Corporations too often seem to have but one overriding objective: make a large profit. This objective sometimes can result in cutting corners and pushing products out too early. When this happens, a product may be defective or harmful to consumers.
Because of this potential for malfeasance, there are strict guidelines and mandates that companies must satisfy with respect to designing and manufacturing products. If they fail to do so, they can be sued. When a legitimate product liability claim exists, all companies and entities involved in the chain of distribution of the product are potentially liable for all personal injury damages or wrongful death damages that have been suffered.
One company that experienced such a situation is the vacuum mogul HooverCompany Inc. When the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received notices of several vacuum cleaner incidents, they requested that Hoover give them its data on customer complaints. Hoover handed over documents that revealed 260 customer incidents, over half of which involved reports of their vacuum cleaners catching on fire.
Hoover eventually ordered a recall of 636,000 Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners because of allegedly defective on-off switches. Federal law, however, requires that a company report a defective product to the CPSC immediately.
Lawyersandsettlements.com reports that because of its delay Hoover was ordered to pay $750,000 in civil penalties. This is in addition to the money damages that may be awareded in any possible lawsuits against Hoover from customers who were harmed by the allegedly defective product.
If you or a family member have been injured because of a defective consumer product, contact one of our Boston product liability injury attorney specialists today. You may be entitled to money damages for your personal injuries. Call 617-787-3700 to learn all about your legal rights and options.
