The Seattle Manufacturing Corporation issued a recall for its Kobah Ice Axes on August 7th, 2019. A little over 150 of the axes were recalled. The reason for the recall is centered around the instability f the head of the axe, which can detach from the handle when in use. The axes are used to help climb mountains and are stuck in the icy faces to better grip and ascend. If an axe breaks, the risk of falls greatly increases. Fortunately, only one report of the axe head breaking from the handle has been reported.
Four different types of the axe, ranging in size from 60 to 75 centimeters, have been recalled. All axes have a steel spike attached to the bottom of the shaft, and the manufacturer’s lot number is 10864. The axes are orange, made of aluminum, and have black accents.
The axes were manufactured in the United States and were sold in specialty climbing shops and online at the company’s website for $100 from March 2019 through June 2019.
The company is contacting those who purchased the axes and is issued refunds. It is recommended that all individuals stop using the axes and purchase a new brand.
Injuries from Broken Axes
If a Kobah Ice Axe breaks during use, it can be potentially lethal. The axes are used to climb up mountains and other such surfaces, and expeditions often require only a certain amount of equipment to be brought. A fall from a mountainside can lead to extreme injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Head trauma
- Brain damage
- Internal organ damage
- Severed limbs and digits
- Paralysis
- Coma
- Death
These injuries can be permanent and life-threatening. They are made worse by the fact that the climbers are often in remote or hard-to-reach locations, and medical help cannot quickly arrive. They may worsen overtime and they may have no ability to get treatment. Therefore, the broken axes can cause much more harm than normal.
Steps To Take For A Product Liability Claim
If you wish to file a product liability lawsuit against Seattle Manufacturing Corporation, or if a family member or loved one dies and you wish to file a wrongful death claim, you should take these steps.
- Go to the doctor immediately to get diagnosed with the injuries and to get treatment. If you do not go to the doctor quickly, you stand to suffer more or worsen your damages. Further, the insurance agency can potentially claim that you were hurt in another incident.
- Hold on to all receipts from the doctor’s office and medical notes to show the kind of treatment you received.
- Hold on to receipts and proof of purchase documents showing you bought the axe in question.
- Do not tamper with the axe or try to fix it; if you do, the company can state that you likely caused the defect in the first place.
- Do not return the item to the manufacturer. You should hold on to it to ensure that you have ample proof of the defect or error.
- Get any statements from eyewitnesses or other individuals who were with you when the incident happened. Their perspectives and support can greatly benefit your claim.
It is recommended that you hire an attorney to handle your case for you. Too often, individuals will go against large corporations with lawsuits and try to win, but will be shot down or denied. if you don’t have any legal experience t will be very difficult to win your case, and your lawsuit will likely not succeed. An attorney, on the other hand, can work around the clock to ensure that your case is reviewed and discussed. Our attorneys will negotiate with the insurance agent and make sure that you receive a worthwhile settlement form the company if you were injured.
Additionally, if a loved one died because of a defective axe, you may have to worry about a great deal of other issues besides the lawsuit. If you leave the legal action up to a professional, you can focus your energy and time on other things that matter more, such as the grieving process, allocation of the estate, and more.
To sue, you must show that the company was negligent in some way. There are three potential ways to do so:
- There was a design flaw with the product that was overlooked
- There was a manufacturing error with the item that caused defects to occur in some of the products, but not all
- There were no warning signs or hazards present on the product or on the packaging
Only one of these issues needs to be shown to be true if you wish to file a lawsuit. With the axes, there was likely a manufacturing error – if fewer than 200 were recalled, that means that the total group of axes was largely safe, and only a few from one particular batch were problematic.
Earnings From A Product Liability Lawsuit
Our lawyers will strive to win you the maximum damages available from a product liability lawsuit. You should not be expected to cover the expenses yourself if you were hurt because of another party’s negligence. Examples of the compensation you can receive include the following:
- Medical bills from the past and future for surgery, hospital stay, ambulatory transportation, medication, physical rehabilitation, and more
- Lost property for any items or belongings that were damaged or needed to be replaced in the incident, including the cost of the axe
- Lost income from the past and future for time you could not go to work, whether due to your injuries or recovery time
- Pain and suffering damages to account for PTSD, fear, anxiety, mental trauma, emotional anguish, and more
- Wrongful death expenses if a loved one or family member died in the incident, which can include pre-death medical bills and pain and suffering, funeral and burial fees, loss of consortium, loss of relations, loss of expected savings and income, and more
Our lawyers have every intention to win you the maximum damages for your case.
Deadline To Sue For A Product Liability Lawsuit
In California, product liability claims and personal injury lawsuits must be filed against the responsible party no later than 2 years after the date of the injury. If you do not file a lawsuit within this time, you will not be able to collect any compensation. The statute of limitations is in place to ensure that parties have enough time to gather evidence and so that they are not unfairly taking action years later.
There are a few ways in which the statute of limitations can be extended past the 2 year deadline, as well. These situations include the following:
- Minors who were hurt can wait until they turn 18 years old to sue
- Individuals left mentally or physically incapacitated after the incident can wait until they return to a functional state to sue
- Individuals in situations where the defendant left the state can wait until he returns before suing
It is in your best interest to contact a skilled lawyer who can ensure that your case is filed on time. Often, lawsuits are missed out on and compensation is not secured because the victims do not take action within the appropriate amount of time. We will ensure that your case is filed on deadline.
How We Help
Normandie Law Firm can help you with filing a lawsuit against Seattle Manufacturing Corporation if you were hurt because of a Kobah Ice Axe that broke during use. We know the best tactics to win your case and we are prepared to do whatever t takes to win. Our aggressive lawyers will work around the clock to win your rightful restitution, and if we need to go to court, we are perfectly willing to do so.
Call our offices today for a free legal consultation with an expert lawyer. We will walk you through the legal process and answer all your questions about the case. If you have specific concerns, we will address them and tell you how much we think we can win for you. If you want to hire us, we will ensure that you pay nothing out f pocket for our services. We will give you our zero fee guarantee, which says that you pay nothing from start to finish, and we get paid only if we win. The money will come from the settlement or verdict we bring you, and if we lose, we take nothing at al..
Contact Normandie Law Firm today if you want to sue Seattle Manufacturing Company for injuries coming from an accident with a defective Kobah Ice Axe.
