A.O. Smith Recalls Ultra-Low NOx Water Heater | Product Liability Attorney

On November 8, 2018, A. O. Smith recalled Ultra-Low NOx water heaters due to potential fire hazards. The recall—number 19-029—affects approximately 616,000 water heaters. The defective water heaters were sold under all of the following brand names:

• American
• A. O. Smith
• Kenmore
• Reliance
• State
• U.S. Craftsmaster
• Whirlpool

The defective water heaters include 30, 40, and 50-gallon water heaters—both natural and propane gas-fired Ultra-Low NOx emission water heaters. The affected units have serial numbers that start with 1115 and 1631. The water heaters affected by the recall were manufactured between April 2011 and August 2016; the water heaters were sold (mostly in California) between April 2011 and December 2016 by home improvement stores, hardware stores, plumbing supply vendors, plumbers, and independent contractors at prices ranging from $500 to $1,000.

According to the recall, the gas burner screen on the water heaters can develop tears, creating an excess of radiant heat. This excess radiant heat can create a fire risk—especially when the heater is installed on wood floors (or other combustible flooring). Although no injuries have been reported, the recall states that there have been at least six incidents in which a defective water heater started a fire.

What should you do if there is a defective water heater in your home? The recall advises consumers to do the following: turn off the water heater, stop using the water heater, and contact A. O. Smith for repair information. Although you could take the actions recommended by the company if the defective product did not cause a fire or suffer injuries, you should not follow the company’s recommendation if you and your family suffered any type of harm due to the defect.

If the defective heater created a fire in your home, you might have grounds to pursue a product liability claim—especially if you suffered injuries or any other damage. You should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue a defective product claim against A. O. Smith, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at Normandie Law Firm.

Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm dedicated to helping all victims of personal injury accidents pursue claims and recover compensation. Our lawyers have many years of experience handling a variety of claims—including defective product claims. If you would like to learn more about your right to sue A. O. Smith for the harm and damages caused by their defective water heater, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.

The Hazard Present in the Defective Product

As described by the recall, the defective product could result in excess radiant heat—which could cause a fire when installed on combustible flooring (such as wood). However, the recall does not disclose all the harm that could be suffered as a result of the defective water heater. The water heater could cause a fire, which could result in some of the following injuries and damages:

• Burn injuries (first-degree burns, second-degree burns, third-degree burns, fourth-degree burns)
• Respiratory injuries (smoke inhalation, hot-gas inhalation, oxygen-depleted air inhalation)
• Property damage (burn damage, smoke damage, ash damage)

Without a doubt, you and your family could suffer significant harm if a defective water heater causes a fire. In some cases, unsuspecting victims could even lose their lives due to the fire. Regardless of the specific harm or damages that the defective product caused to you and your family, you might have grounds to take action against the company.

A. O. Smith’s Duty to Consumers

Like all companies, A. O. Smith has a duty to consumers to provide products that are safe for use. Products are generally subject to extensive inspections and tests prior to being made available to the public. They owe a duty to their consumers; therefore, they must take the actions necessary to ensure that their products will not cause any harm to their consumers. Unfortunately, the negligent actions of the company can result in dangerous defects. These defects, when not properly inspected and addressed, can be overlooked—allowing them to be present in the products made available to consumers.

The Right to Pursue a Product Liability Claim

If A.O. Smith’s negligent actions resulted in your harm, you could pursue a claim. For product liability claims, at least of one the following must be true so that you could file a claim:

• There is a defect in the water heater’s design.
• There is a defect in the water heater’s manufacturing.
• There is a defect in the water heater’s labeling.

As mentioned in the previous section, A.O. Smith has a duty to consumers. When there are defects present in product design, manufacturing, or labeling, companies are breaching their duty to consumers and creating risks. If the harm that you and your family suffered was a direct result of a breach of duty (or negligent actions), you could pursue a product liability claim against A. O. Smith. For more information, do not hesitate to contact the knowledgeable product liability lawyers at Normandie Law Firm.

Recovering Compensation

After filing a product liability claim against A. O. Smith, you might be eligible to recover compensation. The specific type and amount of compensation that you could receive might vary depending on specific details of your claim; however, victims of defective products are generally eligible to recover some of the following categories of compensation:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Funeral/burial costs
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages

Although you might not be eligible to recover all of the categories of compensation listed above, you are likely to recover at least some sort of compensation. Regardless of the details of your claim and the specific type and amount of compensation that you are eligible to receive, you could be certain that the defective product attorneys at Normandie Law Firm will always do everything within their reach to help you and your family to recover the maximum amount of compensation available for your claim. Do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.

Important Steps for Defective Product Claims

Product liability claims that arise from defective products require specific action. As stated on the recall, consumers are recommended to stop the use of the defective water heater and contact the company for a repair. However, that action is only recommended for those who have not suffered any harm due to the defective product. If you or members of your family suffered any type of harm as a result of A. O. Smith’s defective water heater, you must take the following actions:

• Take photos of your injuries/damage to your property.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible
• Contact the company to report the incident and the injuries suffered
• Do not tamper with the defective water heater (do not try to repair it yourself or allow the company to repair the water heater)
• Keep the defective water heater in a safe place (as evidence)
• Keep records and documents that prove your purchase, your medical treatment, and correspondence with the company

Following the key steps above prepares you and your family to file a claim. Unfortunately, many people set themselves up for failure when they fail to follow the recommended steps listed above. Although following these steps does not guarantee that you could file a successful claim, it gives you and your family the right tools to begin the process. If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue a claim against A. O. Smith, do not hesitate to contact our law firm today.

Our Legal Experts

If you or a member of your family suffered injuries as a result of the defective water heaters recently recalled by A. O. Smith, you might have grounds to pursue a claim and receive compensation. If you would like to discuss your rights to pursue a claim with one of our attorneys, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience. The experts at Normandie Law Firm have many years of experience handling product liability claims and helping victims recover the compensation that you deserve. To meet with our lawyers and discuss your claim, contact our firm today.

Our firm offers both free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations, our defective product lawyers will provide you with all the information that you need to begin your product liability claim. During our free second opinions, our defective product lawyers will provide you with the guidance that you need to redirect your claim towards a successful outcome. Whether you are in need of a free consultation or free second opinion, you could trust the attorneys at Normandie Law Firm to provide you with all the information that you need.

Our free consultations and free second opinions are available as part of our Zero-Fee guarantee. You will never have to worry about paying any upfront legal expenses for our services. Our firm is also based on a contingency structure; therefore, you will only be required to pay legal fees after your claim reaches a successful outcome. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay us anything. For more information about your right to pursue a product liability claim against A. O. Smith, do not hesitate to contact our law firm and request to speak with our attorneys.