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Stove Tip-Over Accidents:
Design Defects and Solutions
As far back as the late 1950s, the home appliance industry recognized that freestanding and sliding kitchen stoves manufactured and sold in the United States could be easily tipped by children. Not long after, manufacturers realized what the basic problem was: Their stoves were too top heavy.
Manufacturers had managed to cut their production costs by using lighter, cheaper metal on the bottom portions of their stoves. These changes made the products inherently dangerous. Now, a small child who places weight on the oven door to see what mom was cooking — or even a turkey left to sit on the oven door — could cause the unit to tip and hurl boiling foods or liquids on to anyone in front of it.
Despite this knowledge, companies decided that not enough injuries or deaths would occur and that a design change was not financially justified.
Enough.
At the Law Offices of Tinsman & Sciano, our attorneys know the history behind the problem of stove tip-over accidents and have handled more than 100 such cases for people in Texas and throughout the United States. Put our experience and resources to work for you. Call our San Antonio law offices directly at (877) 220-0867 or contact us online for a free consultation.
The Anti-Tip Bracket Solution Isn't Working
It wasn't until fairly recently that the stove manufacturing industry offered up any type of solution to this problem. Their main fix was to design brackets that could be mounted to the floor or wall directly behind the stove to keep it from tipping. The problem with these brackets is, of course, that they have to be installed in order to work and that simply wasn't being done more than 90 percent of the time, according to industry surveys.
A second "fix" was to begin "warning" consumers of the tip-over danger in the installation instructions attached to new products (these come with almost any new product you buy, and the industry recognizes that these instructions are rarely read and understood) and with a small warning label on the inside of the oven door (in print so small you have to get down on your hands and knees to read it).
Unfortunately, stove tip-over accidents continue to happen with regularity.
Fixing the Problem: Real Alternatives
One possible solution to the problem would be for stove manufacturers to add weight to the back of their ranges. Another has been suggested by our own attorney, Dan Sciano. Mr. Sciano's proposal is a "break-away" oven door that would fall off if too much weight or pressure were applied to the oven door. Additionally, if anti-tip brackets are used, interlocking devices could be installed to ensure that the range cannot be energized unless the safety device is properly installed. None of these alternatives would cost a great deal to implement — especially when you consider the lives and injuries they could save.
Nationwide Representation for
Victims of Stove Tip-Over Accidents
Free Consultations — You Don't Pay Unless We Win
If a stove tip-over accident has left you struggling to deal with a serious cooking burn injury — our lawyers can help.
Call us toll free from anywhere in Texas or nationwide at (877) 220-0867 for a free consultation or take a moment to complete the brief e-mail form provided on our Contact Us page and someone from our office will get back to you as soon as possible.
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