Amazon Facing Lawsuit Over Defective, Exploding Pressure Cooker

A Texas plaintiff has filed a product liability lawsuit against Amazon for selling her an allegedly defective and unreasonably dangerous Instant Pot pressure cooker. According to the plaintiff, she was sprayed with scalding hot contents of the pressure cooker after it exploded while the lid was being removed. Safety features that are standard on all pressure cookers prevent the lid from being removed while the contents are under pressure. In this case, the plaintiff alleges that the pressure cooker’s safety features were defective, resulting in severe burn injuries.

The plaintiff filed her complaint on August 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Her lawsuit names both Amazon and Midea America Corp. which participated in the design, manufacture, and distribution of the allegedly defective pressure cooker.

This case joins an increasing number of similar lawsuits alleging defects in pressure cookers result in scalding injuries. Each suit raises nearly identical allegations against the manufacturer and retailer who made the product available to the public. The lawsuits contend that defective safety features on the pressure cooker allowed consumers to open the lid while the contents were still under pressure. Instant Pot isn’t the only manufacturer to be hit with such lawsuits. Products sold under the brand names Crock-Pot, Ninja Foodi, and Tristar have also faced similar lawsuits making nearly identical allegations.

Third-degree burns are common in pressure cooker lawsuits

The most common pressure cooker injuries involve burns. These can range from relatively minor first-degree burns to third-degree burns that cover a large percentage of the consumer’s body. Such injuries can leave victims prone to infection. In some cases, treatment requires the amputation of limbs. Eye injuries are also possible. If a hot liquid gets into a consumer’s eyes it could cause blindness.

According to the plaintiff’s lawsuit, the plaintiff purchased her Instant Pot Duo pressure cooker through Amazon.com in August 2022. Less than a month after purchasing the product, the device allegedly allowed her to rotate and open the lid while the contents were still under pressure. The plaintiff was unaware that the contents were under pressure. She removed the lid, causing the pressurized contents to “explode”.

The plaintiff contends that the scalding hot contents of the pressure cooker were forcefully ejected resulting in “serious and substantial” burns. The plaintiff is presenting claims of product liability, defective design, and failure to warn. She contends that the defendant manufactured a dangerous pressure cooker that resulted in substantial burn injuries.

Burn injuries can be handsomely compensated because they mutilate the body and leave permanent scars. This can result in a loss of self-confidence and society, permanently impacting the victim’s quality of life.

Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today 

Halpern, Santos & Pinkert handle cases involving dangerous or defective products including products that were sold by Amazon. Call our Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin investigating your claims right away.

Source:

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