Common Household Products that Can be Defective

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Common Household Products that Can be Defective

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

If you’ve ever been hurt by a poorly-made product, you know how frustrating it can be. There is an expectation that the things we buy should be safe, work as promised, and have a standard of quality that allows for prolonged use. 

Below are some common household products that are often defective and lead to injury. If you suffered injuries in the Chicago area, speak with a product liability attorney right away. 

Cosmetics

Did you know formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and a number of its derivatives are used in cosmetics? Almost 600 cosmetics manufacturers have admitted to using 88 cancer-causing chemicals that also result in birth defects. That means 73,000 cosmetic products on the market today are tainted with known carcinogens. Because cosmetics are neither food nor drugs, they are largely unregulated. For a product that is so regularly applied to the skin, eyes, or mouth areas, this is terrifying. Cosmetics commonly cause things like allergic reactions with short-term use and can lead to more serious conditions over time. 

Motor Vehicles

Car accidents are a leading cause of death in this country and have been for a long time. In fact, motor vehicles are so prone to defects that there is an entire legal area dedicated to it—the “lemon law.” Cars, motorcycles, boats, and even things like motorized kids’ toys are complex machines with power sources, a ton of moving cars, and there are many ways in which these products can be defective.

Household Pesticides

It’s no mystery that chemical-based products are going to be risky. However, there are no other products on this list that have a designated branch of emergency services dedicated just to them (Poison Control). There have been instances of household cleaners being sold in grocery stores in water bottle-type containers, such as Fabuloso, which originated in Venezuela. People twist off the lid and take a sip of what appears to be a sugary beverage. “Fabuloso” sounds more like a Kool-Aid knock-off than, say, Mr. Clean, which is easy to identify as a household cleaner. Pesticides are particularly dangerous because they are actually designed to kill, to be toxic.

Toys

Toys are another household item notorious for defects. Because toddlers are prone to putting everything in their mouths and older kids are exploring and testing the world around them (toys included), it is particularly crucial that toys be safe and durable. For example, one of the most dangerous types of toys of all time are those containing magnets because once swallowed, the magnets clumped together in the children’s intestines and could not be passed. 

Hoverboards, very popular at the moment, have been known to spontaneously combust. Ten different companies recalled over half a million hoverboards for nearly 100 reported incidents of fire. Razor scooters alone have caused a 40% increase in toy-related injuries (Helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads are a must).

Chicago Product Liability Attorneys You Can Trust

If you’ve been injured when correctly using a household item that was defective, please contact our Chicago product liability attorneys today. Malman Law has handled 25,000+ cases in the last 25 years and has collected $500 million in damages for our clients. Call us to set up a free consultation with one of our experienced and dedicated lawyers today.