Ginny’s Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Attorney

What is the Ginny’s Pressure Cooker?

According to Ginnys, Multi-Cooker is an appliance that works as an all-in-one pressure cooker, steamer, and slow cooker. The device features include 8 preset functions including rice, soup/stew, yogurt, brown/sauté, slow cook, fish/vegetables, meat/chicken, and desserts [1].

What Causes Pressure Cooker Explosions?

Pressure cooker explosions can occur due to various reasons, including:

1. Faulty Seals: If the pressure cooker’s sealing mechanism is defective or not properly secured, it can lead to pressure buildup and subsequent explosion.
2. Overpressure: Excessive pressure inside the cooker, often caused by failure of the pressure release mechanism or improper sealing, can cause the cooker to explode.
3. Blockage of Vents: If the vents of the pressure cooker become blocked, steam and pressure can accumulate rapidly, leading to an explosion.
4. Manufacturing Defects: Poorly manufactured pressure cookers may have structural weaknesses or faulty components that increase the risk of explosions.
5. User Error: Improper use, such as overfilling the cooker, using the wrong cooking settings, or releasing pressure too quickly, can also contribute to explosions.
6. Design Flaws: Some pressure cookers may have design flaws that make them more prone to explosions, such as inadequate safety features or weak construction materials.
7. Cooking Certain Foods: Certain foods, such as starchy foods like pasta or beans, can foam and create additional pressure inside the cooker, increasing the risk of explosion if not cooked properly.

Overall, pressure cooker explosions are rare but can occur due to a combination of factors related to the cooker’s design, manufacturing, maintenance, and usage.

Related Article: Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Update

Pressure Cooker Injuries

If the steam valve of your high-pressure cooker explodes, the mess is the last thing you should be worrying about. Amid the rush of scalding liquids, steam, and solid foods, the user and anyone nearby may be at risk of suffering extreme burn injuries.

Some pressure cooker explosions have been powerful enough to break off components of the device. In addition to ejecting pressure cooker lids upward so that they become lodged in the ceiling, these explosions can turn whistles, handles, and other components into dangerous metal shrapnel. In rare cases, metal parts from dangerous pressure cookers have become lodged in users’ bodies.

Recalled pressure cookers have led to serious injuries, including:

• Serious burns
• Burns from steam release valves
• Second-degree burns
• Third-degree burns
• Eye injuries and blindness
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Scalds
• Permanent scarring
• Disfigurement
• Emergency medical treatment
• Kitchen and/or property damage

How to Use Most Pressure Cookers Correctly

Before first using your pressure cooker, read all instructions and safety features carefully, and follow those directions exactly. Never overfill the pot with food or liquids, especially foods that expand during the pressure cooker cooking process. Use the recommended amount of liquid, and never use pressure cooking oils in the appliance.

There must always be some sort of liquid in your pressure cooker before you cook anything in it, according to WikiHow. Most recipes call for water to be used. The cooker should never be more than ⅔ full of liquid as there needs to be room for the steam to accumulate.

Follow directions for opening the pressure cooker and venting steam from the appliance. Learn how the safety features work and follow the correct procedures to the letter. Take specific precautions, such as using tongs rather than your bare hands to access safety features.

As stated in WikiHow, the users need to clean the pressure cooker thoroughly per the instructions, paying specific attention to the pressure valves and vents that may be obstructed by built-up food or liquids [2].

What To Do if You Suffered a Pressure Cooker Burn Injury

If the steam release valve of your pressure cooker explodes, it’s essential to take the following steps:

• Seek medical treatment promptly to start the litigation process.
• Preserve your damaged pressure cooker for later inspection.

With proper treatment, most first- and second-degree burns heal over two to three weeks, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

As stated in a 2023 Cleveland Clinic study, the extent of scarring may vary depending on burn severity, with the potential for scars to fade over time. Recovery from third-degree burns often requires physical and occupational therapy to maintain joint mobility and improve function. Additionally, some individuals may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression following a burn event [3].

Dealing with pressure cooker burns is already tricky, but going through litigation on top of an injury is even more taxing. Choosing the lawyers at Schmidt & Clark, LLP, ensures you have a passionate, hardworking team of lawyers on your side.

When pressure cooker manufacturers’ product safety misrepresentation results in severe burns, we work tirelessly to support your claim and keep the financial compensation process stress-free.

Who is Liable for a Defective Product that Causes an Injury?

If you were injured as the result of a defective product design, defects caused during transportation, or a missing risk warning, you may be able to seek compensation through the filing of a lawsuit from several parties.

Anyone in the distribution chain may be ultimately responsible for an allegedly defective product, including:

• Manufacturers of a product
• Wholesalers
• Distributors
• Retailers that users directly purchase other pressure cookers from

Retailers must take proactive measures to ensure that the pressure cookers they sell adhere to mandatory laws and are safe to use as directed. If not, the retailer of a pressure cooker may also be held responsible in a product liability case even though they had no responsibility for the design or manufacture of the item in question.

Even if you bought or used a pre-owned pressure cooker, members of the distribution chain may still be responsible for an injury. You may also file a lawsuit if you were injured while following a pressure cooker manual that contains misprinted, incorrect, or inadequate instructions.

Pressure cooker manufacturers are required to report a defect to the Consumer Safety Protection Commission (CPSC) within 1 business day of learning about its existence. Failure to do so can result in significant monetary fines and multiple lawsuits.

Once a pressure cooker recall is officially issued, the company must send notice to distributors, retailers, and all known customers who purchased the product. A pressure cooker manufacturer that fails to do so opens itself up to additional liabilities. However, sending this notice doesn’t guarantee the filing of product liability lawsuits against pressure cooker manufacturers.

