As parents, we trust that the household appliances we rely on day in and day out are safe, but the unfortunate reality our product liability attorneys in Northern New Jersey know all too well is that many of our trusted appliances are incredibly dangerous for small children. While dishwashers are common fixtures in any household, there are a handful of dangers that parents need to be aware of. In this article we’ll cover the ways that a dishwasher can be dangerous to young children, how you can help prevent injuries and accidents, and whether a dishwasher accident might be a product liability case that should be handled by an attorney.
If you have questions about liability after this type of accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to Buttafuoco & Associates for a free consultation at 1-800-NOW-HURT.
The Danger
In the process of baby-proofing their homes, nearly all parents discover a variety of dangers they’d never previously considered. There are a handful of these dangers that are specific to dishwashers. First, dishwashers give children easy access to knives and forks. Second, an open dishwasher and its racks pose significant falling danger for children who might try to climb onto the door or into the machine.
Perhaps most significantly, though, dishwasher detergent poses significant risks for children. “It’s extremely corrosive and dangerous,” warns Parents advisor Ari Brown, MD, author of Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year. According to Poison Control, automatic dishwasher detergent, available in powders, liquids, tablets, and pods are caustic and can result in irritation, burns, and tissue damage, depending on amount of exposure and duration.
Safe Strategy
There are a number of steps that our Northern New Jersey product liability attorneys recommend to keep your child safe. When comes to the dishwasher:
- Point knives, forks, and other sharp items downward in the utensil basket.
- Don’t fill the dispenser with detergent until you’re ready to run the load
- Wipe out any excess detergent after each cycle.
- Store any detergent in a locked cabinet.
- Keep the dishwasher closed and latched when it’s not in use.
Consumer Reports recommends that families with young children look for a few key dishwasher features to keep children safe; some of these include a high third rack to keep sharp objects out of sight and out of reach of small children. Also, child locks on dishwasher controls and recessed handles can be effective in helping keep your child safe. There are also child locks available to keep your dishwasher latched shut.
Is my dishwasher accident a product liability case?
Even when parents practice safety first, it is impossible to prevent every accident. There are many situations where you can take every precaution, and it can still lead to a serious accident. You may have a personal injury case if:
- If a product is defective
- That defect caused your child’s injury.
- You were using the product as intended.
These incidents can happen if there’s a design defect or manufacturing defect, or when a manufacturer doesn’t provide adequate warnings or safety information for a product.
If your child has suffered an injury involving your dishwasher or any other household appliance, we recommend consulting with an experienced product liability lawyer serving Northern New Jersey.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT to get in touch with Buttafuoco & Associates and see if you have a case!
