Tipped stove injuries ‘often catastrophic’

Source | KHOU

They are hard to watch: images of children maimed for life.

“He was screaming and crying,” Stephanie Moran said. “I was just like, ‘oh, my God! This isn’t happening!’”

Moran’s 18-month-old son pulled on an oven door, tipping over the range and a boiling pot.  

Later, insult would be added to injury. Moran learned manufacturers knew about the problem some 50 years ago.

It was aggravated in the 1980s when manufacturers started using lighter gauge steel for oven doors. It was cheaper.

Since then at least 33 people have been killed and 84 injured by tipping stoves.

By the early 90’s the manufacturers came up with this solution: anti-tip brackets.  Properly installed, they secure freestanding ranges to the wall.

But industry records showed only 5 percent to 10 percent of homes have the brackets. 

And the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates three deaths a year still happen because of range tip overs.

Texas attorney Dan Sciano has taken on nearly 100 tip over cases.

“The consequences of these are often catastrophic,” Sciano said. “I’ve had a young lady who lost her arm.”

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers issued a statement saying warnings are posted on ovens and that is up to installers and consumers to be sure anti-tip brackets are used. But?

“Even the qualified installers are not using these,” Sciano said.

Why? Sciano said they and manufacturers are reluctant to put in brackets fearing liability if anything happens.

“I was initially shocked they wouldn’t address the problem,” he said. “I’m now convinced it’s become an acceptable risk.”   

He believes the best solution is for manufacturers to use safety doors, a more costly alternative.

The right solution for Moran and her son, now 12.

“Kids getting burned, kids getting scared for life, people getting scarred, and they choose not to fix it?” Moran said.

Do I Have a Stove Tipping Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one have been injured or killed due to a stove or kitchen range tipping over, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and/or loss and we can help.

Learn More: Stove Tipping Lawsuit