Defective Home Appliance Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
Home appliances are among the most trusted products in our daily lives — we rely on them without a second thought. But defective washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, stoves, ovens, refrigerators, water heaters, space heaters, and other household appliances cause thousands of injuries and property losses every year. The CPSC reports that home appliance-related incidents cause hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries annually, with dryer fires alone causing an estimated 2,900 home fires per year according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
At Roden Law, our defective home appliance lawyers represent injury victims and families throughout Georgia and South Carolina. We pursue strict liability and negligence claims against appliance manufacturers, identifying the specific defect that caused the injury and holding the manufacturer accountable for the full scope of harm.
Common Defective Home Appliances
Home appliance defects create risks of fire, explosion, electrocution, and mechanical injury:
- Dryers: Lint trap design defects that allow lint accumulation in the exhaust system, leading to fires. Defective thermal fuses and high-limit thermostats that fail to shut off heating elements
- Washing machines: Structural failures causing violent shaking and component ejection, mold-prone front-loader designs, and flooding from hose connection defects
- Stoves and ovens: Gas leak defects causing explosions, defective anti-tip brackets on ranges (risk of child tip-over scalding), and oven door glass spontaneously shattering
- Water heaters: Temperature and pressure relief valve failures causing explosions, scalding from inadequate temperature regulation, and gas leak defects
- Space heaters: Tip-over ignition defects, automatic shutoff failures, and combustible housing materials that cause house fires and burn injuries
- Refrigerators: Compressor failures causing fire, defective ice maker water line connections causing flooding, and entrapment hazards in older models
- Dishwashers: Electrical defects causing fires, flooding from door seal failures, and heating element malfunctions
- Pressure cookers and instant pots: Defective locking mechanisms that allow the lid to be opened while pressurized, causing explosive release of scalding contents
Fire and Burn Injuries from Defective Appliances
The most catastrophic home appliance injuries involve fire and burns. Defective dryers, space heaters, stoves, and electrical appliances can ignite house fires that cause severe burn injuries, smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and wrongful death. These cases often involve extensive property damage in addition to personal injuries.
When a home appliance causes a fire, investigating the origin and cause of the fire is critical. Our attorneys work with certified fire investigators and electrical engineers to examine the appliance, identify the defect, and establish that the appliance — not user error or other causes — was responsible for the fire.
Georgia and South Carolina Product Liability Law
Home appliances are products subject to strict liability under Georgia’s product liability statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11) and South Carolina common law:
- Design defect: The appliance’s design is inherently dangerous — for example, a dryer designed with a lint trap system that inevitably allows dangerous lint accumulation
- Manufacturing defect: A specific unit was improperly assembled or contained substandard components — a wiring defect in a particular dishwasher, for example
- Failure to warn: The manufacturer failed to adequately warn about fire risks, maintenance requirements, or dangerous conditions
Georgia’s comparative fault rule (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33) allows recovery if less than 50% at fault. South Carolina’s threshold is 51%.
Evidence Preservation After an Appliance Incident
Preserving the defective appliance is essential — particularly after a fire, where the appliance may be the key evidence. After a fire or explosion:
- Do not dispose of the appliance: Even if it appears destroyed, forensic examination can identify the defect
- Photograph everything: The appliance, the damage scene, and any visible defects or failure points
- Save receipts and documentation: Purchase records, warranty information, and any recall notices
- Contact an attorney before insurance settlement: Insurance companies may try to dispose of the appliance or settle property claims quickly, eliminating your product liability evidence
Filing Deadlines
Georgia allows 2 years from the date of injury (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33) with a 10-year statute of repose. South Carolina allows 3 years (S.C. Code § 15-3-530). Act immediately to preserve the appliance and prevent evidence destruction.
