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Products liability claims for customers hurt by dangerous items

by | Oct 17, 2019 | Products Liability |

Consumers who purchase goods and furniture for their homes assume that the products will safely serve the purpose for which they were intended. Unfortunately, some products fail to perform in the expected manner and could cause serious harm to consumers. Anyone in Texas who suffers injuries may have grounds to file a products liability claim.

A recent recall involved household furniture. The recall concerns several makes and models of dressers that are estimated to stand about 3 feet tall. The dressers did not pass safety testing about potential tip-over risks. According to the stability testing, the units pose a risk of tipping forward when they are not securely anchored to the wall.

The recall affects lower cost makes produced by Ridgeway Industries, (also known as Ameriwood), that were sold through retailers such as Kmart and Sears. The second company, E&E, sold its more upscale models through online retailers such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, Kohl’s and Macy’s. Both companies issued recalls after the failed stability tests carried out by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

A spokesperson for Ameriwood Home stated that dressers under 3 feet tall were not required to meet any safety standards and should have been exempt from stability testing. However, the company later issued a recall out of a concern for consumer safety. Revised safety standards have been issued for dressers under 27 inches tall.

There are no known injuries caused by the dressers under the current recall. Children are the most common victims of dressers that have tipped over, often suffering serious and even fatal injuries. Anytime a consumer or his or her family member has suffered injuries caused by a defective or dangerous item, there are often significant monetary damages in addition to physical injuries. Victims may seek recovery of their losses through a products liability civil lawsuit.

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