Defective Gasoline Can Injury Attorney | Gas Can Burns

Gasoline cans are devices intended for the safe handling and storage of gasoline and other flammable liquids.  They are primarily used as a means of safely transporting gas to vehicles, lawn mowers, farm equipment or other machinery requiring gasoline, but are often also used to safely contain flammable liquids that could otherwise pose fire risks.  However, unbeknownst to many users, many gas cans contain a serious and inherent design defects that can lead to serious and often fatal consequences for consumers.  These design defects have led to serious burn injuries in the past, to the point where in 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) required tighter safety standards for all gas cans.  Unfortunately, many defective gas cans produced before the CPSC mandate are still in existence, and many companies continue to manufacture gas cans with these defects. The defective gas can attorney at Downtown L.A. Law offer free case evaluations to victims injured as a result of a defective gasoline cans.  Please call us today if you or a loved one has been hurt.

Types of Gasoline Can Defects

There have been several incidents of defective gasoline cans causing serious injuries.  The majority of these injuries are to children, predominantly young boys under the age of five.  Most disturbing however, is that these serious injuries can be avoided with minor safety features that can be incorporated with minimal cost. The most common types of gas can defects are: Flame Arrestor:  Flame arrestors are a fairly simple mechanism that inhibits fire combustion by mean of dousing the flame.  By funneling the fire through a chamber too thin to allow the gas can to explode, a flame arrestor effectively impede any explosion from developing.  Implemented correctly, a flame arrestor is an incredibly low cost addition that can effectively quell the potential risk of future injuries.  However, many manufacturers have resisted adding these additions in order to maximize profits, essentially placing the consumer at elevated risks. Spill Proof or Child Resistant Gas Caps: It is reported that as many as 95% of all defective gas can victims are male children who do not appreciate the risks involved in flammable liquids.  Many of these injuries occur as a result of accidental spillage.  Other times, children are not aware that they are exposed to a potentially lethal substance.  Manufacturers are aware of these facts, yet again fail to implement these fairly inexpensive safety device.  Other industries, such as pharmaceutical companies with drugs and toxic household products have successfully added child and spill proof caps that have saved countless lives and injuries.  It is time that gasoline can manufacturers do the same. Inadequate Warning: Another type of defect, in addition to design defects, are inadequate warnings.  While injuries are most common among younger children, many adults as well do not know how easily gas cans can lead to serious injuries.  Furthermore, gas cans can seem harmless, but adults should be warned to keep gasoline cans away from the reach of children.

Gasoline Can Manufacturers

Any manufacturer of a gasoline can be held liable for injuries incurred as a result of a defective product.  Furthermore, a retailer, such as Wal-Mart, Lowes or Home Depot, can also be held accountable.  The largest manufacturers of gasoline cans are:

• Blitz USA, Inc. (Blitz has since filed for bankruptcy)
• Eagle Manufacturing
• Midwest Can
• Scepter Manufacturing
• Plastics Group

Gasoline Can Accident Lawsuits

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective gasoline can, please call our product liability attorney for a free case evaluation.