On Monday, November 7, tech giant Samsung ran full-page ads in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post apologizing for its botched handling of the Galaxy Note 7 recall, which left dangerous smartphones in consumer’s hands for almost a month before an official action was taken. The official apology, signed by president and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America Gregory Lee, also mentioned a recent voluntary recall addressing a “rare issue with our top-load washing machines.”
More than 700 “rare” incidents
Addressing this most recent recall in the apology letter gives Samsung the appearance of being proactive, but the facts tell a different story. The “voluntary” recall affects nearly 3 million units manufactured between 2011 and 2015. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received more than 700 reports of excessive vibration or the tops detaching from the machines. Nine of those instances resulted in injuries, including a broken jaw and injured shoulder.
The Atlantic reported:
“Complaints of the exploding washers first came from a class action lawsuit filed last month. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by three customers, alleges the washing machines have a faulty part that lets the spinning tub unfasten during the spin cycle, tearing the machine apart from the inside and hurling plastic and metal bits. The suit claims Samsung has known of the issue for years but chose to ignore it. CNN reported one Texas woman in the suit said her machine burst ‘with such ferocity that it penetrated the interior wall of her garage.’”
So far, no deaths have been reported, but think about the power behind these exploding washing machines. They’re literally strong enough to break through walls. If you happened to be in the room when it exploded, you risked being hit in the head and suffering a TBI, being cut by flying shrapnel, or even suffering an electric shock if the water had hit any exposed wires or outlets.
Find out if you are at risk
Samsung bungled the Galaxy Note 7 recall so badly that independent agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration were forced to enact independent regulations to prevent serious harm. Now, it appears that the company is once again attempting to cover up a manufacturing error with the same disregard for public safety that they have shown in the past. To find out if your family is at risk, check the CPSC recall page here.
If your loved one has been injured or killed by a defective product or device, your family may be entitled to compensation as victims of negligence. The experienced Nashville defective product attorneys at the Rocky McElhaney Law Firm can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. Call us at 615.246.5549, visit our offices in Nashville, Gallatin or Knoxville, or contact us today for a free consultation.