Pressure cooker distributors and retailers that know of a recall but continue to sell it are knowingly putting consumers at risk. If, as a consumer, you continue to use a defective pressure cooker after being notified of a problem with it, then you are assuming the risk while using the item.

Victims of allegedly defective pressure cookers can seek monetary compensation not only for medical expenses and past/future lost wages but also for the permanent scars that come with severe burn injuries from pressure cookers.

What Damages Could I Be Awarded?

There are several different types of damages available if you have suffered an injury caused by a defective pressure cooker. This includes both economic and non-economic damages relating to the injuries you sustained.

The lawyers at Schmidt & Clark, LLP, regularly obtain the following types of compensation in defective pressure cooker cases:

• Compensation for past and future medical expenses
• Lost income and lost future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of personal enjoyment damages
• Property damage expenses
• Punitive damages

The total amount of compensation varies depending on the specific facts of each lawsuit.

How is Fault Proven?

There are many ways in which fault can be proven if an exploding pressure cooker causes an injury. This can include showing negligence or inaction on the part of a pressure cooker manufacturer through strict liability, fraud, or breach of warranty.

Negligence

When attempting to prove negligence in these pressure cooker cases, 4 elements need to be present:

1. Duty: It must be shown that there was a duty of care owed to the plaintiff by the defendant. A duty of care is typically established when a consumer buys a pressure cooker.
2. Breach: It must be proven that the defendant breached the duty of care they owed to the plaintiff. In the case of defective pressure cookers, it needs to be shown that the pressure cooker manufacturer sold a faulty product.
3. Injury: The plaintiff must have been injured due to faulty pressure cookers.
4. Causation: It must be determined that a breach of duty by the defendant was the direct cause of the plaintiff’s pressure cooker injury.

Strict Liability

When attempting to prove strict liability over defective pressure cookers, it only needs to be shown that a product had a defect that caused the plaintiff’s injury. In these cases, there is no specific requirement for any of the elements of negligence to be in place, and there is no need to prove “fault.” For strict liability, all that a manufacturer has to do is make the defective pressure cookers available to the consumer.

Fraud or Deceit

In the case of fraud or deceit, plaintiffs must prove that a pressure cooker manufacturer communicated information to consumers about the product that was misleading or false and that the pressure cooker user relied on this information and was subsequently injured as a direct result.

Breach of Warranty

In product liability claims alleging breach of warranty, plaintiffs must prove that the defendant caused the pressure cooker injury because they:

• Asserted that their pressure cookers were defect-free, and
• Failed to ensure that the pressure cookers had no defects.

This type of claim is different from negligence or strict liability claims because it relates to a broken contractual agreement.

Home Accident Statistics

• Among the most frequent household mishaps in the United States are slips and falls, accidental poisonings, fires, incidents of choking or suffocation, and drownings.
• Accidental poisoning ranks as a primary contributor to fatal household injuries.
• Incidents reported to poison control centers in the U.S. surged by 20% during the pandemic period.
• The likelihood of an adult drowning in a bathtub is estimated at 1 in 685,000. Approximately 28% of children’s drowning cases occur due to inadequate supervision.
• Fatalities resulting from common household accidents surpass those from motor vehicle collisions by a factor of three.
• West Virginia registers the highest fatality rates per 100,000 residents attributed to unintentional injuries. Following closely are Wisconsin, New Mexico, Vermont, and Rhode Island.
• Texas, California, Utah, New York, and Maryland record the lowest incidence of household accidents per 100,000 individuals

According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, the majority of pressure cooker users are over the age of 30, with 46% of injured parties between the ages of 30 and 50, and 10% between 51 and 70. In 2008, of 39 sampled cases of pressure cooker-associated emergency room visits, 17 involved injuries where the pressure cooker either exploded or liquids burst from the pot, causing burns. The remaining 22 involved contact burns or steam burns.

FAQs

Can family members of deceased individuals file a pressure cooker lawsuit against Ginny’s?

Yes, family members can file wrongful death claims if a loved one died due to injuries caused by a defective Ginny’s pressure cooker. These lawsuits seek compensation for loss of income, medical expenses, and emotional distress.

How do I choose the right lawyer for my Ginny’s pressure cooker lawsuit?

Choosing the right lawyer involves researching attorneys with experience in product liability and personal injury cases, reading client reviews, checking their track record of successful settlements and verdicts, and ensuring they have a commitment to client advocacy. Consulting with multiple attorneys can help you find the best fit for your case.

What kind of documentation should I gather for my Ginny’s pressure cooker lawsuit?

You should gather medical records, purchase receipts, photographs of the defective pressure cooker and injuries, any communication with the manufacturer, and witness statements. Keeping detailed records of your experience and medical treatments will strengthen your case.

Related Articles:

• CrockPot Pressure Cooker Recall Lawsuit
• Geek Chef Pressure Cooker Attorney

See all related product liability lawsuits our attorneys covered so far.

Get a Free Ginny’s Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers

The Product Liability Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of jury trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Ginny’s Pressure Cooker Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently representing burn injury victims in all 50 states.

Free Confidential Ginny’s Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one suffered serious burns or other serious injuries caused by exploding pressure cookers, you should contact our law firm immediately for a free review of your potential case. You may be entitled to recover damages and financial compensation for medical bills and lost wages by filing a pressure cookers lawsuit and our lawyer can help.

References:

1. https://www.ginnys.com/c/kitchen/small-appliances/multi-pressure-cookers/
2. https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Pressure-Cooker
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12063-burns