Super Jumper – a well-known trampoline manufacturer – issued a recall for their trampolines. The recall (recall number 19-179) includes at least three types of trampolines: the 14-foot trampolines, the 14-foot combo trampolines, and the 16-foot combo trampolines. The affected trampolines have a black trampoline mat with gold springs (the springs are covered by a blue pad). The Super Jumper logo is printed on the center of the trampoline mat. The trampolines have either six metal legs or eight metal legs (14-foot and 16-foot trampolines respectively).
The recall claims that the welds on the metal legs of the affected trampolines can suddenly fail resulting in the risk of falls (and injuries). The recalled Super Jumper trampolines were sold from November 2011 to June 2019; a total of about 23,000 products are included in the recall.
The defective trampolines were available to purchase online on Overstock.com, Amazon.com, Hayneedle.com, and Wayfair.com. The trampolines were sold between $200 and $400.
As mentioned above, the welds on the metal legs can fail, leading to a risk of falls and injuries. The recall confirms that there have been 97 reports of the welds on trampoline metal legs breaking. From these 97 reports of the defect, there have been at least 4 confirmed reports of injuries (only minor injuries but injuries regardless).
According to the recall, all consumers who own the defective trampolines should immediately stop using it and should also immediately contact Super Jumper to obtain a free repair kit. Without a doubt, a free repair kit seems fair for consumers who unknowingly purchased a defective trampoline; however, is a free repair kit really enough? If neither you nor your family suffered any harm directly because of the defective trampoline, a free repair kit will allow you and your family to continue using the trampoline safely.
What if you or your family suffered injuries because of the defective trampoline? Although the recall claims that there have only been 4 confirmed reports of injuries in association with the defective trampolines, it is possible that there have been many more injuries due to the defective welds on the trampoline legs. If either you or a member of your family suffered harm because of the defective trampoline sold by Super Jumper, it is important that you do not even consider accepting a free repair kit.
Instead, you should consider seeking legal assistance to explore the possibility of filing a product liability lawsuit against Super Jumper for the harm that you or your family suffered. If you file a claim and reach a successful outcome, it is possible to recover monetary compensation for the harm that you and your family suffered. If you are interested in learning more about your right to pursue a product liability claim for the harm caused by the defective trampoline, do not hesitate to contact our law firm as soon as possible.
Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm with many years of experience handling many different personal injury claims as well as injury claims arising from defective products and product liability. Our law firm has successfully handled many claims and helped victims and their families in the recovery of the compensation to which they are entitled. If you would like our product liability attorneys to evaluate your claim and guide you towards a successful claim against the company that made a defective product available to you, do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible – our lawyers are ready to fight for your rights.
Product Liability Law in California
In general, liability for harm suffered is based on negligence. For example, a company owes consumers a duty to ensure that all their products are safe for their intended use prior to making them available for purchase. When companies fail to identify and address hazards in their products, they could be found negligent and liable for the harm caused by their defective products. Although this is important information, it is not applicable to product liability claims in California. Based on California law, companies are subject to strict liability. This means that companies who design, manufacture, or sell defective produces are strictly liable for all the harm caused by their products. This means that any labeling defects (warnings, instructions, etc.), design defects, or manufacturing defects in a product could make companies strictly liable for the harm suffered as a direct result of their defective products.
The Possible Injuries Associated with Defective Trampolines
As explained above, the welds keeping the metal legs attached correctly to the trampoline can suddenly fail – this can cause the metal trampoline legs to collapse under the trampoline. When this happens, unsuspecting parties jumping on the trampoline can suddenly fall and suffer a variety of injuries. Some of the common injuries that could be suffered include the following: broken bones, neck injuries, back injuries, sprains, strains, head injuries, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries, for example. Although it is possible that the majority of incidents resulted in minor injuries, it is also possible for victims to suffer severe, life-threatening injuries. Regardless of the specific injuries suffered, it is essential for victims to understand that they might have grounds to take legal action against the company for negligently making defective trampolines available to consumers.
Could You Sue?
As briefly mentioned above, companies who make defective products available to consumers could be held strictly liable for the harm caused by their defective product. What does this mean to you and all victims affected by defective products? This strict liability law makes it possible for you and other victims of defective products to pursue claims against these companies. If you or a member of your family suffered any type of harm as a direct result of a defective product, you have the right to sue. You should do everything in your power to hold the company accountable for the harm that you suffered – especially since you would not have suffered any harm if they had ensured that their products were safe for consumer use prior to making them available to the public. If you would like to learn more about your right to sue Super Jumper for the harm that you suffered due to their defective trampolines, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at Normandie Law Firm today.
What Action is recommended after Suffering Harm Due to a Defective Product?
If you were harmed by a defective product such as the defective trampolines sold by Super Jumper, it is essential that you follow the following recommendations:
- Seek medical treatment for all injuries suffered
- Take photos of all visible injuries (before and after treatment)
- Take photos of the defective product (the defect must be clear)
- Contact the company (report the defect and the injuries suffered)
- Never agree to a refund (or voucher)
- Never agree to a free repair (do not use repair kits if company sends any)
- Never agree to a free replacement
- Never agree to return the defective product to the company
- Do not tamper with the defective product (do not try to repair it yourself, you must leave it as-is)
- Collect all records associated with the purchase of the defective product
- Collect all records associated with the harm suffered (medical records)
- Collect all records associated with the expenses incurred as a result of the harm suffered by the defective product
- Seek the expertise of legal professionals
Could You Recover Any Compensation?
You could be eligible to recover monetary compensation for the harm that you suffered due to a defective product; however, you could only recover compensation if your claim reaches a successful outcome. Depending on the details of your claim, you could recover compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and punitive damages. If the injuries suffered are so severe that they lead to the death of the victim, surviving family members could be eligible to be compensated for funeral and burial expenses. If you would like to learn more about the specific type and amount of compensation that you and your family might be eligible to recover, do not hesitate to contact the experts at Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible. Our product liability experts are ready to fight for your right to recover the compensation that you deserve.
How Long Do You Have to File Your Product Liability Claim?
Product liability claims in the state of California are subjected to a 2-year deadline – or statute of limitations. A statute of limitations establishes the specific length of time that claimants have to file their lawsuits. When claimants fail to file within the appropriate timeframe, they lose their right to sue. Product liability claims, as mentioned above, are subject to a statute of limitations of 2-years; however, there are some factors (case-specific factors) that could affect the time that you have to pursue your claim. To ensure that you do not lose your right to sue based on a lack of understanding of the correct deadline applicable to your product liability claim, it is essential that you discuss the details of your claim with product liability experts.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
Without a doubt, you have the right to pursue a product liability claim if you or a member of your family suffered any sort of harm because of a defective product. Super Jumper made a defective product available to consumers; the company should be held accountable for the harm caused by their defective products. If you are interested in suing Super Jumper (or any other company that made a defective product available for purchase), do not hesitate to contact the experts at Normandie Law Firm.
At Normandie Law Firm, our product liability experts are available to evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information that you need to pursue a lawsuit against the company that contributed to the injuries that you or your family suffered. To ensure that all affected parties, regardless of financial situation, have access to our legal assistance, we offer free consultations and free second opinions. These free legal services are available as part of our Zero-Fee guarantee; you will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Because our firm is also based on contingency, you will not be required to pay any legal expenses until after reaching a successful outcome for your product liability claim. If you are ready to discuss your claim with our experts, contact us today.
