Flammable fuel gel is a dangerous substance used in personal “fire pots” and wickless candles, commonly found in backyard barbeques and summer evenings on the patio. But what may begin as an enjoyable family gathering or quiet evening can quickly turn into utter chaos and tragedy with these deadly types of fuel. If you or a loved one has suffered any type of burn injury caused by a flammable fuel gel, you may have the opportunity to take legal action against the manufacturer by filing a personal injury claim against them. Many of these manufacturers even know that their products are dangerous, and yet still continue to produce them and sell them on the market.
Flammable Fuel Gel Can Blow Up When More is Added to an Existing Flame
Nine manufacturers who produced the “old style” fuel gel products were forced to recall their fuel gels on September 1st, 2011, after countless victims suffered debilitating burn injuries to their hands, faces, necks, torsos, legs, and groins, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). These older fuel gels caused devastating explosions when more fuel was added to an already burning flame. Often, users assumed that the flame was already out when adding the extra fuel to a firepot or wickless candle, only for an invisible-to-the-eye flame to be burning the residue that was left. Even pouring gel into a hot container without any flame at all can cause a devastating explosion. While these types of fuel gels have been taken off the market, millions of these products are still in homes, and even being sold in retail stores that have failed to take them off the shelves. Even though these products were discontinued years ago, if you were injured by one in the last two years, you can bring a claim against the manufacturer, or possibly even the retailer, for your injuries.
New Fuel Gels Are Also Dangerous
Unfortunately, flammable fuel gels are still being produced and sold. Some come in the form of a single use canister, while others are simply less combustible relatives of their predecessors. Both of these types of fuel gels can cause burns, with the main danger being that if the gel gets on the skin, it continues burning while stuck there. These new types of fuel gels can quickly cause second and third degree burns, covering large parts of the body. A third degree burn can cause permanent scarring, disfigurement, loss of a limb or facial tissue, blindness, significant infection, and death.
Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Today
Defective and dangerous products such as flammable fuel gels should have no place in our society due to the grave risks they pose to unsuspecting users. An experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer can help you bring a claim, but you need to act quickly. The statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit for a defective product is two years under 42 § 5524. Do not hesitate to contact the law offices of van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim today at (215) 486-0123.
Resource:
cpsc.gov/Recalls/2011/nine-manufacturers-distributors-announce-consumer-recall-of-pourable-gel-fuel-due-to