Important facts about dangerous products in Tennessee

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issues many recalls each year for the safety of the consumers. Thanks to this large number of recalls, many consumers experience “recall fatigue,” meaning that they simply pay no attention to any recalls any more. Most recalls originate with a consumer complaint or report of an injury caused by a defective or dangerous product.

The CPSC does not issue recalls for child safety alone; it issues them for the safety of all consumers. A large percentage of recalls involve products that are dangerous to children, but some include defective car parts or electronic equipment, which could be dangerous for an entire family. The CPSC has issued many recalls recently for products that were popular in the past, including items manufactured 30 or 40 years ago, so consumers should always check that the CPSC has not recalled an item before purchasing it secondhand.

Some companies try to fight a recall after the CPSC issues it, but most cooperate by fixing the product to make it safer. Consumers can visit recalls.gov or cpsc.gov to find out about recalls and sign up for alerts to remain updated on the most recent recalls. Thanks to advancing technology, it is now much easier for consumers to find out about recalled products and report products to the CPSC as defective or dangerous.

When a dangerous product causes an injury, the manufacturer or seller of that product may be liable for damages. In many cases, a manufacturer may be unaware of any issues with the product because of inadequate quality control methods, but this does not excuse the company of its liability. The consumers in these cases may be able to receive compensation for their medical bills and other expenses or losses that the product caused.

Source: Daily Finance, “5 Things Consumers Should Know About Dangerous Products”, Kimberly Palmer, September 11, 2014