On October 29, 2019, Hit Promotional Products issued a recall for their Coastline Ceramic Mugs. According to the recall, number 20-014, the ceramic mugs can crack/break when used with or exposed to any hot liquids – resulting in a burn and laceration risk.
Approximately 34,000 units were affected by the recall. The Coastline Ceramic Mugs were given away as promotional items at a number of meetings and events. The ceramic mugs have different logos printed on them; the mugs are available in many different colors – all with a gray bottom. Each mug has “China” printed on the bottom.
The defective ceramic mugs were given out for free nationwide from October 2018 to September 2019. So far, Hit Promotional Products has received at least ten reports of the ceramic mugs cracking/breaking when used with hot liquids. There have not been any injuries reported.
The company is urging all consumers that own a defective mug to immediately stop using the product and contact them for a free replacement.
Should you follow this recommendation? If you did not suffer any harm associated with the defective product, following the simple recommendation of contacting the company for a free replacement is the thing to do; since the mug was free anyways, some might simply choose to throw it out instead of going through the trouble of requesting a replacement.
However, if you suffered any sort of injuries associated with the defective product, you must take very specific actions – whatever you do, do not return the defective product for a free replacement. Instead, it is essential that you seek legal assistance to explore the possibility of pursuing a product liability claim.
To learn more about whether you have the right to pursue a claim, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm as soon as possible. Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm with many years of experience handling different types of claims – always putting the best interests of our clients, the innocent victims, first. Our lawyers have many years of experience handling product liability claims and holding negligent companies accountable for the harm that they cause their consumers. If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue a claim, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our experts at your earliest convenience.
The Burn and Laceration Risk
As explained above, the defective mug can suddenly crack or break when used with hot liquids. This could result in burns and lacerations. Depending on the temperature of the hot liquids and the length of time the skin is exposed to the hot liquids, unsuspecting parties could suffer different degrees of burns. A first-degree burn simply results in redness and swelling on the outer layer of skin. First-degree burns can be painful, but can heal with little to no treatment. A second-degree burn damages deeper lawyers of the skin. In addition to redness and swelling, victims can suffer blistering. More severe burns, third-degree burns completely destroy all layers of the skin. It is also possible for third-degree burns to damage muscle, nerves, and bone. These burns can result in loss of mobility and even loss of limb in some cases.
When the ceramic mugs suddenly break or crack, unsuspecting parties could suffer lacerations. If the ceramic mugs break or crack while being held, the lacerations are likely to be focused in the hand area. However, lacerations can happen on other parts of the body as well. Lacerations could cause nerve damage and even result in the loss of mobility or sensation. Lacerations could become infected; lacerations could also result in permanent scarring.
Regardless of the specific harm that you suffered because of the defective product, it is essential that you seek medical attention and legal assistance immediately. Depending on the details surrounding your incident, you might have grounds to file a claim.
About Product Liability and Your Right to Sue
Based on product liability, all companies that make products available to consumers (such as Hit Promotional Issues) have a duty of care towards their consumers – they must ensure that their products are completely safe to be used. When companies make defective products available to consumers, they are breaching their duty of care to consumers; the breach of duty could cause an incident which could lead to harm. Does this mean that you have the right to sue? If the harm that you suffered was associated with a defect in design, labeling, or manufacturing, you and other affected consumers could have the right to sue based on product liability. For more information about product liability and your right to sue, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the lawyers at our firm as soon as possible.
Your Right to Recover Compensation
Could you recover any compensation if you suffered harm because of the defective ceramic mug? Depending on the specific details surrounding your incident and your claim, you might have grounds to recover compensation; however, there is no guarantee. You could be eligible to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain/suffering, property damage, and punitive damages, for example. If you would like to learn more about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive based on the details of your claim, do not hesitate to contact our firm. Our lawyers will fight for your right to receive fair compensation for the harm that you suffered.
Deadlines and Filing Claims
To ensure that all claims are filed promptly, all claims are subject to deadlines – specifically, to statutes of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the length of time that claimants have to file their claims. If claimants fail to file within the appropriate length of time, they will lose their right to sue – and their right to receive any sort of compensation. In California, product liability cases are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations (claimants will only have two years to file a claim). However, certain exceptions could apply that could result in a tolled or paused deadline – essentially giving claimants more time to sue. Because you could risk your right to pursue a claim, it is essential that you have a thorough understanding of the statute of limitations that applies to your claim. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and ensure that you file on time.
The Recommended Steps to Prepare to File Your Claim
To preserve your right to file a product liability claim, there are a number of steps that you should follow immediately after being harmed. Unfortunately, many people lose the possibility of reaching successful claims because of what they do – or fail to do.
Consider the following recommendations:
- Seek medical attentions – explain how the incident happened (this will go on your record)
- Take photos of all injuries suffered
- Take photos of any property damage
- Take photos of the aftermath of the incident (the shattered mug on the floor, the wet clothes, etc.)
- Keep the defective product as-is – gather the broken pieces and keep them in a safe place
- Contact the company to report the incident and the defective product
- Do not agree to a free repair, a free replacement, an exchange, or a refund (if applicable)
- Do not tamper with the defective product in any way
- Gather all medical records
- Gather all purchase history
- Gather witness testimony/information
- Seek legal assistance as soon as possible
By following the steps above, you are essentially preparing to file your claim and work towards a successful outcome. If you would like to learn more about the specific actions that you should follow to preserve your right to file a product liability claim, do not hesitate to contact our law firm today. Our experts are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to get on track towards the claim outcome that you deserve.
Seek Legal Assistance Today
When you allow the product liability experts at Normandie Law Firm to handle your claim, you can be certain that there will always be someone aggressively fighting for your right to be compensated for the harm that you suffered. At Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have many years of experience handling product liability claims and holding companies liable for the harm that they negligently caused their consumers. Our lawyers are committed to providing you with the legal representation that you need reach a successful claim outcome.
To ensure that all victimized consumers have access to the legal representation necessary to reach a successful product liability claim, our firm offers free consultations and free second opinions. During these free consultations and free second opinions, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns – doing everything within their reach to ensure that you have the necessary information to start or continue your claim. To benefit from these free legal services, do not hesitate to contact our law firm today. Our lawyers are ready to guide you throughout the legal process.
Our free legal services mentioned above are available as part of a Zero-Fee guarantee. This guarantee ensures that our clients never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also based on a contingency structure that ensures that our clients do not have to pay anything until reaching a successful claim outcome – if you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything. If you are ready to discuss your product liability claim against Hit Promotional Products with our lawyers, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our experts at your earliest convenience.
