Carrier has two distinctly branded heat pumps that were recalled on October 10th, 2019: Carrier and Bryant. The 1.5-ton multi-zone, 4-ton multi-zone, and 4-ton single-zone ductless heat pumps were recalled because the fan motor on the heat pumps may malfunction. If it does malfunction, the pumps can overheat and catch fire, leading to severe accidents and injuries. Over 5,300 of the units were recalled (with an additional 450 units in Canada being recalled). To determine if your heat pump is on the recall list, consider the listing below:

• Carrier 1.5-ton multi-zone pumps with model number 38MGQC18—3 and serial number 38MGQC18—301–
• Carrier 4-ton multi-zone pumps with model number 38MGQF48—3 and serial number 38MGQF48—301–
• Carrier 4-ton single-zone pumps with model number 38MBQB48—3 and serial number 38MBQB48–301–
• Bryant 1.5-ton multi-zone pumps with model number 538TEQ018RCMA and serial number 538TEQ018RCMAAAA
• Bryant 4-ton multi-zone pumps with model number 538TEQ048RFMA and serial number 538TEQ048RFMAAAA
• Bryant 4-ton single-zone pumps with model number 538REQ048RBMA and serial number 538REQ048RBMAAAA

The pumps were manufactured in Chin and imported stateside into Florida at the Carrier Corporation. They were then sold at Carrier and Bryant distributors and independent sellers across the country from March 2015 through April 2019. The different pumps could cost anywhere between $600 and $4,000. To date, there have been six reports that the fans have malfunctioned and caused a fire in the heat pump. Thankfully, no injuries have resulted from the fires. The remedy for the recall is for users to call the company that provided the installation service, or the dealer or contractor, and set up a free repair. The units can be used, but should be monitored and any foliage, leaves, and other flammable materials should be kept at least 2 feet away from the heat pump.

Injuries And Accidents From Faulty Heat Pumps

A heat pump is different from a heat creator, like a furnace, and different from a cold creator, like an air conditioner. The heat pump will move energy from outside and convert it into heat inside, or it will reverse directions and do the opposite. This allows it to be more of an energy mover, which is much more efficient and does not use as many resources. However, it still is electrically powered and has a fan that must work very hard to adequately transfer energy from one location to another. The fact that the fan can run too hard and fail, leading to overheating, is a large issue. An overheating fan that results in fires can cause extreme accidents. For example, if you leave a heat pump in and you are not in the room or if you have gone to sleep, the fan can overheat, start a fire in the home, and begin to consume the house. The fire may be hard to stop if you cannot dislodge the heat pump in time, too. It is highly recommended that you pay careful attention to the areas that have heat pumps and you keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a sudden fire. Burns can be of varying degrees, from surface first-degree burns that heal within a few days to severe third-degree burns that cause numbness, intense skin damage, tissue damage, nerve damage, loss of sensation and heat, muscle weakness and deterioration, and much more.

Product Liability Laws

If you were hurt in an accident caused by a defective heat pump, you could take legal action against Carrier. In order to sue with a product liability case, you must be able to show that there was some kind of issue with the product. One of these three points must be established as true:

• A design flaw with the heat pump was present when it was made
• A manufacturing error with the wrong parts caused or contributed to the heat pump’s fan failing
• There were no hazard symbols or warnings on the item or the packaging to tell the user about the potential accidents

The heat pump would not need a hazard warning for something that should not happen. It is likely that the fans that were used in some models were simply not strong enough, made from less-than-perfect materials, or were installed wrongly. There are many other items that work fine, which leads to the belief that the specific materials for the fans are the issue. The company should be held accountable for its actions and for not adequately protecting customers. If Carrier knowingly used materials that were faulty and an accident happened, the company should be made to pay off the losses and damages.

What To Do In A Product Liability Claim

If you wish to file a product liability claim, you must have enough evidence to prove that there was negligence. This evidence can take on many forms. It is important that you follow this procedure to have the chance of success with your lawsuit: First, go to the doctor at once so you get necessary medical attention. Do not hesitate or wait too long, as the gap in time will work against you in your claim and it can worsen your damages. If the insurance agent notices that you spent too much time without treatment, he can claim that you were probably hurt elsewhere in the meantime, since the timelines would not properly add up or make sense. Hold on to all notes, receipts, MRIs, X-rays, images, and other documents from the hospital to prove that you received treatment and to show the extent of it. Next, document the damage to your body and to your home. It is important to have a list of the injuries, photographs of everything that was affected, and more. It is extremely important that you do not tamper with the product in any way, try to fix it, bring it to a repair shop to be fixed, or tinker with it. The item must be left exactly as it is to show what happened without your interference. If you do mess with the product, you may not have a successful claim. Do not return the item to the company or throw it away. If you get rid of your heat pump instead of holding on to it, you might lose your case – you won’t have the key piece of evidence that will show what caused the incident in the first place. If there were any eyewitnesses who can also provide testimony, you should get their statements. It will be beneficial to your case if there are multiple people who can attest to the damages that occurred and to the defect being present. Hold on to all copies of bank statements, receipts, proof of purchase papers, and more. It is necessary to show that you were the legal, rightful owner of the heat pump. Bring all of this evidence to a product liability attorney. We will go over it and organize it so that the insurance agent can see exactly what happened, and we will submit it for consideration with a demand letter and request for compensation. We will negotiate a better deal than what the agent gives us. You may not have any legal experience, and it is wise to let an experienced attorney handle your case.

Compensation From A Product Liability Claim Against Carrier

The amount of money you can earn from a product liability case against Carrier will depend on the extent of your injuries and the impact they had on your life and career. Our lawyers will strive to negotiate the fairest deal for you and we will not give up until we have brought you coverage for the following:

• Medical bills from the past and future
• Property damage to repair or replace lost items, damaged goods, home furnishings, and more
• Lost income from the past and future if you could not return to work because of your injuries, medical treatments, and other reasons
• Pain and suffering damages to account for emotional trauma, mental stress, PTSD, fear, anxiety, and more

Don’t try to file a claim without aiming for the maximum settlement you can receive. Let our attorneys assist you.