A recent case is a reminder that accidents with hot water bottles can cause significant long-term burn injuries.
A woman suffered severe scalding to her arm and elbow when her hot water bottle burst unexpectedly. The accident has left her with scarring that doctors say is likely to take more than a year to heal.
She pursued a personal injury claim against the clothing retailer which had sold her the hot water bottle. The company admitted liability for the faulty product and agreed to compensate her for her injuries.
There have been several similar cases in recent years owing to a rise in the number of cheap imported hot water bottles made of easily perishable rubber.
In an earlier case, a 63-year-old woman suffered agonising pain when her hot water bottle burst, badly scalding her chest and arm. To alleviate the burning sensation she remained in a cold bath until paramedics arrived.
Initially, doctors thought a skin graft would not be necessary, but an area of her chest was so badly burned that they decided to take a skin graft from her thigh.
If you have suffered an injury because an item was not fit for the purpose for which it was sold, you could be entitled to compensation. The original receipt will enable you to provide proof of purchase and it is also important to be able to provide evidence of any expenses incurred as a result of your injury.
The British Standards Institute (BSI) kitemark assures consumers that a product conforms to the relevant safety standards. The symbol indicates that the BSI has independently tested the product and given the manufacturer permission to use the mark. Any product sold without the kitemark (or the CE mark, which is a requirement for certain categories of product sold in the European Economic Area and signifies a declaration by the manufacturer that they comply with EU health and safety standards) should be treated with caution.
For advice on how to make a personal injury claim, contact a member of our team
