Household products are a part of our daily lives. We use them to clean, cook, and beautify ourselves. However, many of these products can be harmful if not used correctly or if they’re defective.
When that happens, you might need legal help to protect your rights or hold a company accountable for its actions. Here are some of the most common household products that faced lawsuits:
Table of Contents
Roundup Weedkiller
Roundup is a herbicide used to kill weeds. It’s been linked to cancer and other health problems, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is why people who used it are suing Monsanto (the company that makes Roundup).
According to Forbes, one of the first cases against the herbicide went on trial in 2018. The jury in the case ruled in favor of California’s school gamekeeper, who had alleged that repeated exposure to the product was the cause of his cancer.
Since then, Monsanto has settled more than 100,000 Roundup lawsuits, paying USD 11 billion as of May 2022. There are still more than 30,000 lawsuits pending against the company.
Roundup lawsuit settlement amounts per person are expected to range from a few thousand dollars to several million, depending on the severity of the individual’s cancer and other factors.
Airbags
Airbag lawsuits involve claims against car manufacturers, airbag manufacturers, or both, alleging that defects in the airbag design, manufacture, or installation caused serious injuries or death in car accidents.
The lawsuits typically allege that the airbags failed to deploy, deployed too aggressively, or contained defective components that caused shrapnel injuries upon deployment. Airbag lawsuits have resulted in significant payouts to plaintiffs, with some settlements reaching hundreds of millions of dollars.
According to AboutLawsuits.com, more than 100 million Takata airbag inflaters were recalled worldwide because of safety issues. But still, new deaths continue to be reported linked to the airbag explosion.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a fresh Takata airbag warning after a recent death in a crash that involved faulty airbag inflators. It was the fourth confirmed death due to an airbag explosion in 2022.
PoliGrip Denture Cream
A large number of lawsuits were filed against GlaxoSmithKline over its Poligrip cream. PoliGrip Denture Cream was a popular brand of denture adhesive that was found in many homes. It was also one of the most common household products facing lawsuits from consumers who say it causes mouth sores, headaches, and skin irritation.
The main ingredient in PoliGrip is zinc acetate, which is used as an astringent or antiseptic agent in many other products, such as baby wipes and diaper rash, treatment along with sunscreen lotion.
Zinc acetate acts as an irritant when ingested orally, causing burning pain and swelling of mucous membranes inside your mouth or throat (stomach). If you swallow enough of this chemical compound over time, it may lead to ulcers forming on your esophagus, the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach, or stomach lining erosion (perforation).
Baby Cribs
One of the most widely used household products facing lawsuits is baby cribs. According to the New Orleans Injury Law News, children’s products company Fisher-Price recently announced a major recall of one of its baby crib models. Despite the original recall three years ago, a dozen more babies have lost their lives because of the product.
There have been almost 100 reported deaths in over 13 years associated with the product.
Baby sleeper injuries are not uncommon. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received more than 1,100 incident reports between January 2005 and June 2019 about inclined sleepers. And many parents of the deceased infants have filed a product liability lawsuit against the makers of these products, alleging that the company did not warn the consumers about the defective and dangerous products.
Just for Men Hair Dye
Just for Men, a popular brand of hair dye, faced a lawsuit in 2019 alleging that its products caused severe allergic reactions. The lawsuit claimed that the company failed to warn consumers about the potential risks of using the product, which allegedly caused some users to suffer chemical burns, blistering, and other serious skin reactions.
The plaintiffs sought damages for their injuries and alleged that the company had not adequately tested its products before marketing them to consumers. Just for Men denied the allegations and defended the safety of its products but ultimately settled the case for an undisclosed amount.
Oral Sodium Phosphate
The Oral Sodium Phosphate lawsuit involves allegations that the bowel prep medication, which is used to prepare patients for colonoscopies, caused serious kidney damage and other health problems.
The plaintiffs claimed that the manufacturers of the medication, including Fleet and C.B. Fleet Company, Inc., failed to warn patients and healthcare providers about the risks associated with the product. The lawsuit also alleged that the companies marketed the medication for off-label uses, which increased the risk of adverse effects.
In 2008, the FDA issued a warning about the risks of oral sodium phosphate and required new labeling to include a boxed warning about the potential for kidney damage. Several lawsuits were filed and settled, with total payouts reaching hundreds of million.
Conclusion
The most common household products facing hazard lawsuits are cleaning supplies, personal care products, and cosmetics. While these items may seem harmless, they can cause serious injuries if not used properly. If you have been injured by a product designed to make your life easier and safer, contact your attorney today.
