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Washing Machine Defects and Safety Issues

In many washing machine models, safety mechanisms are in place to stop the drum from spinning once the loading door is opened. However, in some models, especially heavy-duty commercial washers, such safety devices are not in place.
Injuries may occur when the user attempts to balance the load or remove/add laundry from the machine and gets a hand or arm entangled in the spinning laundry, leading to serious lacerations, fractures and amputations. These injuries are often very serious, and in many cases involve children.
Washing Machine Safety Issues and Lawsuits
In January 2005, a 12-year-old Wisconsin boy won a settlement of nearly $9 million dollars from the manufacturer and distributor of the heavy-duty washing machine that wrenched off his arm. The boy’s injury allegedly occurred when he opened the door to the IPSO Big Mac triple-load washer to check if the laundry was dry, and his arm got caught in the machine’s rotation after trying to stuff back in laundry that had fallen out. The two safety features of the washing machine – one to keep the door shut and locked during operation and the other to stop the machine from spinning if the door is opened -- were not working.
 
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Lieff Cabraser represents persons across America injured by defective products. Click here to submit your case.
In June 1998, while attempting to add towels to a load of laundry already in progress, a 9-year-old girl from Oregon caught her arm in one of the towels as the washer continued to spin. The towel pulled her arm around the agitator post, snapping both bones in her forearm. After four weeks of surgery, her right arm was amputated below the elbow. Her family sued White Consolidated, the machine’s manufacturer, and the case settled out of court with an agreement that White Consolidated would equip all new machines with appropriate safety mechanisms.
Legal Rights of the Injured
The law in most states provides individuals with legal claims and the right to compensation for injuries they suffer as a result of a defective product or the negligence of another. The injured person may file a lawsuit seeking compensation for his or her pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost past and future wages and punitive damages.
Contact Product Safety/Personal Injury Attorneys
If you or a family member have been injured by a defective washing machine, please click here to contact an attorney at the national personal injury law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP.
About Lieff Cabraser
Founded in 1972, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is an over fifty attorney law firm with offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. For the last five years, the National Law Journal has recognized Lieff Cabraser as one of the top 20 plaintiffs’ law firms in America.
For our personal injury cases, we bring a team of experienced lawyers. Each client is assigned an individual lawyer. In addition, we have on staff multiple nurses, legal assistants, scientific analysts and case clerks to assist the attorneys. To learn more about our firm, click here.
     Trademark Notice: Personal Injury Lawyer America is an electronic newsletter from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. Lieff Cabraser represents clients in a wide range of cases, including personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Our personal injury attorneys | lawyers are committed to providing the very best representation and support possible for our clients. This website provides information on the legal rights of the injured and the latest news on product defects and related lawsuits.
     Lieff Cabraser is not affiliated in any way with any trademark owner. The use of any trademarks on this site is for product identification and information purposes only.
     About Lieff Cabraser: We have offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. Our lawyers have represented clients in personal injury, wrongful death and rollover crashes and product defect lawsuits across America, including residents of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
     Among the cases our personal injury attorneys are prosecuting are the Medtronic heart lead recall, the AMO contact lens solution recall, the Peter Pan peanut butter recall, Guidant pacemaker defects, SUV rollover accidents, popcorn workers lung injuries, and Ford switch fires.
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