On March 15, 2018, Southwire Company recalled their WiOn Indoor In-wall Wi-Fi Switches. Recall number 18-124 affects approximately 24,000 units in the United States. The switches were sold nationwide at home improvement and hardware stores, as well as online at via Amazon and Wal-Mart, at prices ranging between $40 and $80 for three-packs.
According to the recall, the WiOn Indoor Wi-Fi Switches can overheat and pose a fire hazard. The recall advises all consumers to stop using the defective product and contact the company for a refund and a replacement. The company claims that it will refund consumers for the following: the purchase of a standard replacement switch, the full price of the defective product, and the expense of hiring an electrician to replace the switch. These refunds are offered in addition to a free Wi-Fi replacement switch.
The recall—number 18-124—claims that there have been no injuries. If consumers purchased the WiOn switches but sustained no injuries, they could contact the company and take advantage of the offers. However, there is the possibility of unreported consumer injuries. If you were injured by the defective Wi-Fi switch, you should not follow the advice outlined in the recall. Do you believe your injuries are worth more than the generic refund Southwire Company is offering to those who purchased the defective product?
If you were affected by Southwire’s Company defective Wi-Fi switches, you must seek legal assistance as soon as possible. You have rights as a consumer, and our defective product attorneys will fight alongside you until you recover the compensation you deserve. Normandie Law Firm is a firm dedicated to helping the victims of defective products. When consumers purchase products, they trust that they are safe to bring into their homes; the company should be held liable for their negligent actions. In the following sections, you will find information that should help you gain an understanding of your current legal situation. However, only our attorneys can evaluate your claim and provide you with the case-specific information necessary for a successful claim.
More Information on the Hazard
According to the recall, the Southwire Company WiOn Indoor In-wall Wi-Fi Switch poses a fire hazard. The switch is designed to allow consumers to control their lights or appliances remotely through their smartphone. The switch can overheat and cause fires. If the defective switch suddenly overheated and caused a fire, the fire could quickly spread throughout the home and result in severe injuries to all parties in the home.
In the U.S., there could be more than one million fires every year, more than 3,000 deaths, and more than 15,000 injuries. Fires could result in a series of severe injuries that could drastically alter victim’s lives. Some of the injuries commonly caused by fires are listed below:
- First-degree burns
- Second-degree burns
- Third-degree burns
- Fourth-degree burns
- Smoke inhalation
Most of the injuries listed above can leave victims needing extensive medical care. In many cases, victims are left with permanent scarring and respiratory problems. The injuries sustained in fires can also cause victims to suffer from mental and emotional distress. If you were injured in a fire caused by the defective switch, you have the right to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. Do not hesitate to contact our law firm and request to speak with our attorneys as soon as possible.
Can You File a Lawsuit?
You can only file a product liability lawsuit if there is a defect in the product’s design, manufacturing process, or labeling. All companies are required to ensure that all their products are safe for consumer use. If a company negligently releases a defective product, the company could be found liable for any victim’s injuries. If the injuries you sustained were your fault, you would not be eligible to file a lawsuit. However, the recall states that the switch can overheat and pose a fire hazard; therefore, the issue could be due to a manufacturing or design flaw. With that taken into consideration, you could file a lawsuit if you were injured by the product.
Unfortunately, it is easy to do things that affect the possibility of filing a successful claim. If you are interested in filing a lawsuit, you must ensure that you do all of the following:
- Seek immediate medical attention. If you suffered burn injuries or respiratory injuries, you need immediate treatment. When you receive medical treatment, you are also creating a link between the product and your injuries.
- Avoid altering the product. If the product was not destroyed in the fire, do everything within your reach to keep the product in the same condition. If you tamper with the product, you can likely affect the integrity of your claim.
- Do not return the item to the company. Although you might be tempted to return the item for a refund or replacement, you must refrain from doing so. If you return the item, you will be forfeiting the major piece of evidence for your claim.
- Keep records of all documents. You must keep records of all documents, including receipts, order confirmations, and medical bills, for example.
If you do everything mentioned above, you should not encounter difficulties when you attempt to file your claim. You can contact our law firm knowing that you have done everything necessary to ensure the success of your claim. If you have any questions or concerns, our experienced defective product attorneys will give you the information and guidance you need to take action against Southwire Company for their defective Wi-Fi switch.
Compensation for Your Claim
Did you suffer burn injuries or respiratory injuries as a result of Southwire Company’s defective WiOn Indoor In-wall Wi-Fi Switch? If you were injured after Southwire Company negligently released a defective product, you might be eligible for compensation if you file a claim. Many victims of defective products are eligible to recover the following forms of compensation:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Punitive damages
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs
The type and amount of compensation you are eligible to receive depend on the specific details of your claim. It is important to note that some categories of compensation only apply to surviving family members of deceased victims. For more information about the type and amount of compensation you might recover, you should contact the experienced defective product attorneys at Normandie Law Firm.
Time Limits to File a Claim
If you are interested in filing a product liability claim, you must be familiar with the statute of limitations that applies to your claim. A statute of limitations is a time limit that establishes the deadline to sue for claims. If plaintiffs do not file their lawsuits within the statute of limitations, they might lose their right to sue. The victims of defective products are often subject to a two-year statute of limitations. Therefore, victims have two years from the date of their injuries to file a lawsuit. However, some exceptions that lengthen the time a plaintiff might have to sue might apply. Because of that, it is essential that all victims of defective products discuss the statute of limitations and any exceptions that might apply to their claims with an experienced attorney.
Normandie Law Firm
Our law firm is dedicated to helping all the victims of negligent companies that make defective products available for consumer use. If you were injured by a defective product—such as Southwire Company’s WiOn Indoor In-wall Wi-Fi Switch—you have the right to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. Do not hesitate to take action as soon as possible. Our law firm offers free consultations and free second opinions to all victims of defective products. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our attorneys are available to answer all questions and concerns. Our experienced lawyers will give you all the information you need to sue Southwire Company for your burn injuries and respiratory injuries. It does not matter if you have already started your legal process at another law firm, our attorneys will clear any confusion left by any incompetent attorneys to which you might have previously spoken. Contact our firm today and request to speak with our attorneys.
Our firm offers free consultations and free second opinions as part of our Zero-Fee guarantee. Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients never have to worry about paying any upfront fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also strictly based on contingency; therefore, our clients will not be required to pay until our attorneys win their claims. If they do not win, they will not pay. If you were injured by a defective product, you must take action as soon as possible.
