Buffalo, New York: Tabletop Fire Pit Lawsuit

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Best Lawyer and American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorney, is Committed to Protecting the Rights of Defective Tabletop Fire Pit Accident Victims Across Buffalo. If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured in a Buffalo, New York, Tabletop Fire Pit Accident That Was Not Your Fault, Our Experienced Team of Attorneys Could Help You Collect the Evidence You Need to Obtain a Fair Settlement.

Tabletop fire pits are fashionable products that can be installed inside the home or outdoors.

Most tabletop fire pits run off liquid fuels like ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. These fuels are typically smokeless and can be used to ignite and feed a small fire without having to worry about soot and other debris. However, tabletop fire pits are not without risks, some of which are well-documented and have been identified by regulators as a serious safety hazard. During refueling, for instance, fires can start unexpectedly and with very little warning, leading to spontaneous flare-ups that can reach temperatures above 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has gone so far as to describe tabletop fire pits as “extremely dangerous” devices.

“Igniting a pool of alcohol or other liquid fuel in a fire pit’s open container creates an uncontrollable pool fire, which can suddenly produce larger, hotter flames that can spread beyond the fire pit product,” the Consumer Product Safety Commission wrote. “A small flame in the fire pit can be hard to see and can ignite alcohol or other liquid fuel as it is poured, causing an explosion that propels flames and other burning liquid onto the consumer or bystanders.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that, between 2019 and 2024, tabletop fire pits were responsible for dozens of injuries and multiple deaths. For accident victims and their families, the costs of recovery are often immense. Initial treatment can be expensive; injuries like second- or third-degree burns may require even longer-term care.

You should not have to pay the price for an accident that was not your fault. Manufacturers have a legally-binding duty to ensure that the products they sell are safe for their intended use. If a tabletop fire pit is inherently dangerous or defective, the manufacturer could be held liable for the cost of any resulting injury.

Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients in Buffalo secure more than $300 million in compensation. We could help you, too. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based product liability lawsuit. Please send us a message online or call us today at 716-839-3939 to speak to a tabletop fire pit injury lawyer in Buffalo and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Tabletop fire pits can be substantially more dangerous than conventional fireplaces and fire pits.

Since tabletop fire pits typically use liquid fuel, volatile fumes can linger in the air even after the fire pit has been turned off or extinguished. Any attempt to refill a tabletop fire pit, particularly when it is still warm, could trigger further combustion. In some cases, this can cause large fireballs or lead to flashback ignition. Flashback ignition, which occurs when ignited vapor travels back to its source, can cause the fuel tank itself to ignite and possibly explode.

A tabletop fire pit accident could result in injuries, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Serious burns;
2. Disfigurement; and

Burns, however, tend to be more complex than other injuries.

Even if an initial burn is not life-threatening, treatment can be fraught with other risks. Serious burns can, for instance, significantly increase a survivor’s chance of developing serious complications. Since second- and third-degree burns can destroy skin tissue, bacteria can more easily enter the body and, potentially, reproduce at a rapid rate. Burn injuries can weaken the immune system, making it difficult, if not impossible, for the body to fight off an aggressive new disease.

You could be entitled to file a lawsuit against the fire pit manufacturer or installation company if you have sustained serious physical injuries after using the product as it was intended to be used.

Some of the potential injuries that could provide standing to sue include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Second-degree burns;
2. Third-degree burns;
3. Respiratory issues caused by the inhalation of smoke, fumes, or toxic vapor;
4. Fire-related injuries, including indirect injuries caused by an explosive blast; and
5. Wrongful death.

Most tabletop fire pit lawsuits are categorized as product liability claims.

Product liability claims are a type of personal injury lawsuit, but they work differently from a claim filed against a reckless driver or negligent landlord. In general, you would not have to prove that a manufacturer was actively negligent to win a settlement, but you may need to establish that the product was inherently unsafe or in some other way defective.

Your damages are compensation for accident-related loss, hardship, and suffering.

In New York, damages typically fall into the following three categories:

1. Economic damages. Economic damages compensate for verifiable financial loss. Your economic damages could include compensation for your hospital bills, lost income from work, physical therapy, or anticipated future care.
2. Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages compensate subjective forms of suffering and hardship. They could include money for physical pain and suffering, emotional pain and suffering, disfigurement, or loss of enjoyment.
3. Punitive damages. Punitive damagesare not compensatory. Instead, they are awarded on a case-by-case basis if and when a manufacturer is found to have acted with unusual negligence. Your personal injury lawyer could help you determine if your case qualifies.

Unlike many other states, New York does not cap damages in most product liability lawsuits. In other words, you could receive as much compensation as you need to begin rebuilding your life.

However, you should not wait too long to take action. New York may not cap damages, but it does enforce a strict statute of limitations on all personal injury claims. If you delay, key evidence could be lost, and the statute of limitations could lapse, and once it does, you could lose your right to sue.

Do not take chances with your rights. Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at (716) 839-3939 to speak to a tabletop fire pit lawyer near Buffalo and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (716) 839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!