Most American households have multiple pieces of furniture. Customers expect them to be long-lasting and safe because of the high price tag. Nobody ever thinks their furniture, such as bookcases or chairs, will harm them or their kids.
Despite this, thousands of Americans sustain injuries yearly due to furniture tip-overs. Although the numbers have been going down, there are still many who do not know how dangerous unsafe furniture can be.
How can defective furniture cause harm?
There are several ways in which defective furniture can cause injury in a home. Furniture tip-overs are the most dangerous type of furniture accident. It occurs when heavy objects, such as dressers or bookcases, fall over and land on someone.
When retailers or manufacturers fail to set up beds or chairs properly, these objects can cause accidents by collapsing under a person’s weight. Moreover, if manufacturers use harmful materials or chemicals to finish a piece of furniture, consumers may develop health issues.
What to do when you have defective furniture
Defective furniture can result from shipping and delivery or when the retailer fails to inspect the product. Many stores will accept a return and offer consumers a refund or exchange. However, if the store does not, the consumer may be able to report the company to the appropriate authorities.
Sometimes, it is the manufacturer who is at fault for releasing a defective product. This can happen when the design itself was not carefully assessed or when the company fails to include warning labels and safety features.
If the defective furniture causes injury or death, consumers may seek legal action against the retailer or manufacturer. This will allow them to recover compensation for injury-related expenses, including medical bills and other losses.
In Ohio, filing a lawsuit on product liability must be done within two years from the date of injury. However, some injuries can come from using a faulty product for a long time and may have no specific date. In this case, the statute of limitations will only run after the user receives a medical diagnosis for the injury.
Businesses have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their products. When they do not, people can get hurt or even die as a result. If that happens, it would be best to speak to a product liability attorney.