According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been several reports of the batteries overheating and causing property damage in at least two instances. For their own safety, consumers have been advised to stop using the product immediately. Tech Gear 5.7 advises that consumers remove the battery from the socks and contact them immediately to arrange for a full refund or a free replacement pair of socks.

If nothing has happened to you in terms of injuries or property loss, getting a refund or replacement product is a fair exchange. But what if the overheating batteries in Tech Gear 5.7 heated socks resulted in burns and other injuries to you or a loved one? In that case, you should not settle for a new product or refund of the purchase price. Instead, contact our law firm to discuss the possibility of filing a defective product injury claim. The personal injury lawyers of DTLA are ready to assist you 24/7, so please give us a call.

The batteries in the recalled heated socks can overheat, melt, or ignite if the product is charged with a charging unit that was not sold with the socks. It seems like this is a minor issue: just use the charger that’s provided by the manufacturer, and you won’t have any problems, right?

The problem is, we now live in a society where it’s virtually impossible to live without a mobile device. Cell phones, laptops, tablets – these all come with chargers, and it can be hard to stay on top of which charger goes with what item. And many of the products you currently own can probably be charged with the same charging cable and/or adapter. People can also forget the charging cable at home if they’re traveling or lose the item altogether, and buying to get a replacement from the manufacturer can be quite a nuisance.

Essentially, when the battery inside the recalled socks is charged with anything other than the original charger that came with the product, there may be an accident that causes harm to the customer and their property. This is a real concern in a world where people often use universal cables that are supposed to work from one device to another. Or, they use wireless charging pads because of how fast they work and the convenience of not having to fiddle around with a bunch of different chargers.

At the end of the day, Tech Gear 5.7’s Battery-Powered Heated Socks have the potential to cause fires and severe injuries to the user and others on the property. As a result, an innocent victim is left with substantial medical bills, lost wages, and psychological trauma.

Product liability deals with the legal responsibility of product makers, distributors, and sellers when a defective or unsafe product causes harm to one or more consumers. All manufacturers have a duty of care to the consumer, like inspecting and testing a product to ensure that it’s safe. They must also follow safety protocols established by regulatory agencies and include warnings for customers, like “Do not use while sleeping” or “Choking hazard – Small parts. Not for children under 3 years old.”

When a company releases a product that results in multiple dangerous incidents, a recall and investigation are necessary to determine if there was a defect or lack of appropriate action by the manufacturer. If a problem that made the product unsafe existed while the item was still in the manufacturer’s possession, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit. To see if you are eligible for a lawsuit against Tech 5.7, seek help from a product recall lawyer as soon as possible.

When you file a lawsuit, you are seeking monetary damages for bodily harm, emotional distress, and any loss or damage of your personal belongings. The damages you are entitled to depends on many factors that are specific to your accident, the resulting harm, and the level of negligence by the manufacturer. Compensatory damages from a negligent manufacturer can include:

• Medical expenses to cover immediate and on-going medical treatments, doctor’s visits, surgery, physical therapy, etc.
• Lost wages to compensate you for income that you were unable to earn because of your medical / recovery needs.
• Pain and suffering for the physical suffering and emotional distress that you are going through as a result of the accident.
• Punitive damages if a jury finds that the manufacturer’s conduct meets the standard of gross negligence.
• Compensation for wrongful death (for surviving family members) – funeral expenses, medical costs, loss of expected income, pain and suffering, etc.

No one expects to be injured by a commonplace product, like a pair of socks. But even a minor oversight by the manufacturer can lead to safety issues that compromise your life. You have the right to take legal action and demand compensation if you were hurt because the battery in a pair of Tech Gear 5.7 heated socks overheated, melted, or set on fire.

All clients that contact us receive the Contingency Fee Arrangement. We promise that you will pay $0 if you choose to go ahead with a lawsuit. You continue to pay $0 as we build your case and fight to recover your settlement. Once compensation is released by the manufacturer, we obtain a percentage to cover the costs associated with your case. If we do not resolve the case in favor, you will not be asked to pay anything towards attorney’s fees.

A product liability lawsuit lawyer is standing by to assist you, so please get in touch and schedule a free case evaluation.

Tech Gear 5.7 issued a recall on March 14, 2019 for the Mobile Warming Performance Heated Socks. These are battery-powered heated socks, which can be identified by the following model numbers:

• MW18A04-17-14
• MW18A04-17-15
• MW18A04-M4-10/W6-11
• MW18A04-M10-14

Manufactured by Mi Croteck Gaoke (HK) Limited/Shenzhen FCY Technology Co. Ltd, of China, the socks are imported by Tech Gear 5.7, Inc. in San Marcos, California. They were sold online at www.mobilewarming.com and amazon.com, as well as various retailers specializing in sporting goods, farm supplies, and work wear. The recalled products were available during September to November 2018 for about $130. The heated socks are gray and made from a poly-cotton blend, and they come in sizes for both men and women.

The recall was issued because of complaints with the lithium-ion batteries overheating, which can cause them to melt or start a fire when powered with a charging cable other than the one provided by the manufacturer. Hence, customers are at risk of being burned of sustaining other fire-related injuries and property damage.