California Product Recall Lawyer

Who Issues Product Recalls?

Most product recalls come from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Established in 1973, the CPSC is the primary government agency responsible for product safety. It oversees more than 15,000 types of consumer products, from coffee makers and toys to lawn mowers and fireworks.

The CPSC orders a product recall when it determines that a product poses a significant risk to consumers of accident or injury. The risk could be from a defect in the recalled product or noncompliance with safety standards. For the CPSC to issue a product recall, it must conclude that the product poses a danger of causing death, injury or illness.

Consumer complaints are a key way in which the CPSC learns of unsafe products. It receives more than 10,000 complaints every year, most involving an accident or injury. Unfortunately, it is able to investigate only a small number of these. However, the more complaints it receives about a product, the more likely it is to investigate. Since its creation in 1973, it has issued more than 4,000 product recalls, with recalled toys the most common.

If someone in your household has suffered an accident or injury involving a recalled product, you should seek legal advice from an experienced California product recall lawyer. The experienced lawyers at The Reeves Law Group may be able to help you receive compensation for your losses. Call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us for a free consultation.

Other Sources of Product Recalls

Certain types of product recalls are outside the purview of the CPSC. For these, other federal agencies are in charge of issuing product recalls. These agencies and the products they oversee are:

• Department of Transportation. Automobiles, trucks and motorcycles.
• Food and Drug Administration. Food, drugs, cosmetics, radiation, medical devices, and veterinary medicines.
• Environmental Protection Agency. Pesticides, rodenticides and fungicides.
• Coast Guard. Boats and other watercraft, including personal watercraft.
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Guns and firearms.
• Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Chemicals.

State governments have consumer protection agencies of their own. In most cases of product recalls, such as with recalled toys or recalled food, these federal and state agencies cooperate with each other and coordinate activities.

Voluntary Product Recalls by Manufacturers

Surprisingly, the makers of dangerous products have no legal duty to initiate a product recall. Even so, a manufacturer will sometimes initiate a voluntary product recall. It may do this to reduce its liability for a potential accident or injury or in anticipation of a government-ordered product recall.

Even though a manufacturer is not required to recall an unsafe product, it does have a duty to try to warn purchasers of the danger. If a manufacturer does initiate a voluntary product recall, it still must notify the appropriate federal agency and involve it in the product recall process.

Reporting Dangerous Products

If you suspect that a product you own is hazardous, you should report it to the CPSC or appropriate agency immediately. If the hazard involves a motor vehicle, report it to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. When it comes to dangerous products, it is better to be safe than to be sorry.

Even if the CPSC decides not to investigate your case, filing a complaint helps. The CPSC compiles all consumer complaints into a master database of product information. It uses this data to identify patterns of injuries and accidents associated with particular products. Armed with this information, it formulates safety guidelines, encourages voluntary product recalls and is better able to help consumers avoid accidents and injuries.