Tabletop Devices and Burn Injuries
Tabletop devices are a convenient and popular addition to homes and workplaces, offering a range of functions from heating to cooking, lighting, or decorative effects.
While designed for everyday use, these devices can pose serious safety risks when they malfunction, are improperly used, or are defectively manufactured. Burn injuries are among the most common hazards, ranging from minor first-degree burns to severe, life-altering injuries that may require extensive medical treatment.
Many accidents occur when a device overheats, sparks, or comes into contact with flammable materials. Design flaws, inadequate safety mechanisms, or lack of proper warnings can further increase the risk.
Victims of burn injuries from tabletop devices often face significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges, making it essential to understand both the risks and the legal avenues available for pursuing compensation.
Below are some of the devices that have been known to cause severe burn injuries.
Tabletop Fire Pits
Tabletop fire pits have become a popular feature for homeowners across South Carolina, providing warmth, ambiance, and a stylish centerpiece for outdoor gatherings.
From Beaufort to Charleston and beyond, these compact fire pits are marketed as safe and convenient alternatives to traditional fireplaces and larger backyard fire features. They can add charm to patios, balconies, decks, and porches, creating the perfect atmosphere for entertaining friends and family.
However, despite their appealing design, tabletop fire pits pose serious safety risks. In recent years, there has been a growing number of reports nationwide—and in South Carolina—of severe burn injuries caused by these devices.
Often fueled by alcohol-based gels or liquids, tabletop fire pits can flare unexpectedly, tip over, or ignite nearby materials. Even small mishaps can result in second- or third-degree burns, permanent scarring, and long-term medical complications.
Victims of these injuries are often left facing substantial medical bills, lost income, and physical and emotional trauma. Fortunately, South Carolina law provides avenues for pursuing compensation through product liability and personal injury claims.
The McDougall Law Firm specializes in representing burn injury victims, holding negligent manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable, and fighting for the maximum compensation clients deserve.
Contact us today at 843-438-4386 to schedule your free case review.
Understanding the Risks of Tabletop Fire Pits
Tabletop fire pits are typically fueled by alcohol-based liquids or gels that burn at extremely high temperatures, sometimes exceeding 1,600°F.
At these temperatures, even brief contact with flames or hot surfaces can result in third-degree burns, which destroy skin tissue and may require extensive medical intervention, including surgeries, skin grafts, and long-term rehabilitation.
Several risk factors make tabletop fire pits particularly hazardous:
- Flame Jetting: One of the most dangerous risks is “flame jetting,” where flames unexpectedly shoot out from the fire pit, often during refueling or accidental tipping. Flame jetting can ignite nearby objects or directly burn users and bystanders.
- Invisible Flames: Alcohol-based fuels can create nearly invisible flames. A fire may appear to be extinguished when it is still burning, creating a high risk of accidental burns during cleanup, refueling, or handling.
- Flash Fires: Reintroducing fuel into a hot fire pit can trigger a sudden flash fire. Flash fires are highly unpredictable, can cover a wide area in an instant, and are a leading cause of severe burn injuries.
- Product Design Defects: Some tabletop fire pits have unstable bases, poorly constructed fuel reservoirs, or inadequate flame guards, all of which increase the likelihood of accidents.
- Environmental Factors: Wind gusts, uneven surfaces, or nearby flammable materials can amplify the risk of fire pit accidents. Even careful users may be caught off guard by an unexpected flare-up.
Because of these factors, even brief exposure to a malfunctioning fire pit can have devastating consequences. Victims often require emergency medical care, long-term rehabilitation, and psychological support to cope with trauma.
Burn Injuries Caused by Tabletop Fire Pits
Burn injuries from tabletop fire pits vary in severity, depending on the temperature of the flames, duration of exposure, and the area of the body affected. Common types of injuries include:
- First-Degree Burns: Affecting only the outer layer of skin, causing redness, pain, and minor swelling. While less severe, these burns still require treatment to prevent infection and complications.
- Second-Degree Burns: Affecting both the outer layer of skin and the underlying layer, causing blistering, severe pain, and potential scarring. These burns may require medical care and can limit mobility if they occur on hands, arms, or legs.
- Third-Degree Burns: Severe burns that destroy all layers of skin and may damage underlying tissue, including muscles and nerves. Third-degree burns often require surgery, skin grafts, and prolonged rehabilitation.
- Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement: Many burn victims face long-term cosmetic concerns that can impact self-esteem, employment prospects, and overall quality of life.
- Emotional and Psychological Trauma: Survivors of fire pit accidents often experience anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly when accidents occur in what should have been a safe home environment.
Even seemingly minor incidents can result in complications, making prompt medical attention and thorough documentation essential for any potential legal claim.
Product Recalls and Manufacturer Liability
Recognizing the hazards posed by tabletop fire pits, several manufacturers have issued product recalls in recent years. For example, certain alcohol-fueled fire pits were recalled after reports of flame jetting, fire spreading, and multiple burn injuries.
