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Power Pressure Cooker XL Lawsuit Attorneys (2024 Update)

Tristar’s Pressure Cooker has been reported to explode without warning, causing numerous hospitalizations for severe burns. The company is currently facing multiple lawsuits for failing to warn consumers who were severely burned.
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C.L. Mike Schmidt Published by C.L. Mike Schmidt

Free Power Pressure Cooker XL Lawsuit Review
If you or a loved one suffered severe burns or other serious injuries caused by a Power Pressure Cooker XL explosion, whether or not the defective pressure cooker has been recalled, you should contact our law firm immediately. Our personal injury lawyers are actively investigating exploding pressure cooker cases in all 50 states.

Please click the button below for a Free Consultation or call our law firm toll-free 24 hrs/day by dialing (866) 588-0600 if your pressure cooker exploded.

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What is the Power Pressure Cooker XL?

The Power Pressure Cooker XL was designed and manufactured by Tristar Products, Inc.

Tristar applied for trademark and copyright protection in 2014, and the Power Pressure Cooker XL was soon available at major retailers like Wal-Mart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target.

According to the Tristar website [1], the Power Pressure Cooker XL “allows the at-home cook to have an affordable, healthy, and homemade meal on the table in minutes,” and “prepares family favorite recipes up to 70% faster than other conventional ways of cooking.

Tristar also states that its Power Pressure Cooker XL has several safety features, including:

  • Temperature controls to ensure even heat;
  • Cutoff mechanisms to prevent dangerously high temperatures;
  • Safety pressure release valve and backup release valve;
  • Pressure monitor to prevent dangerous steam build-up; and
  • A mechanism that prevents the opening of the lid until the pressure is properly vented.

Pressure cooker pressure regulator

What’s the Problem with Power Pressure Cooker XL?

According to Consumer Reports research from 2017, the problem with modern electric pressure cookers is that some manufacturers have been mass-producing faulty designs in their safety features [2].

Because these appliances cook at such high temperatures with scalding hot steam, just one bad part can result in a defective Power Pressure Cooker XL.  For example:

  • If the pressure valve on the electric pressure cooker is faulty, it may cause the lid to open prematurely, causing all the pressure to escape.
  • If the lid on the power cooker does not seal properly, steam may eject the lid, causing pressure cooker malfunction resulting in boiling food and metal pieces exploding all over the kitchen.
  • If there is no manual safety shut-off for Tristar pressure cooker usage, or if the automatic shut-off is defective, the appliance may release pressure and cause a fire or explosion.

Related ArticlePressure Cooker Lawsuit Update

Which Injuries Have Been Linked to Pressure Cookers?

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) 2006 notice [3], several different injuries have been linked to pressure cookers including:

  • Serious burn injuries
  • Hot steam burns
  • Second-degree burns
  • Third-degree burns
  • Extensive and severe burns
  • Eye injuries and blindness
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Scalds
  • Permanent scarring
  • Disfigurement
  • Severe pain
  • Kitchen and/or property damage

Tristar Hit With Lawsuits Over Exploding Pressure Cookers

Many consumers believe that pressure cookers are defective. A faulty valve, they say, causes pressure to build inside the cooker – with no way of escaping. When the pressure cooker is opened – and despite Tristar’s advertisements of a “steam release valve” – the pressure cooker explodes due to the pressure released, spewing scalding hot contents over unsuspecting users.

The danger is only magnified if a young child happens to be in the kitchen at the same time. Another thing to remember is that many of these explosions have resulted in children enduring severe pain, emergency room visits, and other medical treatment.

As stated by the Case Text Organization 2018 publication, hundreds of lawsuits have already been filed against Tristar Products, with injured consumers seeking significant financial compensation for alleged burn injuries and emotional trauma [4]. Our experienced product liability lawyers are leading this growing litigation.

Tristar Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Filed in Florida

In September 2021, a man from Chicago, Illinois, filed a pressure cooker lawsuit against Tristar Inc. in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District in Walton County, Florida [5].

