With warm summer days quickly approaching, folks across the U.S. are undoubtedly getting ready for weekends spent lounging in the backyard with good food and even better company. However, few realize how dangerous outdoor cooking can be, especially if you have a faulty grill. Numerous people are injured each year from defective grills, so before you plan your next BBQ, make sure you aren’t at risk.
According to the popular news station, NBC, grills are responsible for roughly 18,000 injuries each summer, and that only includes damages reported by hospitals. Depending on the type of grill you own, it may produce a variety of hazardous problems. Gas grills, for example, are particularly concerning because the propane tank, if defective, could explode and cause life-threatening harm.
Common grill defects include:
- Unstable or hazardous design
- Improper or poor execution of the grill design
- Faulty regulator
- Defective propane tank
- Flawed venture tubes or propane line
- Failure to provide proper safety warnings or instructions
Defects like this can lead to serious, lethal injuries for either the grill operator or any nearby people. The most common grill injuries include burns, and can range from superficial injuries to severe 3rd degree burns. Either because of burns or some other injury, faulty grills can also lead to the loss of limbs, especially the fingers, hands, or arms. Shrapnel injuries may also occur, especially if there is an explosion, causing pieces of the tank and other debris to fly through the air.
Even charcoal grills, while seemingly safer, can be very unsafe if they do not come with adequate warnings or instructions for the grill owner. Lighting the grill or using it to cook a family meal can rapidly lead to a hazardous situation if done incorrectly.
If you or a loved one was injured after operating a grill or propane tank that was defective, or included inadequate instructions or warning labels, you may be able to seek compensation.
To exercise your legal rights and seek compensation for medical and monetary damages, contact Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP for a free case consultation.