Space heaters are a convenient way to heat a specific room in your home or office or supplement your in-home heating system in a particularly drafty room. Unfortunately, they also can pose a substantial risk of serious injury – particularly when they are defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed without sufficient safety warnings. In fact, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), space heaters are responsible for around 1,700 residential fires each year.
If you suffered injuries in an accident involving a space heater, it might be due to a defect, and you have important legal rights. You should speak to an injury attorney at TorkLaw as soon as you can to learn whether you are entitled to compensation.
Tip-Over Switches are Essential to Space Heater Safety
Most space heaters have tip-over switches that are designed to turn the heater off in the event that it falls over or is oriented at an unsafe angle. Unfortunately, in some cases, these switches are defective, and space heaters continue to run in situations where they should not. A fallen space heater can quickly set a carpet or other materials on fire, potentially causing an extremely dangerous situation. A fire caused by a space heater can spread extremely quickly, often putting lives at risk.
Other Space Heater Defects
Faulty tip-over switches are only one of the things that can go wrong with a space heater. Some other potential defects of which consumers should be aware include:
- Defective or shoddy wiring
- Faulty thermostats
- Defective safety switches designed to prevent overheating
- The use of improper materials
- Insufficient or inadequate instruction materials
These and other potential defects have the potential to cause fires and serious burns. In the most serious cases, accidents related to faulty space heaters can result in the total loss of property or even fatalities.
Do You Need a Lawyer after a Space Heater Accident?
You should always speak to an attorney after an accident involving a space heater. In some cases, an incident that seems like an unavoidable accident may actually be the result of a space heater defect, entitling you to compensation. A lawyer who has experience in products liability generally and space heater cases specifically will be able to review your case and determine whether you have another claim.
Another issue to consider is that insurance companies invariably try to settle cases for as little as possible. Without a lawyer, there is a risk that you will settle your case for less than it is actually worth. An attorney can evaluate the value of your case and ensure that the insurance company treats you fairly.
Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Defective Space Heater Lawyer
If you have suffered injuries in an accident involving a space heater, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. At TorkLaw, we have recovered more than $250 million on behalf of our clients and know how to get insurance companies to pay injured victims what they deserve. We’ll review your case at no cost to you, and we will only collect legal fees if we win your case. To schedule your free case evaluation, call our office today at 888.845.9696 or contact us online.