Summertime often means having family and friends over to throw some food on the grill. However, while grilling may be a great way to enjoy the outdoors while making some healthy food for your family grills can pose a danger to you, your guests, and your family. Each year an average of 8,900 home fires are caused by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns. While nearly half of the people who grill do it year-round, July is the peak month for grill fires followed by May, June, and August.
Grill Fires and Injuries by Year
According to Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates, there are roughly 600 propane tank explosions occur each year. Every personal injury accident is different and is the product of the attendant circumstances, so one cannot accurately predict without examining the circumstances present at the accident. While some people think that a grill exploding is not a very likely event, take into account that in 2013, Hannah Storm who is an anchor for ESPN suffered first and second-degree burns to her face, neck, hands and chest as a result of a propane tank explosion. This highlights that not only can these accidents happen, but they do, and the injuries that result from these accidents can be severe. If you or a loved one have sustained injuries from an explosion, it is highly recommended to contact an experienced Arkansas explosion accident injury lawyer immediately.
However, certain injuries are more likely to occur than others. These injuries include:
- Severe burns – As noted in the unfortunate incident with Ms. Storm, burn injuries are a likely injury when a grill or propane tank explodes. Burns can range in severity and while a first-degree burn or superficial burn only effects the top layer of skin, second and third-degree burns can penetrate the deeper layers of skin and cause extensive damage.
- Loss of limb – anytime there is an explosion of any sort, there is the potential that the blast will severe or injure a limb so extensively that it needs to be amputated. Like a firework or another explosive device, if the propane tank explodes when a person is adjusting the tank or otherwise in close vicinity the loss of fingers, a hand, an arm, or other limbs is possible.
- Shrapnel injuries – Shrapnel injuries aren’t just an injury you see in wars and movies, these injuries are fairly common in any accident where a propane tank explodes. These pieces of metal and other projectiles can cause severe cuts, become lodged in a victim’s eye, or otherwise cause severe injuries.
These are all unfortunate injuries that can result from a grill explosion and may leave you with deep physical and emotional scars. Many other serious personal injuries can occur including those injuries that are so severe that death is the result. In some instances, you may want to contact a Fayetteville AR personal injury lawyer for help.
When can a Defective Products Suit be brought in Arkansas?
Many times when a gas grill or propane tank explodes it signifies that there is something wrong with the product, and not so much with how the person was using the product. While it is possible that a person is using a grill so improperly that it explodes, it is much more likely that any catastrophic failure is brought on by a defect in the product. Defective products claims and lawsuits can be brought for nearly any product that is introduced into the stream of commerce anywhere in the United States. These products can include:
- Gas Grills, and home appliances such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers.
- Children’s toys like action figures, play sets, building blocks and others.
- Outdoor recreational items such as tents, climbing equipment, camping equipment, ATVs, and dirt bikes
- Motor Vehicles defect claims can sometimes be pursued in a products liability suit.
- Medical devices with a defect such as insulin pumps, contact lenses or pacemakers.
- Cosmetics and beauty products like lipstick, nail polish or blush.
- Clothing and apparel such as a non-flame retardant garment being labeled as flame-retardant
In the case of a gas grill being defective, there is much higher likelihood that the injuries are going to be severe. A combination of gas, metal, and fire can all lead to increased injuries.
A Fayetteville Personal Injury Lawyer Understands How Long You Have to File
Each state has certain laws in place called statutes of limitations, which provide a deadline for when a case can be filed. It is important that you work with an attorney to make sure that your case is filed within the time established by the statutes of limitations, because if you do not file your case before the statute of limitations has run then your case may be dismissed. In Arkansas, all product liability actions shall be commenced within three (3) years after the date on which the death, injury, or damage complained of occurs. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-116-103.
If you have been injured by a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation. For your free and confidential defective product consultation, call the Kieklak Law firm at (479) 316-0438 or contact us online.