According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency room visits nationwide, including Delaware, following injuries caused by defective or dangerous products continued despite the lockdown. However, comparing such ER visits of 2019 and the height of the shelter-in-place restrictions in 2020, a significant drop in numbers is evident. Nevertheless, those who were victims of such injuries had to deal with medical expenses and other damages.
The most significant drop occurred during April 2020, showing a decrease of 45% compared to April 2019 and an 18% drop over the year. According to the CPSC, sports injuries and minor injuries like sprains and strains dropped significantly, but amputations and other severe and catastrophic injuries remained at similar levels as before.
Products that sent people to the ER in 2020
Despite the mentioned decrease, almost 11 million people visited emergency departments nationwide after suffering consumer product-related injuries. A notable increase involved injuries suffered while using skateboards, hoverboards and scooters. The most vulnerable consumers are children and older adults. The following list indicates that the most common consumer products cause most of the injuries:
- Beds, mattresses and pillows
- Ramps, landings, stairs and floors
- Sofa beds, chairs and sofas
- Ovens and cooking ranges
- Television sets and their stands
- Detergents, soaps and other household cleaning products
The CPSC notes that the data includes only the injuries reported to emergency departments. Victims of injuries caused by dangerous or defective products in Delaware could pursue financial relief by filing product liability lawsuits in a civil court. However, visiting the emergency department is essential because proof of medical expenses is crucial for the court to adjudicate and determine the amount of damages to award if negligence was established.
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