Pressure Cooker Explosion Lawsuits

The convenience of cooking homemade meals quickly has made pressure cookers very popular. However, dozens of pressure cookers have been recalled due to safety concerns, including explosions. If these pressurized appliances are defective, there is the possibility of explosion, spraying scalding food and liquids for several feet and releasing shrapnel that can injure anyone nearby.

Pressure cookers work by using pressurized heat and steam to cook foods faster. Most pressure cookers have a housing/heating unit, an inner pot and a locking lid with a pressure release valve. When cooking, the lid is locked in place and as the inner pot is heated, pressure increases inside. The locked lid should be designed to stay in place under pressure. When the food is done, the user should be able to use the pressure release valve to allow steam to escape, then safely remove the lid.

Defective Pressure Cooker Lids and Valves

In many of the pressure cookers that have exploded or been recalled by the manufacturer, there is a defect in either the locking lid or the pressure release valve. During cooking, pressure cookers have exploded, shattering the lid and spraying boiling substances on adults and children within the vicinity. Pressure release valves have also malfunctioned, not releasing enough pressure to avoid explosion when the user attempts to remove the lid. Injuries from these defective devices have included severe burns on the face, scalp, neck, back, arms, hands and torso from steam and scalding food/liquid. Impact injuries have also occurred from flying shrapnel.

If you or a family member have been seriously injured when your pressure cooker exploded, check the recall list for these appliances. Keep any pieces of the appliance, and contact our team at Conley Griggs Partin LLP to discuss your claim. Even if your pressure cooker has not yet been recalled, you still may be eligible to file a product defect lawsuit to pursue compensation for your injuries.