On October 8, 2019, Zippo issued a recall for their Ronson Tech Torch Auto Start. According to the recall (recall number 20-007), the Ronson Tech Torch can keep producing a flame even after the activation trigger is released (into the ‘off’ position). This poses a significant fire hazard.
The recall includes approximately 660,000 units sold in the U.S. (an additional 98,000 were sold in Canada). The defective torch consists of a red utility lighter and a black rubber handle; it has a black trigger as well as a metal nozzle. The torch is printed with ‘Ronson’ (at the top of the product) and ‘Tech Torch’ (at the base of the product). The defective torches were packaged along with a Ronson butane fuel can.
The company has received at least 36 reports of the torch continuing to operate even after the trigger is turned off. There has been at least one report of property damage albeit minor. No injuries surrounding the defective torches have been reported.
The Zippo torches were sold online at Zippo.com and Amazon.com; the torches were also available in-store at Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware, and other stores nationwide. The defective torches were available from February 2010 to July 2019 for approximately $30 to $40.
The company is urging all consumers with the defective torches to stop using the product immediately and contact the company for further instructions on getting a refund.
Although the company claims that there have been no injuries associated with the defective product, it is possible that there has been unreported incidents surrounding the defective torches. If you or a member of your family suffered any sort of harm because of the defective product, it is of absolute importance that you do not follow any of their suggestions – do not contact the company for a refund.
Depending on the specific circumstances surrounding the incident and the harm that you suffered, you might have grounds to pursue a claim – specifically, a product liability claim. If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue a product liability claim, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience.
At Normandie Law Firm, our experts have many years of experience handling different types of claims – including defective product claims – and helping injured victims as well as their families recover the compensation that they deserve. If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue a product liability claim after you or a member of your family suffered harm because of a defective product, do not hesitate to contact our experts today – we are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to pursue a claim.
The Fire Hazard
According to the recall, the torch can continue to produce a flame even after being turned off, producing a significant fire hazard. Without a doubt, utility torches are helpful in a number of different tasks. It allows consumers to access a flame as needed; however, if the flame continues even after being turned off, it could pose a significant problem.
For starters, the fire hazard represented by the defective torch could result in burns. Burns can vary in degrees. Minor burns can require little to no treatment and usually result in only minor discomfort. Within a few days, victims could be good as new. However, burns are not always minor. Burns of higher degrees, second-degree, third-degree, fourth-degree, can be devastating. The skin, muscles, nerves, and even bones could be severely affected. In extreme cases, burns can result in loss of mobility of affected limbs and even amputation.
In addition to burns, fire hazards could result in other physical harm, specifically in the form of smoke-inhalation. A fire hazard could cause a fire – fires cause smoke. Smoke can quickly fill enclosed spaces. Within a matter of seconds, the smoke from a fire could be so overpowering that it could completely disorientate victims. The fumes in the smoke could quickly harm the respiratory system. The lack of oxygen available could also result in the loss of consciousness, a significant brain injury (due to the brain’s lack of oxygen), and even death.
Fires could also result in significant damage. Structural damage is common and the most costly; the affected structure might be a complete loss or inhabitable for a significant length of time. Fires could also result in extensive smoke and ash damage – which could also result in the need for extensive and expensive clean up and repair.
Without a doubt, a fire hazard could result in significant damage. If you or a member of your family suffered any sort of damages associated with the hazard present in Zippo’s defective torch, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance as soon as possible – you will likely have grounds to pursue a claim.
Your Right to Pursue a Claim based on Product Liability
Based on product liability, all companies have a duty of care to ensure that their products are completely safe for consumers. To exercise this duty of care, companies must constantly inspect and test their products to ensure safety and identify any potential hazards. When companies fail to identify and address any hazards in their products that could pose a risk to their consumers, they are breaching their duty of care – they are also needlessly and negligently putting their consumers at risk of suffering harm.
Specifically, products must be free of any defects in manufacturing, design, or labeling. If any defects exists in these categories, affected consumers could pursue claims against the company – given that the harm suffered is directly associated with the defective product.
Could you really pursue a claim? Because the company breached the duty of care towards you and contributed to the harm that you suffered, you have the right to pursue a claim. You could file a product liability (defective product) claim and fight for your right to recover compensation.
You Could Recover Compensation
Depending on the specific details of your claim, you could be eligible to recover monetary compensation for the damages that you and your family suffered. Many will claim that recovering monetary compensation will not reverse the harm suffered – and we agree. However, recovering compensation can help you and your family move on from such a traumatic experience and move forward with rebuilding your lives. It will cover all expenses and losses associated with the defective product so that you will not have to worry about paying anything out of pocket for something that ultimately was not your fault.
Based on the details of your claim, you could recover compensation for some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs
- Punitive damages
For more information about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Our lawyers are ready and willing to aggressively fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available for your claim. We will not rest until you recover what you are owed. Contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.
What Should You Do?
After being affected by a defective product, it is essential that you follow a number of steps. Consider the following steps:
- Immediately stop using the defective product
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible
- Take photos of all the harm suffered
- Take photos of the defective product
- Contact the company to report the defective product and the harm that you suffered
- Do not agree to a free repair or a refund
- Do not return the defective product to the company
- Do not sign any documents
- Do not provide the company with any information that could be used against you
- Gather all purchase records
- Gather all medical records
- Gather witness information (if available)
- Seek legal assistance as soon as possible
When you follow the recommendations listed above, you are essentially preparing to file a claim. Even if you are unsure about pursuing legal action, following the steps outlined above will ensure that you are prepared whenever you decide to file.
What is the Statute of Limitations that Applies to Your Claim?
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations – a deadline to sue. This ensures that all claims are filed within an appropriate length of time. Product liability claims (in California) are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. What does this mean? Claimants interested in filing product liability claims will only have two years to file. If they fail to file within the appropriate length of time, they will lose their right to sue (and lose their right to receive any form of compensation). However, some exceptions could apply based on claim details that could ultimately affect the applicable deadline. If you would like to learn more about the statute of limitations that applies to your claim, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our experts as soon as possible.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Immediately
If you are considering the possibility of filing a product liability claim against Zippo for the harm that you suffered due to their defective product, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm as soon as possible. Our product liability lawyers at Normandie Law Firm are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information that you need to file your claim and fight for your right to recover the compensation that you deserve. If you are in need of our legal guidance, contact us immediately.
You could benefit from our free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns; our experts are ready to provide you all the information that you need to either start or continue your claim. If you would like to benefit from our free legal services, do not hesitate to call us.
Our free legal services are available as part of a Zero-Fee guarantee – a guarantee that you will never have to pay any upfront legal fees. Our firm is also based on contingency, meaning that our clients will never have to pay anything until after reaching a successful claim outcome. If you are in need of a product liability lawyer for your claim against Zippo, you can trust the experts at Normandie Law Firm.
