Electric fires aren’t just caused by faulty wiring; some fires result from overheating adapters, such as those involved in a recent product recall.
Computer manufacturer Dynabook issued a recall for 15.5 million AC adapters over fire and burn risks. According to the company, it had received 679 reports of the adapters overheating or catching fire. Of those reports, 43 led to minor burn injuries.
Owners with affected adapters should immediately stop using the devices. They should then contact Dynabook for a free replacement.
Consumers can find a full list of the affected adapter model names on the CPSC website.
Overheating devices and electric fires
Overheating is a leading cause of electric fires, which can occur when electrical devices, like AC adapters, have defects that cause them to operate at unsafe temperatures. This overheating can lead to fires that damage property and cause serious burn injuries to consumers.
About 51,000 electric fires occur in U.S. homes each year. Electric fires also lead to nearly 500 deaths, over 1,400 injuries and $1.3 billion in property damage annually.
Your right to safety
Manufacturers have a legal obligation to produce safe products. If a defective product, such as an overheating AC adapter, left you with an injury you may have the right to seek compensation for your injuries through a product liability lawsuit.
In a product liability lawsuit, you must prove that the product was used in a reasonably anticipated manner. You must also prove that the product’s defect directly caused your injury. Compensation can cover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
To prepare for a product liability lawsuit, you must document everything about the incident and your injury. Keep medical records, photos of your injury, photos of the defective product and even the damaged adapter itself. These will serve as strong evidence for your case.
A personal injury attorney may be able to advise you on whether you have a strong case for a lawsuit and represent you if the case goes to court.
