does what it’s supposed to – blend smoothly.
Dyson Slim
The last appliance is also my newest one. The Dyson Slim is about thirty percent smaller than a regular-sized vacuum and cleans like a full-size. I broke my wrist last year and had neck surgery in February, so I don’t want to muscle a vacuum around the house. It turns on a dime and uses your arm and shoulder to move it instead of your back. That’s a huge improvement in ergonomics. As a test, I vacuumed with my old vacuum and then went over the same area with the Dyson and was astounded by how much it picked up. I can also store it in to my cleaning cabinet. It runs about $550 dollars, so it’s not cheap. But, it works properly. And isn’t that all we want after all in any small appliance?
By: Kathryn Weber