Recently, Kiddie has issued a wide sweeping recall of a large number of their fire extinguishers. Found in homes, businesses, and even on boats, these products are expected to deploy a certain amount of fire retardant in the event of a fire emergency. However, a defect in the deployment system and a defective nozzle have mitigated the fire extinguishers’ ability to put out fire hazards effectively. As a result, those who have tried to use the recalled Kiddie Fire extinguishers have experienced traumatic burn injuries, and even wrongful death. Fortunately, victims of this tragic product defect can sue the manufacturing company through either a lawsuit or class action lawsuit. With these lawsuits, victims can seek monetary compensation to cover the damages and losses that they have suffered. However, when filing these lawsuits, it is always recommended that you have a skilled and experienced lawsuit or class action lawsuit attorney by your side. At Normandie Law Firm our well-versed product liability lawsuit lawyers can guide you through the often arduous process of building your case, filing your claim, and collecting compensation for the damages suffered. If you have any questions after reading this article, please feel free to reach out to our law offices in Los Angeles, California, for a free consultation by one of our top-rated legal advisors.
The Defect & Recall
The Kiddie company has issued a recall for all fire extinguishers with plastic handles manufactured between January 1st, 1973, and August 15th, 2017. This recall also includes models made between March 2009 and February 2015 which were previously recalled and were sold in red, white, and silver. These fire extinguishers were either ABC- or BC- rated. The model number for these fire extinguishers can be found on the fire extinguisher label. If you happen to own or know someone who owns a fire extinguisher purchased in 2007 and on, you can find the manufacturing date printed on the side of the cylinder, near the bottom, and will appear as a 10-digit date code. Digits listed five through nine represent the day and year of manufacture and are placed in a DDDYY format. Extinguishers manufactured from January 2nd, 2012 through August 15th, 2017 are printed as 00212, through 22717. Any extinguishers manufactured before 2007 do not have a manufacture date code printed on the extinguisher.
Push-Button Pindicator Fire Extinguishers are also listed in this recall. Eight models of the Kiddie Pindicator fire extinguisher manufactured between August 11, 1995, and September 22nd, 2017, may have a fatal defect which can cause impact injuries. These extinguishers were sold in red and white variants and were mostly sold for kitchens and personal watercrafts.
If you happen to own one of these extinguishers, you should contact the manufacturing company, Kiddie, immediately, to receive a free replacement fire extinguisher. This should be done as soon as possible, as in the event of a fire emergency there is no guarantee that these extinguishers will function properly. So far the CSPC has received reports of at least a single death in 2014 which involved a car fire. Emergency response teams attempted to put out the blaze but failed to do so as their Kiddie fire extinguishers malfunctioned. Since then, roughly 391 reports have been made of failed or limited activation of the Kiddie fire extinguisher. Added to these reports are approximately 16 reports of either smoke inhalation or burn injuries, as well as 91 reports of property damage.
If you were injured by a defective Kiddie fire extinguisher, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Regardless if you owned the fire extinguisher or not, you have every right to seek compensation for your damages. However, when filing these suits, it is important to understand the damages that they can cause, as calculating damages play a critical role in the eventual outcome of your case.
The Damages These Fire Extinguishers Can Cause
When one of these Kiddie Fire Extinguishers fails to deploy properly, the user could be made a victim of some truly severe burn injuries and smoke inhalation injuries. For starters, smoke inhalation is one of the main causes of death in fires. This serious injury is caused by the inhalation and eventual asphyxiation of soot and toxic carbon monoxide. Symptoms of smoke inhalation include:
- A cough and hoarseness
- Coughing up blood
- Chest Pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Headaches
- Abdominal Pain
- Nausea
- Eye irritation
- Fainting
Users of the defective Kiddie fire extinguisher can also suffer devastating burn injuries. Burn injuries are typically caused by exposure to an extreme thermal source, but they can also be caused by exposure to harsh chemicals, an electrical current, and radiation. Burn injuries are categorized based on the severity of the damage. Listed below are the four degrees of burn injuries, and what these damages can mean for a victim:
- First-Degree Burns: Typically the mildest, first-degree burns can be often treated with a bit of cold water and burn cream. They often only involve damage to the first layer of skin and are characterized by a slight reddening of the skin. In some, more severe cases, however, it is wise to seek medical treatment for the burn to heal properly.
- Second-Degree Burns: Second-Degree burns involve damage to the upper layer of skin, as well as the layer of skin beneath. These type of burns cause the skin to blister and become red and sore. Blisters can pop open, giving the burn a wet and glossy appearance. It is essential to keep the area clean and appropriately bandaged to prevent infection. Most second-degree burns heal within two to three weeks, and in more severe cases may require medical attention.
- Third-Degree Burns: Often referred to as a full thickness burn, this form of burn destroys the outer and inner layer of skin. Third-degree burns are characterized by a charring and browning of the skin. If you experience a third degree burn medical attention should be sought immediately.
- Fourth-Degree Burns: Fourth-degree burns damage not just the outer and inner layer of skin but also damage deeper tissues like the muscle, tendons, and even bone. These burns are characterized by a black appearance, and in some cases result in a removal of the affected region of the body. Treatment of this burn varies on the severity and location, but all fourth-degree burns should be followed with intensive and immediate medical care.
Those who have experienced injury as a result of the defective Kiddie Fire extinguisher, have every right to seek compensation for the damages this defect can cause. With the help of a lawsuit or class action lawsuit lawyer, you could find compensation for damages like medical expenses, a loss of wages, a potential loss of future wages, and even any emotional distress the defect may have caused you and your loved ones.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
If you or a loved one have suffered burn injury, or smoke inhalation injuries as a result of the defective Kiddie fire extinguishers, you may be eligible to file a claim for significant monetary compensation. However, in pursuing compensation, it is best to seek the assistance of a skilled attorney, as large manufacturing and retail companies more than likely have the resources to employ their team of expert lawyers to dispute your claims. At Normandie Law Firm our skilled attorneys can help you build your case, and eventually fight for you and your right to compensation in court. Those who file a claim with our law firm can find some if not all of the following damages compensable to them:
- All of you medical and hospitalization costs
- All of your future medical care and treatment
- A loss of income and loss of future earnings due to long-term recovery or permanent disability due to the accident
- Compensable economic damages include loss of property or damaged property.
- Compensable non-economic damages include emotional distress, trauma, PTSD resulting from the accident, pain and suffering and anxiety.
Victims of this defective product or other defective products similar to this one can contact our law offices to learn more about how to receive compensation for their injuries. While our law firm is based in Los Angeles, our attorneys also practice in Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Orange County, Riverside, Fresno, and throughout the state of California.
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Other attorneys will sign you up for their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge.
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If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and we can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
