Burn Injury Due to a Defective Product in South Carolina? Learn Who Is Responsible & What Can Be Done

Burn Injury Due to a Defective Product in South Carolina? Learn Who Is Responsible & What Can Be Done Consumer products cause an estimated 225,000 burn injuries in the U.S. each year. Defective products can lead to fires along with electrical, chemical, or even radiation burns. In South Carolina, our products liability laws are designed to provide injured consumers with justice and closure by forcing dangerous corporations to take responsibility for the harm they inflict. While most manufacturers have strict quality control and testing procedures to ensure consumer safety, other companies accept higher "fail rates." When this happens, people get hurt and medical bills follow. 

Who Is Liable for Defective Products?

When a product is found to be defective and causes injury, multiple parties may be held responsible. Under South Carolina law, any company involved in the manufacturing, distribution, or sale of the product could be liable. An experienced Columbia, SC defective products attorney can help determine which entities share responsibility when a product defect results in a burn. Specifically, a corporation or other business may be responsible if it:

• fails to recognize an inherent flaw in the product;
• fails to properly inspect or test the product; or
• fails to adequately warn consumers of possible dangers posed by the product.

Damages a Burn Victim May Recover in a Product Liability Claim 

Treating a burn can be costly. According to the Health Care Blue Book, the expected fair price for a skin graft alone is more than $13,500. To help with these and other expenses associated with the injury, you may consider filing a claim to recover compensation for:

• medical bills you’ve incurred because of your injuries;
• expected future medical costs;
• lost income if your injury has kept you away from your job;
• decreased earning capacity;
• pain, suffering and mental anguish;
• lost enjoyment of life if you can no longer take part in the things you once found pleasure in doing;
• loss of consortium if your injury has affected your relationship with your spouse or companion; and
• punitive damages if the at-fault party was reckless or grossly negligent.

Helping Burn Victims Across South Carolina

My firm has never represented a dangerous manufacturer. Instead, we help individuals and families whose lives have changed due to an unsafe product. We want to ensure that burn victims are able to identify all parties responsible for their injury, and that they receive justice. We all have the right to safety. When that right is violated, a products liability claim is often necessary not only to receive compensation, but to protect others in our state from injury. If you have questions about a burn accident, please contact us today for a free consultation at (803) 790-2800.