On September 26, 2019, DeWALT issued a recall for their Multi-Functional Utility Bars. According to the recall, number 19-21, the utility bar can suddenly break while being used for prying; this poses a severe injury risk to users. The recall specifically includes the 40″ utility bars with one end for prying any another end for gripping boards. The recall includes black and yellow utility cars with model number DWHT55293 (printed on the yellow end of the bars). Approximately 145,000 units are involved in the recall.
The defective utility bars were sold in The Home Depot stores as well as other hardware stores throughout the country; the defective utility bars were also sold online through many online retailers, including Amazon.com. The defective utility bars were sold for approximately $30 to $40 from December 2015 to March 2019
The company has about 56 reports regarding defective utility bars – specifically, the utility bars breaking. There have been at least 4 reports of injuries associated with the defective utility bars.
The company is urging consumers to stop using the defective product immediately and call or email the company for instructions on returning the utility bar and getting a gift card as reimbursement for the purchase of the defective product.
As mentioned above there have been a number of reports on the utility bars breaking as well as reports of injuries. However, it is possible that there have been many unreported incidents associated with the defective utility bars. Did you or a member of your family suffer harm as a direct result of the defective DeWALT utility bars? If you or a member of your family suffered injuries because of a defective product, you might have grounds to pursue a claim.
Instead of following the recommendation of contacting the company to return the utility bar and get a refund, it is essential that you seek legal assistance. If you are in need of legal assistance after being harmed by a defective product, you must contact the experts at Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible. Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm with many years of experience handling all sorts of claims, including product liability claims. Our lawyers have successfully represented parties affected by defective products in the past and are ready to provide you with the legal representation that you need to pursue your claim.
If you are ready to discuss your product liability claim against DeWALT with the experts at our firm, do not hesitate to contact us today.
The Possible Harm Associated with the Defective Utility Bars
The defective product can suddenly break while being used. The sudden break can cause sudden jerks (jerking motions) which could cause users to fall and hurt themselves even further. Some of the possible harm that users could suffer as a direct result of the defective product includes dislocations, fractures, sprains, strains, lacerations, puncture wounds, and bruising, for example. Although these injuries do not seem severe, they can be. Some injuries can even be fatal in some circumstances. Regardless of the specific harm that you or a member of your family suffered, you should explore the possibility of holding the company that contributed to the harm liable.
Understanding Product Liability
Who is liable for the harm that you suffered? Based on product liability, the company that negligently made the defective product available for consumers could be liable for all harm suffered in association of their defective product. What does this mean? All companies have a duty towards their consumers. They have a duty of care to ensure that all their products are safe to be used by consumers (they must inspect their products to identify and address any product hazards and test their products to ensure that they are safe to be used). When companies breach their duty of care, they are negligently putting their consumers at risk of suffering harm. When the breach of duty (failure to identify and address hazards) leads to an incident that results in harm, the company will undeniably face liability. Whenever a company releases a product to consumers even if the product has a defect in labeling, design, or manufacturing, the company could be liable for all harm suffered.
Do You Have the Right to Sue?
Your right to sue after being harmed by a defective product is based on the fact that the company owed you a duty of care. The company owed you and other consumers a specific duty of care – a duty of care that was breached, resulting in a defective product being made available for consumers to purchase. Harm associated with defective products can usually be traced back to the negligent actions of a company. This means that you could hold a company accountable for any harm that you suffered after a company negligently and recklessly made a defective product available to purchase. You definitely have the right to sue for the harm that you suffered.
What Compensation Could You Receive?
Are you eligible to recover any monetary compensation for the harm that you suffered? Whether you or a member of your family suffered harm associated with a defective product, you might be eligible to recover at least some sort of compensation. In general, the specific type of compensation available for recovery depends on the specific details of your claim (such as the type of harm that you suffered and how it affected different aspects of your life).
This could include compensation for some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
Regardless of the specific details of your claim, you could be certain that our lawyers will always do everything within their reach to ensure that you are rightfully compensated. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and help you gain a better understanding of the compensation that you might be eligible to recover. To learn more about the type and amount of compensation that you might be eligible to receive, do not hesitate to contact Normandie Law Firm today.
What is the Statute of Limitations?
Without a doubt, you have the right to pursue a claim if the harm that you or a member of your family suffered was associated with a defective product. In other words, if a company’s breached duty of care resulted in a defective product being made available to consumers and causing the injuries that you or a member of your family suffered, you could take legal action. Did you know that you could lose your right to sue?
You could lose your right to sue if you fail to file your claim within the appropriate length of time. All claims are subject to a statute of limitations that establishes the time that claimants have to take legal action. If claimants fail to file on time, they will lose their right to sue. Although the statute of limitations establishes a strict deadline, exceptions could apply – essentially tolling (or pausing) the applicable deadline.
So, what is the deadline that applies to your claim? In the state of California, product liability claims are generally subjected to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that claimants only have two years to file their claims. Because exceptions could apply (as mentioned above), it is essential that you discuss the statute of limitations that applies to your claim with a product liability expert for case-specific information regarding the time that you have to sue.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
If you were harmed by a defective product, it is essential that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible – depending on the details of your claim, you might have grounds to take legal action against the company that negligently made the defective product available for purchase. You might even be eligible to recover compensation for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered. If you are in need of legal assistance, do not hesitate to contact the experts at Normandie Law Firm. Our lawyers have what it takes to handle your claim and ensure that you recover the compensation that you deserve. If you would like to discuss your claim with our experts, you must contact us immediately.
Our firm offers free consultations and free second opinions to ensure that all affected parties have access to the legal representation that they need start or continue their claims. Our firm is also based on a strict contingency structure that ensures that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. In fact, our clients will never be required to pay anything until after reaching a successful claim outcome. If you are ready to discuss your claim with the experts at our firm, contact us today.