Recalls are often prompted by complaints of injuries to consumers, which highlight defects in design, manufacturing, or inadequate safety warnings.
Despite recalls and safety alerts, many defective products remain in circulation, often sold online, in stores, or passed between family members.
Manufacturers and retailers have a legal duty to provide safe products, comply with safety standards, and adequately warn consumers about potential hazards. When they fail in these duties, they can be held liable for injuries caused by their products.
In South Carolina, victims of tabletop fire pit injuries may file claims under product liability laws, holding responsible parties accountable for:
- Design Defects: The fire pit was inherently unsafe due to poor engineering or flawed construction.
- Manufacturing Defects: A specific unit deviated from intended specifications, making it dangerous to use.
- Failure to Warn: Insufficient instructions, warnings, or labels about the risks associated with the fire pit.
Brands Involved in Recalls and Consumer Warnings
FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has strongly advised consumers to discontinue use of FLIKRFIRE tabletop fire pits after reports of two fatalities and numerous serious burn injuries linked to the devices.
The CPSC noted that these fire pits fail to meet voluntary safety standards for flame arrestors, a defect that has been identified as a key factor in incidents of dangerous flame jetting.
Colsen Fire Pits
The CPSC has also recalled Colsen tabletop fire pits due to the risk of sudden flame jetting and rapidly spreading fires. Numerous injuries, including several severe burn cases, have been linked to these defective products.
Legal Options for Burn Victims in South Carolina
Victims of tabletop device burn injuries in South Carolina have the right to pursue compensation through civil litigation. Legal claims may involve multiple parties, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
Common legal theories include:
- Product Liability: Holding manufacturers and sellers responsible for injuries caused by defective products.
- Negligence: Claiming that a party failed to exercise reasonable care in producing, distributing, or selling the device.
- Breach of Warranty: Asserting that the product did not perform as safely as promised.
Successful legal claims can result in compensation for:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
In South Carolina, statutes of limitations apply to burn injury claims, meaning victims must act promptly to preserve their rights. Consulting an experienced attorney as soon as possible is critical.
How McDougall Law Firm Can Assist You
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury due to a tabletop device in South Carolina, the McDougall Law Firm is ready to help. With years of experience in personal injury and product liability cases, our attorneys understand the complexities of burn injury claims and the devastating impact these injuries have on families.
Why Choose McDougall Law Firm?
- Expertise in Burn Injury and Product Liability Cases: Our attorneys have a proven track record of holding manufacturers and retailers accountable for defective products.
- Thorough Case Investigation: We work closely with accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and industry experts to build a strong case.
- Aggressive Advocacy: Whether negotiating with insurance companies or litigating in court, we fight relentlessly to secure maximum compensation.
- No Fees Unless We Win: We work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we obtain a settlement or verdict in your favor.
- Compassionate Support: We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll burn injuries take on victims and their families, and we guide you through every step of the legal process.
Steps to Take After a Tabletop Device Burn Injury
To strengthen your potential claim, victims should take immediate action:
- Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Burns can worsen quickly without proper treatment, and timely care is crucial for recovery.
- Preserve Evidence: Retain the defective device, fuel containers, packaging, and receipts.
- Document the Incident: Take detailed photographs of the injury, accident scene, and product defects.
- Record Witness Accounts: Statements from friends, family, or neighbors who witnessed the accident can be valuable.
- Contact an Experienced Attorney: Legal guidance ensures your claim is handled properly, deadlines are met, and responsible parties are held accountable.
Case Outcomes and Potential Compensation
At McDougall Law Firm, we have successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective consumer products. Compensation can cover a broad range of damages, including:
- Medical Bills and Ongoing Care: Treatment for severe burns can be extensive, often including surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, and psychological counseling.
- Lost Income: Burn victims may be unable to work during recovery, and compensation can address lost wages and diminished earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages account for physical pain, emotional distress, and quality-of-life impacts.
- Disfigurement and Disability: Permanent scars, mobility issues, and other long-term impairments can be factored into settlements or verdicts.
Every case is unique, and compensation depends on the severity of the injury, the circumstances of the accident, and the ability to prove negligence or product defect.
Burned by a Tabletop Device? Contact Us Today
Tabletop devices, while convenient and functional, can pose serious risks that may lead to life-changing burn injuries. In South Carolina, individuals injured by defective devices have the right to hold negligent manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for the harm they cause.
The McDougall Law Firm is committed to helping burn injury victims navigate the complexities of product liability and personal injury cases. Our experienced attorneys conduct thorough investigations, provide aggressive legal representation, and offer compassionate support to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been burned by a defective tabletop device, acting quickly is essential. Prompt action can protect your legal rights, preserve important evidence, and maximize your potential recovery. Contact the McDougall Law Firm today at 843-438-4386 for a free, no-obligation consultation, and let our dedicated team fight for your justice while you focus on healing.
