What should you do if a defective appliance causes a fire?
Get everyone out, call 911 from outside and get medical care for anyone with burns or trouble breathing. Then leave the appliance where it is, photograph the damage and report the fire to your insurer without guessing at the cause. If a defect started the fire, The Scott Pryor Law Group can arrange expert testing in Georgia.
Key takeaways
- Get out first. Call 911 from outside, and stay out until firefighters say it is safe.
- Leave the appliance and its parts where they are. Investigators may need to examine them.
- Photograph the damage before any cleanup, and keep every receipt and report.
- Tell your insurer what you saw. Do not guess at the cause or accept blame.
- A defect may support a product liability claim against the companies behind the appliance.
What should you do first when an appliance catches fire?
When an appliance catches fire in your Georgia home, get everyone out and call 911 from outside. The Scott Pryor Law Group handles defective appliance fire cases, and safety comes before any claim. Unplug the appliance only if it is safe, close doors behind you and stay out until firefighters clear the home.
If you are home when the fire starts:
- Unplug the appliance if you can do it safely.
- Get out if flames or smoke start to spread. Warn everyone in the home as you go.
- Close the doors behind you to slow the fire.
- Call 911 from outside.
- Stay out until firefighters give the all clear.
If you are away when it starts, call the fire department and your gas and electric companies to prevent more damage. Do not go back inside until the authorities confirm it is safe.
If anyone has burns or trouble breathing, get them medical care right away.
Once the fire is out, leave the scene alone as much as you can. Do not move or handle the appliance. Investigators may need to examine it later to find out whether a defect started the fire.
What should you photograph and save after an appliance fire?
After an appliance fire in Georgia, photograph every damaged area before cleanup starts, and keep the appliance, its parts and its paperwork. The Scott Pryor Law Group uses that record in defective appliance cases to show what failed. Your insurer uses the same record to value the property claim.
Once firefighters say the home is safe, work through this list.
- Photos. Take wide shots and close-ups of every affected area: the appliance, the walls around it, the outlets and any burned belongings. Do this before cleanup or repairs begin.
- The appliance itself. Write down the brand, model and serial number. Do not throw away any parts, cords or debris.
- Paperwork. Keep the user manual and packaging if you still have them, along with purchase and maintenance records.
- Reports and records. Keep fire reports, hospital records and repair estimates together in one place.
- Receipts. Save receipts for hotel stays, cleanup services and replacement items.
- A timeline. Write down when you first noticed trouble, who responded and how the fire was handled.
These details help investigators work out whether the appliance failed because of a design flaw or another defect. They also support your insurance claim. Gaps in the record give an insurer room to pay less.
What should you tell your insurance company after an appliance fire?
Report the fire to your homeowner’s insurer as soon as you can, and stick to what you saw and what first responders told you. The Scott Pryor Law Group tells Georgia families with appliance fire claims not to guess at the cause or accept fault, because adjusters record these calls.
Give the date, the time and the general circumstances. Leave the cause to the investigators. A guess about what started the fire can be used later to limit what the company pays.
Ask your insurer for:
- Your claim number
- The adjuster’s name and contact information
- A full copy of your policy
Keep a record of every conversation, and save every email and letter. If the company sends inspectors or contractors to your home, note each visit and ask for a written report.
Do not sign settlement papers or release forms until someone has reviewed them carefully. A lawyer who handles fire-related product liability claims can review your policy, deal with the adjusters for you and pursue compensation from your insurer and from any company responsible for the defect.
How do you know if a defect caused the fire?
It usually takes an expert to know whether a defect caused an appliance fire. The Scott Pryor Law Group arranges that testing in Georgia defective appliance cases. Experts look for faulty wiring, overheating parts, electrical shorts, poor materials, missing safety shutoffs and design flaws that make normal use unsafe.
Appliance fires are common. In a recent three-year span, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported an average of more than 20,000 home fires a year involving electrical cooking equipment and other home appliances. Those fires cause thousands of injuries.
Many start because of a defect that makes ordinary use unsafe:
- Faulty wiring
- Overheating components
- Electrical shorts
- Poor-quality materials
- Missing safety shutoff features
- Poor design choices
Small appliances can start fires too. A toaster with a defect can draw too much current or fail to turn off.
Testing looks for a manufacturing defect, a design defect or a labeling defect. It usually needs the appliance and whatever is left of its parts, which is why keeping them matters. Our product liability page explains each kind of defect.
Can you sue the manufacturer of an appliance that started a fire in Georgia?
You may be able to bring a product liability claim if a defective appliance started a fire in your Georgia home. The Scott Pryor Law Group looks at every company that made, distributed or sold the appliance, and pursues each one the evidence supports for your injuries and property damage.
Georgia’s product liability rule: Manufacturers can be liable for selling products that are defective at the time of sale if the defects harm consumers. O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11
A claim can seek compensation for:
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Emotional distress
The evidence has to link the fire to the defect. That can include inspection reports, expert analysis, and maintenance or purchase records.
Expect the manufacturer to blame misuse, even if you used the appliance correctly. Do not discuss fault with anyone who represents the manufacturer or its insurer. We handle those conversations and the negotiations while you recover.
These claims can matter beyond one home. Holding a manufacturer accountable can push it to fix a dangerous design or issue a recall that protects other families.
The deadline: Victims generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 Product claims can carry other time limits too. Georgia law sets them, and we check them on the first call.
How can you lower the risk of another appliance fire?
You can lower the risk of another appliance fire with a few habits: unplug small appliances, replace damaged cords and register new appliances for recall alerts. No habit stops every product defect. The Scott Pryor Law Group recommends these steps to Georgia families after a defective appliance fire.
- Unplug small appliances when you are not using them, and check cords for fraying or discoloration.
- Replace damaged cords right away. Do not tape or twist them.
- Do not overload outlets. Use only surge protectors that meet safety standards.
- Follow the maker’s instructions, and register new appliances so you receive recall alerts.
- Schedule regular maintenance for larger systems such as stoves, dryers and HVAC units.
- Keep flammable materials away from anything that produces heat.
- Never leave cooking equipment unattended.
- If an appliance gives off a burning smell, sparks or trips a breaker, stop using it until a qualified technician checks it.
When should you call a lawyer after an appliance fire?
Call a lawyer soon after an appliance fire in Georgia, especially if someone was hurt, and before you sign anything from an insurer or a manufacturer. The Scott Pryor Law Group offers a free consultation for defective appliance and product liability cases, and you don’t pay unless we win your case.
We can review your policy, arrange expert testing of the appliance and deal with the adjusters, so you can focus on your family and your home.
See how we handle these cases on our Georgia product liability lawyer page, or review our case results. Schedule a free consultation. Phones answered 24/7.
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