ORTOVOX is a German company dedicated to providing a variety of products for outdoor enthusiasts—specifically for those who enjoy mountainous activities like climbing or skiing, for example. In 1980, ORTOVOX developed the first double frequency transceiver which made it possible to find victims buried under the remnants of an avalanche must faster than with the use of other less-advanced transceivers. Over the years, ORTOVOX has continued to develop transceivers that have helped during rescue operations.
Unfortunately, approximately 20,000 units of the ORTOVOX 3+ avalanche transceivers were included in a recall (number 18-185) in the early days of July 2018. According to the recall, avalanche transceivers could malfunction due to a software error. The software error could lead to the transceivers failure to transmit the location of avalanche survivors, which could delay search and rescue efforts, cause injuries, and cause deaths.
The recall involved the following models of the ORTOVOX 3+ transceivers:
- 1137000006 (color: black/blue)
- 1137000001 (color: black/black)
- 1137000002 (color: neon green)
The recall includes all transceivers sold from July 2010 to April 2018. The transceivers were sold for approximately $350 at ski shops and outdoor specialty stores nationwide. The transceivers were also sold directly to avalanche professionals, mountain guides, and search and rescue teams. Recall number 18-185 states that consumers should stop using the recalled avalanche transceivers and contact the company for a free repair.
Were you or a member of your family harmed by the defective ORTOVOX 3+ avalanche transceiver? If so, you must not follow the recommendation of returning the product for a free repair. Instead, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. If you are in need of legal assistance after you or members of your family were harmed by a defective product, you can trust the attorneys at Normandie Law Firm. Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of injured victims and deceased victims alike. Defective products cause a variety of injuries and result in many fatalities; our attorneys are prepared to hold the companies responsible for these defective products liable for their role in the harm suffered by our clients. If you would like to learn more about your right to take legal action against ORTOVOX after you were affected by the defective transceiver, you must contact our law firm as soon as possible.
The Harm Caused by the Defective Product
According to the recall, there have been no injuries or deaths reported because of the defective product. However, the lack of reports is not equivalent to a lack of incidents. The product is designed to help search and rescue teams promptly locate survivors of avalanches. If the product is defective, search and rescue efforts are likely to be delayed. Rescuing avalanche survivors is time-sensitive; therefore, a defective transceiver could cause both hypothermia and asphyxia, for example. When prolonged, hypothermia and asphyxia can ultimately cause death. Hypothermia could lead to cardiac arrest and other cardiac issues. Likewise, asphyxia can cause permanent brain damage. Prolonged exposure to the cold can also cause frostbite, which can lead to limb loss. A quick rescue after an avalanche decreases the risk of being affected by hypothermia, asphyxia, or frostbite. The defective ORTOVOX 3+, however, could prevent a quick rescue and lead to the harm you or a member of your family suffered.
ORTOVOX Liability
Is ORTOVOX liable for the harm you or your family member suffered? The answer to that question is tricky considering the fact that avalanches can cause a series of injuries. ORTOVOX is not liable for the injuries you sustained as a result of the avalanche. However, ORTOVOX could be liable for any harm suffered as a result of a delayed rescue caused by the transceivers inability to transmit the position of avalanche survivors. All companies, including ORTOVOX, have the duty to provide their consumers with reliable products that can effectively do what they are designed to do. By releasing a defective product, the company is negligently putting their consumers in danger. ORTOVOX could be liable for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered. If you would like more information about the company’s liability in your defective product claim, you must contact our law firm as soon as possible.
Could You Sue?
Yes, you could sue if any of the following issues are present in the product: a defect in design, a defect in manufacturing, or a defect in labeling. To preserve your right to sue, you must do a few things. If you sustained injuries, you must seek medical attention; it must be clear that the harm you suffered was caused by the extended rescue. If a member of your family lost his or her life, the cause of death (lengthy rescue efforts and extended exposure to the cold) should be clear. You should also ignore the recalls recommendation of returning the 3+ transceiver for a free repair. When you return or repair the defective product, you also destroy the primary source of evidence. Because of that, it is essential that you do not return the item, agree to a repair, or attempt to repair the item yourself. You should also keep all records associated with the purchase of the product. You must also seek legal assistance as soon as possible. The attorneys at Normandie Law Firm will provide you with all the information you need to pursue a claim against ORTOVOX.
The Compensation Available for Recovery
If you or members of your family were harmed as a result of the defective ORTOVOX avalanche transceivers, you could be eligible to receive compensation. The specific type and amount of compensation available for your claim depend on the details of your product liability claim. Although each claim is different, you could be eligible to recover some of the following categories of compensation:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs
- Punitive damages
As you can see, there are many categories of compensation that claimants could recover for their product liability claims. As mentioned above, every claim is different; therefore, there is no guarantee that you could receive all of the categories of compensation available. For case-specific information about the compensation that you could receive for your ORTOVOX defective transceiver case, you must contact our law firm as soon as possible. Our attorneys will evaluate your claim and help you gain a better understanding of the possible value of your claim. Our product liability attorneys understand the importance of ensuring that you are rightfully compensated; therefore, they will aggressively fight for your right to receive the compensation to which you and your family are entitled.
The Statute of Limitations
If you are interested in filing a product liability claim after you or a member of your family were harmed by a defective product, you must file your claim within the statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a timeline that establishes the length of time that a claimant has to file his or her lawsuit. Most product liability claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations; however, there are many factors that could affect the time that you have to file your lawsuit. If you do not file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations, you could lose your right to receive compensation. For more information about any exceptions that might toll or extend the time that you have to sue, you must contact our law firm as soon as possible.
Normandie Law Firm
If you or a member of your family were harmed by the defective ORTOVOX avalanche transceivers, must contact the experienced product liability attorneys at Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible. The attorneys at Normandie Law Firm are prepared to provide you with all the information necessary to file a claim against ORTOVOX. If you would like to discuss your claim with our attorneys, you must contact our firm and request to schedule a free consultation or free second opinion.
Our free consultations and free second opinions allow our legal expertise to remain accessible to all parties affected by defective products. During our free consultations and free second opinions, the experienced attorneys at Normandie Law firm will answer your questions and address all your concerns regarding your product liability claim. Our lawyers will provide you with all the information necessary to ensure that your defective product claim reaches a successful outcome. Were you and your claim harmed or misguided by the incompetence of your previous attorney? If you have doubts about the competence of your previous attorney, you can trust our lawyers to do everything within their reach and within the law to ensure that your claim reaches a successful outcome. If you would like to benefit from a free consultation or a free second opinion, you must contact our law firm as soon as possible.
Our consultations and second opinions are free as part of our Zero-Fee guarantee which ensures that our clients never have to worry about upfront legal fees. Our firm is also based on contingency; therefore, our clients will not have to pay any fees until after our attorneys win their claims, and they are compensated. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay for any legal fees. Are you ready to start your defective product claim against ORTOVOX? If so, you must contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.