On or about October 13, 2019, the Plaintiff suffered serious and substantial injuries as the direct and proximate result of the pressure cooker’s lid being able to be rotated and opened while the pressure cooker was still under pressure, during the normal, directed use of the pressure cooker, allowing its scalding hot contents to be forcefully ejected from the pressure cooker and onto Plaintiff, the complaint states

Tristar Settles Pressure Cooker Burn Injury Claim

Tristar Products has entered an undisclosed settlement agreement with a couple who accused Tristar of manufacturing a defective faulty pressure cooker.

In their federal claim, the plaintiffs described how a Power Pressure Cooker XL exploded when the safety valve dropped, causing scalding hot fluid to be released from the pressure inside. The case was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Plaintiff Mrs. V made her pressure cooker work to cook food for the first time on August 2, 2014, according to the lawsuit. Following the device’s included instructions, she proceeded to prepare pinto beans for her family’s dinner. The safe lock lid appeared to be working fine.

When the cooker had finished cooking, she unplugged the device and left it on the counter to keep her cooked beans warm. Two hours later, “without warning, pinto beans burst at boiling point from the zip cooker,” the complaint states. Mrs. V was instantly covered in scalding hot pinto beans from the sealed pot.

She suffered “extensive and severe burns” and her husband rushed her to the emergency room. Mrs. V spent 20 days in the hospital, undergoing a battery of treatments for her burns. She is permanently scarred.

General Pressure Cooker Statistics:

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.

There have been several recalls of pressure cookers in recent years due to safety concerns, including:

  • FagorSplendid Chef: Over 400,000 were recalled from 2007-2015, with more than 70 burn injuries reported.
  • Tristar Pressure Cooker: Recall of 145,000 units in 2012 due to lid detachments caused by excess pressure buildup, resulting in 29 reports of injuries.
  • Power Pressure Cooker XL: Recall nearly 1 million cookers in 2018 due to explosion and malfunction complaints.
  • Instant Pot Gem 65: Some batches were recalled in 2018 for potential fire risk from overheating.
  • Crock-Pot Express Crock: 2019 recall of 119,000 units following 99 incidents of the lid detaching violently.

What Do I Do If My Pressure Cooker Safety Lid Malfunctioned?

If you’re the unfortunate victim of a pressure cooker explosion, the first thing to do is to seek immediate medical attention.

First-degree burns are mild and result only in the reddening of the skin. Second-degree burns affect the lower layers of skin and will appear red and swollen, and will develop blisters. Third-degree burns go through all the skin layers to affect the tissues underneath and will appear white or blackened, and may feel numb.

Once the wounds are treated, keep the pressure cooker for evidence, and contact an experienced product liability lawyer for help with your exploding pressure cooker case. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit to recover damages.

FAQs

What are the potential defenses manufacturers might use in a pressure cooker lawsuit?
Manufacturers may argue that the pressure cooker was misused, not maintained properly, or that the user ignored safety instructions. They might also claim that the injuries were not caused by a defect.

Can I receive compensation for lost wages due to injuries from a pressure cooker?
Yes, you can seek compensation for lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working. Providing documentation of your employment and lost income is essential to support your claim.

What is the role of a product liability lawyer in a pressure cooker lawsuit?
A product liability lawyer can help gather evidence, navigate legal procedures, and advocate on your behalf to maximize your compensation. Their expertise is crucial for building a strong case.

Related Articles:

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

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Get a Free Power Pressure Cooker XL 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 Power Pressure Cooker XL Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury cases in all 50 states.

Free Confidential Power Pressure Cooker XL Lawsuit Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one suffered severe burns or other serious injuries caused by pressure cooker explosions, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a class action lawsuit settlement by filing a Power Pressure Cooker XL lawsuit and we can help.

References:

  1. https://www.tristarproductsinc.com/press-2017-power-pressure-cooker-xl-2.php
  2. https://www.consumerreports.org/kitchen-appliances/electric-vs-stovetop-pressure-cooker/
  3. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2007/HSN-LP-Recalls-Ultrex-Brand-Pressure-Cookers-Due-to-Burn-Hazard
  4. https://casetext.com/case/chapman-v-tristar-prods-inc-12
  5. https://www.schmidtandclark.com/wp-content/uploads/Power-Pressure-Cooker-Lawsuit-Zolen-Complaint.pdf

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