Every winter countless burn injuries and even fatalities occur due to defective and malfunctioning space heaters. These include cordless kerosene heaters, indoor garage heaters, curbside space heaters and tabletop space heaters.
Most individuals do not suspect that their heating devices can malfunction. They don’t expect heaters to short circuit, and certainly, few think about the possibility of their home going up in flames.
Heating equipment is the second leading cause of residential fires and fire deaths annually in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). During winter, homeowners light fires, crank up the furnace and pull out the space heaters, creating ample opportunities for accidents to happen.
Injuries occur when homes are set on fire and individuals become trapped, and unable to escape in a timely manner. Space heaters can also cause smoke inhalation injuries even if an actual burn does not occur and a fire spreads.
Aside from injuries, cherished possessions and property can be destroyed.
Who might be responsible if the homeowner did nothing wrong and used the device properly? An experienced attorney can usually find out. The attorney will get a full and accurate picture of what happened and will look to identify all liable parties. Some examples might be:
The heater manufacturer, a third party, or distributor of the space heater.
There may also be a claim in a “chain of distribution” against various entities of the space heater, such as a distributor or retailer.
What can be done? A lawsuit might be possible if the space heater is found to be defective. Consulting an experienced burn injury attorney is always a good idea. Visit www.nationalburnattorney.com for extensive, free, and downloadable information.
When a tragic incident happens because the design or manufacturing of a home heater had defects, it is appropriate to seek professional legal advice to determine potential liability and to pursue compensation for all losses.
A claim can be filed if the space heater is defective or has released hazardous carbon monoxide.
Preventing a disaster is always better than trying to recover afterwards. Space heater fires – and their tragic outcomes – can be significantly prevented by observing a few simple safety practices.
(1) Never leave space heaters unattended. Turn off and unplug heaters when not in use.
(2) Keep heaters at least 3 feet away from any flammable materials, including furniture, blankets and wastebaskets.
(3) Do not place space heaters under a desk or in other enclosed areas.
(4) Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet, not a surge protector.
(5) Buy space heaters that include an automatic shutoff.
Please stay warm. And be safe!
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Website: https://www.nationalburnattorney.com/