29 Sep Shattering Shower Doors & Product Liability Lawsuits
There are many different types of product liability cases, but one of the most unusual and increasingly problematic areas is that of exploding shower doors. This problem is occurring with more frequency not just the state of Texas, but throughout the entire United States.
The Recent Growing Trend
The problem of an exploding shower stall can be quite dangerous as in the case of a 12-year-old Dallas boy who was injured in such an event. The boy had just stepped into the shower, and the water was running when his mother heard an explosion and screaming from downstairs. When she ran upstairs, she found his bathroom covered in tiny pieces of glass—it was impossible to even see the floor. Her son was standing on top of a corner shower shelf screaming. The child told his mother there was an explosive shattering noise as the whole door crashed.
During the previous four months, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received more than two dozen complaints from consumers about their shower doors exploding or shattering for no apparent reason. Those consumers who complained reported injuries such as cuts and stated that it sounded like either a gunshot or grenade. One woman stated her daughter had tiny fragments of glass in her forehead. A simple YouTube search will provide videos that consumers posted of their shattered shower doors.
Statistics
According to the information in one report, there were 22 deaths because of shattering glass doors during the period beginning in 1978 and ending in 2012.
According to CBS 11 I-Team, the problem is not limited to just homes, but also occurs in hotels. They searched court records and came across lawsuits in which guests reported their showers shattering while they were staying at a specific hotel and were not even close to the bathroom at the time. One glass expert who has testified in many court cases stated that he hears about this problem about once a week. The I-Team first met this expert in 2012 when he provided information about the manufacture of tempered glass shower doors.
Tempering, the manufacturing process that is intended to strengthen the glass, can also causes some dangerous tension which can cause it to shatter. The processing of the tempered glass creates a tug of war between the two layers of the glass with many external events being responsible for triggering the tension such as a small crack, or the entrapment of a microscopic stone during the manufacturing process.
Another point that this glass expert stated was that tempered glass became popular in the 1970s because of the fact that it shatters into small pieces, but he feels it is now time to set new standards for the glass making process for shower doors. The CPSC is currently working directly with those in the glass industry in order to ensure for safety for glass shower doors, and that change is apparently on the way in the near future.
The Future of Glass Shower Doors
According to the I-Team, there is a petition called the Architectural Glazing Product Briefing Package that encourages the CPSC to insist upon better testing and provide safer glass. In April of this year the CPSC admitted it was neglectful in maintaining current standards of safety and agreed to begin the process of making rules in order to update current standards.
As consumers wait for the implementation of new safety standards, glass experts say consumers need to keep their eyes on shower doors for any signs of cracks around the edges. It is also important to make sure both the top and bottom of the doors slide evenly against the bumper and not the metal door frame. Proper installation of door knobs and towel racks is also important.
If you or a loved one has been injured by an exploding or shattering shower door, one of our lawyers experienced in product liability law can help you determine if you have a valid claim against the manufacturer. If so, we can help you recover the money you’re owed. Call us today at 1-877-659-1620.
1-877-659-1620
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