Unfortunately, many companies make defective products available for use. Companies that produce medical devices are no exception; these companies can also negligently release defective products and put innocent parties at risk of suffering harm. Medical devices are supposed to help patients – patients that are already suffering with some sort of ailment. These defective medical devices actually worsen their condition. If you were harmed by a defective medical device, it is essential that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible.
If you are in need of legal representation after being harmed by a defective medical device, such as 3M’s Bair Hugger blankets, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at Normandie Law Firm. The lawyers at Normandie Law Firm have many years of experience handling a variety of claims and representing claimants who have been affected as a direct result of the negligence of other parties or entities. If you are in need of legal representation to fight for your right to be compensated, do not hesitate to contact our law firm immediately – we are ready to fight for you.
What are Bair Hugger Blankets?
Bair Hugger warming systems have been used on more than 200 million patients since 1987. There are approximately 50,000 Bair Hugger warming units throughout U.S. hospitals. The Bair Hugger blankets are designed to keep patients at a warm temperature before surgery, during surgery, and after surgery until the patient recovers (or is at least able to normally regulate his or her body temperature). The main purpose of the warming device is to prevent hypothermia.
About the Recall
The 3M Bair Hugger (M) Normothermia System Full Access Underbody Warming Blanket (models 63500 and 67700) were recalled after a change in the product design. According to the recall, the Bair Hugger systems (specifically the models included in the recall) are “more susceptible to unintended occlusion of airflow resulting in limited or partial inflation during use.” What does this mean? This simply means that the Bair Hugger blankets can fail to inflate properly.
The recall issued includes the following lot numbers: R10366, R10365, R10364, R10363, R10362, R10361, R10360, and R10359. Approximately 33108 cases (cases of 5 units each) have been affected by the recall. There has been at least one incident in which the Bair Hugger blanket’s failure to inflate resulted in a patient developing hypothermia (and a stay in the intensive care unit).
Although only one incident has been reported, it is possible that many other unsuspecting patients have suffered harm as a result of the defective Bair Hugger blankets negligently made available for use by 3M. If you or a member of your family were among the harmed parties, you might have grounds to pursue a claim; therefore, you should seek legal assistance immediately.
Bair Hugger Blankets and Product Liability
Based on product liability, companies have the duty to ensure that their products are completely safe for their intended use. This means that companies have to thoroughly test and inspect their products prior to making them available to the public. Companies also have the duty to identify and address hazards in their products to ensure that innocent parties are not put at risk of harm. When companies fail to ensure that their products are safe to use as intended, they are breaching their duty of care and are essentially being negligent. If any harm results from the defective products that they negligently made available, the company could be liable.
It is also important to note that medical professionals could also carry liability; however, it would be liability based on medical negligence. Specifically, if medical professionals were aware that the medical device was defective (that is, they were aware of the recall or had previously experienced the medical device malfunctioning) and knowingly subjected the patient to a potential risk, the medical professionals could be liable.
Do You Have the Right to File a Claim?
If you were harmed as a direct result of the negligence of a party or entity, such as 3M which negligently released defective Bair Hugger blankets, you will likely have the right to file a claim. In product liability cases, your right to file a claim will be based on the fact that a product with defective design, manufacturing, or labeling was available to use. If you or a member of your family was harmed as a direct result of a company’s negligence (or breached duty of care), you could pursue a product liability claim. If you would like to learn more about your right to file a product liability claim for the defective Bair Hugger blankets that harmed you or a member of your family, do not hesitate to contact our experts immediately.
As briefly mentioned above, medical professionals could also face liability under certain circumstances, meaning that victims and their families might have grounds to pursue medical malpractice claims, for instance. Not all Bair Hugger claims will consist of medical negligence or malpractice; therefore, you must seek legal assistance immediately.
Could You Recover Compensation?
If you or a member of your family was harmed because of a defective Bair Hugger blanket, you could recover compensation. Although every claim is different, you might be eligible to recover some of the following types of compensation:
- Medical expenses: for any medical costs directly related to the harm suffered as a result of the defective Bair Hugger blanket
- Lost income: for the wages lost as a direct result of the harm suffered because of the defective product
- Pain and suffering: for the mental and emotional distress resulting from the harmed caused by the defective Bair Hugger blanket
- Loss of consortium: awarded to family members for the lost ability to have a normal relationship with the harmed victim
- Funeral and burial costs: awarded to family members for the expenses associated with the death of the victim when the harm caused by the defective product is fatal.
- Punitive damages: compensation awarded as punishment towards the defendant to deter similar incidents from reoccurring
Are you eligible to recover all the types of compensation listed above? The specific type and amount of compensation that you could recover will always be based on the details of your claim (such as the specific harm suffered, the permanency of the harm suffered, and the way the harm suffered affected the victim’s life, for example). Because the compensation available for recovery is always case-specific, it is essential that you discuss the possible value of your claim with the product liability experts at an experienced law firm.
When you trust our product liability lawyers with expertise on defective medical devices, you can be certain that there will always be an expert fighting for your right to be compensated. Our lawyers have a thorough understanding of the compensation that you deserve and will aggressively fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available for your claim.
Is Your Claim Subject to a Statute of Limitations?
Did you know that you risk losing the right to sue if you do not understand the statute of limitations that applies to your claim? All claims are subject to a statute of limitations that determines the time that claimants have to pursue their claims. If claims are not filed within the time allowed by the statute of limitations, claimants will lose their right to sue (as well as the right to receive compensation). What is the statute of limitations that applies to your claim against 3M for their defective Bair Hugger blankets?
In general, product liability claims, have a statute of limitations of two years. This means that the parties interested in pursuing claims only have a two-year period to file their claims. Although this is a strict timeline, it is possible that exceptions apply – pausing the statute of limitations and essentially giving claimants more time to sue.
Because the statute of limitations and exceptions to the statute could vary significantly (based on the details of your claim), it is essential that you seek legal assistance from an experienced lawyer immediately. Discussing your claim with a lawyer will help you gain a better understanding of the specific deadline that applies to your claim to ensure that you preserve your right to take legal action by filing on time. For more information, do not hesitate to contact our lawyers as soon as possible.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Did you or a member of your family suffer harm as a result of a Bair Hugger blanket? If you or a member of your family suffered harm because of 3M’s defective Bair Hugger blanket, you might have grounds to pursue a product liability claim. If you would like to learn more about your right to file a product liability claim for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered, do not hesitate to contact the experts at Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible.
Normandie Law Firm is a law firm with many years of experience handling many different types of claims, including product liability claims. Our lawyers are dedicated to representing victims and ensuring that they are rightfully compensated. If you would like to discuss your claim with our lawyers, do not hesitate to contact us today – you could benefit from our free legal services. Some of our free legal services include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns to ensure that you have access to all the information that you need to pursue your claim. Whether your claim needs redirection after being affected by an incompetent attorney or you are just beginning your claim, you can trust our lawyers to provide you with all the information that you need to take action against 3M for their defective Bair Hugger blankets.
If you are ready to discuss the details of your claim with our experts, do not hesitate to contact our firm immediately. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to reach a successful claim outcome. Our Zero-Fee guarantee will ensure that you will not be required to pay any upfront legal fees. Our contingency structure will ensure that you will not be required to pay any legal expenses until after reaching a successful conclusion to your claim. If you are ready to discuss your claim with our experts, do not hesitate to contact us immediately.
