The Shocking Dangers of Defective Generators

Generators are often utilized to help homes and businesses stay afloat when the power goes out. However, when companies allow faulty designed or damaged generators out into the market, they negligently risk the lives of countless individuals. Have you suffered an injury due to a defective generator? If so, our attorneys may be able to help you get the justice you and your loved ones deserve. For more information on how a Morgan & Morgan attorney may be able to help your case, contact us today to receive a free case evaluation. See why millions trust Morgan & Morgan for their injury and product liability claims.

What Injuries Do Defective Generators Cause?

Generators, while ordinarily used to help sustain life and prevent injuries should the power go out, if defective, it may be the cause of severe or even life-threatening injuries. As reported by consumers, some of the most common injuries caused by faulty generators include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Burn injuries: Defective generators that leak fuel may cause home and workplace fires.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning: The generator exhaust can contain carbon monoxide, and when used in enclosed spaces like garages, homes, or sheds, it can lead to acute exposure to carbon monoxide.
• Electrocution: If your generator is defective, the parts used to power the machine can overheat and ignite, which can lead to explosion accidents.

If you have suffered an injury or have lost a loved one due to a defective generator, we may be able to help you. For more information, contact a Morgan & Morgan attorney today by completing our free, no-obligation case evaluation form.

What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning occurs when an individual is exposed to excess carbon monoxide in the air. When there is an excess of carbon monoxide in the air, the body will replace the oxygen in red blood cells with carbon monoxide, quickly leading to severe damage, including:

• Lack of oxygen to the heart and brain 
• Suffocation
• Hemorrhaging
• Nerve damage
• Brain damage

In some cases, severe carbon monoxide gas poisoning may cause coronary heart disease. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that each year, roughly 85 consumers die in the United States from CO poisoning from portable generators, making generators one of the deadliest consumer products on the market.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The initial symptoms of CO poisoning can be deceptively mild, making it difficult to differentiate from other potential health conditions. Low-level exposure may cause dizziness, drowsiness, headaches or nausea. Some may confuse their symptoms with feeling like they have the flu. Those who have been exposed to CO for more extended periods may develop more severe symptoms within the first few hours, including:

• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• Coordination difficulties
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory issues
• Trouble breathing
• Vomiting
• Weakness

Should multiple people in the same space have experienced the same symptoms, CO poisoning should be suspected. For your safety, clear the area and immediately alert the proper safety authorities. If you or a loved one have experienced any of the symptoms mentioned above, do not wait to seek medical attention. Exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to severe or even life-threatening injuries. If you believe your generator is defective and have experienced carbon monoxide poisoning, contact a Morgan & Morgan attorney today.

Can I File a Product Liability Claim?

You may be eligible to file a product liability claim if the defective product in question was sold to you or on the market at any point in time before it reached you. In some cases, companies may be unaware that their products are defective until after they’ve hit the market and will issue a product recall. Some recently recalled generators include those created by Generac, who in 2023 recalled over 60,000 generators due to fire and burn hazards, and Klein Tools, who recalled nearly four thousand generators due to overheating, which posed fire and burn hazards. 

If you have purchased any of the defective recalled generators, or are in possession of a defective generator, and have suffered an injury, you may be eligible to file a product liability claim. For more information about your case or to learn more about product liability, connect with a Morgan & Morgan attorney today.

Who is Liable for My Injuries?

In a product liability lawsuit, it is possible that the liability for your injuries lies with either a wholesaler, the person who installs or assembles the product, a manufacturer of parts, the product manufacturer, or the retail store that sold that item to you. In some cases, more than one of these parties could also be responsible at the same time. In order to best determine who is liable for your injuries, we highly recommend you connect with a product liability attorney today. 

Am I Eligible To Recover Compensation?

If you have suffered an injury or have lost a loved one due to a defective generator, you may be eligible to recover compensation for any damages you have accrued. Some of the most common forms of compensation victims have been eligible to recover for their injuries include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Emotional distress,
• Lost wages,
• Pain and suffering,
• Past and future medical expenses,
• Reduced earning capacity,
• Temporary or permanent disability,
• Wrongful death.

In order to accurately estimate what you may be eligible to recover from your case, we highly recommend you speak with a qualified attorney like the ones at Morgan & Morgan. Learn more about your case by completing our free, no-obligation case evaluation form today.

Can I Afford a Morgan & Morgan Attorney?

You can always afford legal representation when working with a Morgan & Morgan attorney. At Morgan & Morgan, we believe everyone should have access to quality legal representation regardless of their financial status. When we take you on as a client, you’ll come to learn that our attorneys do not charge hourly rates or generally any fees at all upfront; rather, they work on what is known as a “contingency fee” system. The contingency falls on whether or not we win your case. This arrangement allows those who have suffered an injury to gain access to a quality attorney they might not have otherwise been able to afford had they been required to pay an hourly rate.

Learn more about how the contingency fee works by connecting with a Morgan & Morgan attorney.

How Can an Attorney Help My Case?

Working with an experienced attorney will significantly increase your chances of recovering the compensation you and your loved ones deserve after you’ve suffered a life-altering injury due to a defective generator. Of course, no monetary amount will ever be able to replace the life of a loved one who has passed, but it can help those who depended on them for their everyday needs. 

At Morgan & Morgan, our attorneys understand how difficult it can be to navigate life after you’ve suffered an injury or lost a loved one due to a defective generator, and we want to help you get your life back on track. For more information on how a Morgan & Morgan attorney may be able to help you, complete our free no-obligation case evaluation form today.

Should I Contact a Morgan & Morgan Attorney?

After you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a defective generator, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Working with an experienced attorney can ensure you have the best odds of recovering compensation for the damages you and your loved ones have suffered at the hands of corporations whose negligent actions led to devastating outcomes. If you have suffered an injury from a defective generator, connect with a Morgan & Morgan attorney today for a free case evaluation.