Amazon Hit With Product Liability Lawsuit After Woman Loses Eye To Decorative Decal Sticker

Amazon is facing a product liability lawsuit filed on behalf of a California woman. According to the lawsuit, Amazon sold a steering wheel emblem decal sticker that somehow caused a woman to lose her eye. The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Cruz.

In this case, the plaintiff alleges that Amazon sold a product described as a “sparkly bling car steering wheel decorative diamond sticker fit for a Honda.” According to the lawsuit, “the product consisted of four metal pieces that were covered with artificial diamonds/rhinestones” and the “pieces were adhesive backed and were designed to be inserted around the Honda Emblem on the steering wheel.

According to the plaintiff, she claims that she was involved in a minor impact car accident that caused her front driver’s airbag to deploy. During the deployment of the airbag, the adhesive-backed pieces of the decal dislodged, and “the pieces were projected throughout the cabin of the vehicle like shrapnel from a grenade.” The plaintiff maintains that one of the pieces went directly into her eye and that her eye “was completely destroyed by the projectile.” The lawsuit contends that the woman is now completely blind in her right eye with no light perception. She is planning on having a medical procedure to remove the eye.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues consumer alert 

On November 6, 2023, the NHTSA issued a consumer alert called “Don’t Buy or Use Steering Wheel Decorative Emblem Decals.” The alert essentially warned customers that something like this could happen to them and noted that at least one driver suffered a serious injury that resulted in the loss of sight in one eye. The alert advised customers not to purchase the decals and warned them that they should remove the decals from their steering wheels as soon as possible.

The plaintiff’s lawsuit accuses Amazon of continuing to sell the products even after the NHTSA issued the alert. The lawsuit further alleges that Amazon continued to sell the products even after the company knew that the products were hazardous to any driver who had an airbag in their vehicle. The lawsuit further accuses Amazon of selling these dangerous products purely for monetary gain and of failing to warn customers about the potential risks involved with installing these products.

The plaintiff’s lawsuit is seeking damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, physical impairment, physical disfigurement, and the loss of capacity to enjoy life.

Recent court decisions have held Amazon liable for products that they sell on their marketplace. Initially, Amazon had hoped to insulate itself from liability related to defective products. However, after losing several lawsuits filed by injured consumers, Amazon is generally liable (like most retailers) for products they introduce into the stream of commerce.

Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today 

The Florida personal injury lawyers at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of consumers who have been injured by dangerous or defective products. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation, and we can begin preparing your claim right away.

Source:

wate.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/688367903/new-lawsuit-accuses-amazon-of-selling-dangerous-products-resulting-in-loss-of-womans-eye-against-nhtsa-warning/