Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog
Sam’s Club, the big-box chain owned and operated by the same owners as Wal-Mart, recently recalled a popular brand of baby wipes, fearing that the wipes may actually spread bacteria. In a report by one Fox News affiliate, the brand of the wipes is “Simply Right.”
Evidently, Sam’s Club somehow obtained information that these baby wipes may contain a type of bacteria, B. cepacia. Anyone who purchased the wipes after June 30 may have contaminated product and should return the wipes to a Sam’s Club store as soon as possible for a full refund. Supposedly, Sam’s Club has emailed all purchasers and requested they stop using the wipes and return any remaining products.
The bacteria is not necessarily dangerous to a healthy adult. However, it may present a serious danger to those who have weakened immune systems, or also to children. Considering that the target audience of the product is parents of young children, the potential harm from the bacteria is significant.
Product Recalls in the Greater DC Area
Many product recalls, such as the one mentioned above, affect large areas of the country and may affect hundreds of thousands of people. Generally, manufacturers of all household products have a duty to develop, market, and sell products that are safe when used as directed.
In the case of baby wipes, that would include using the wipes on young children and likely on the elderly as well. Both populations, however, are at greater risk from contracting a dangerous infection when coming into contact with the B. cepacia bacteria. This means that any injuries that were caused by the bacteria in the wipes would likely be considered to be the fault of Sam’s Club or the manufacturer of the wipes.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that when a consumer uses a product in a manner that was not intended or contemplated by the manufacturer, the consumer may not have the ability to recover from the manufacturer. This is because the law does not generally hold manufacturers responsible for uses of their products that they could not have foreseen when designing them. However, whether a use is within the “purpose” of the product is a legal question that should be presented to a dedicated products liability lawyer.
Have You Been Injured By a Dangerous Product?
If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous product, you may be entitled to monetary damages. However, keep in mind that many manufacturers of household goods are prepared to fend off these kinds of lawsuits, and they retain teams of skilled lawyers to defend their actions and products. It is therefore advised that you secure your own legal representation before taking on large manufacturers or retailers. The dedicated lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, have decades of combined experience bringing all kinds of personal injury lawsuits, including product liability suits. Call 410-654-3600 to set up a free initial consultation with an attorney at Lebowitz & Mzhen today.
More Blog Posts:
Peanut Plant Responsible for Multiple Deaths Due to Salmonella Contamination, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, October 9, 2014
New Report Finds over 60 Virginia Children Have Died in Daycare Facilities Since 2004, Lack of Oversight Blamed, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, September 4, 2014
Misplaced Construction Sign Results in $100,000 Settlement with St. Louis County, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, August 21, 2014