[2024 Guide] How To File a Lawsuit if Your Instapot Explodes

What To Do if Your Electric Pressure Cooker or Instapot Explodes

You may wonder how an Instant Pot can explode when it has safety mechanisms like automatic pressure control, automatic temperature control, three safety valves, and pressure regulators.

However, human error and manufacturing defects remain constant risks despite modern safety precautions.

When safety features fail, an Instant Pot accident is possible.

Victims of these incidents may be eligible to file pressure cooker lawsuits for compensation.

There are important steps to take before you proceed with your pressure cooker lawsuit.

Here’s a closer look at your options when you have had a pressure cooker or Instant Pot explode in your kitchen.

Seek Medical Attention

Seek medical attention immediately after Instant Pot explosions so that you can get professional advice on your next steps.

Obvious injuries require immediate attention.

However, even if you feel fine after the incident, convinced that no actual harm occurred, you could miss underlying injuries that constitute remediation in regard to financial compensation paid by the manufacturer(s).

Depending on the extent of your injuries, your doctor will give you specific orders to mitigate your injuries.

Be sure to follow them as closely as you can to avoid complicating your condition and furthering your injuries which could result in more expensive healthcare costs.

Retain Evidence

Be sure to gather as much evidence as you can about your incident.

Take photos and videos of the scene after your pressure cooker exploded.

Take photos and videos of your injuries and any property damage as well.

These visual references will serve as proof in a court of law.

Having evidence of the pressure cooker explosion can help you build a case for when you file a lawsuit.

Contact a Pressure Cooker Explosion Attorney

Finding and working with a qualified attorney is important in proceeding with your Instant Pot Lawsuit.

Be sure to confirm that the legal professional you seek has experience in Instant Pot explosion cases since they involve particularities and processes that only some individuals can efficiently navigate.

At a glance, pressure cooker explosion cases aim to get reparations from the manufacturers of defective devices.

These large companies will have high-profile legal teams to represent them. You deserve to have an expert on your side to fight on your behalf.

Potential Injuries From Defective Instant Pots

When defective Instant Pots explode, you could face serious, life-threatening injuries.

Some of the most common injuries include the following:

Burn Injuries

First-, second-, and third-degree burns are common injuries when defective pressure cookers explode.

Depending on the degree, victims may need to continue medical treatment for a long time and undergo extensive surgical procedures.

Infections

Injuries resulting from pressure cooker explosions can also lead to infection without proper treatment and management.

If an infection sets in, it can cause permanent damage and disfigurement.

In severe cases, an injury could even require amputation.

Electric Shock

Instant Pots are electrical appliances.

Like other electrical appliances, they can be dangerous without proper handling. Defective Instant Pots that explode could lead to electric shock, which can result in cardiac arrest and even death.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Victims of pressure cooker explosions can develop PTSD.

This psychological trauma can lead to emotional distress and may even discourage someone to cook food after surviving the life-threatening accident.

Debilitating Injuries

Depending on the pressure and force of a pressure cooker explosion, you could end up with broken bones, lacerations, and open wounds.

These debilitating injuries could prevent you from carrying out normal activities, affecting your quality of life.

Potential Medical Treatments After an Instant Pot Explosion

Pressure cooker injuries are serious and often require extensive medical treatment.

Here’s an overview of the potential medical treatments you could undergo after surviving an Instant Pot explosion.

Skin Grafts

Doctors could recommend skin grafts to treat severe burns from the explosion.

This treatment involves transferring healthy skin from other body parts to the affected sites.

Physical Therapy

Another treatment option for Instant Pot explosion injuries is physical therapy, where your therapist uses specialized techniques to help you recover from your wounds.

These treatments are usually ideal for injuries that affect mobility.

Mental Therapy

Instant Pot explosions can lead to emotional trauma that requires mental therapy.

Depending on your condition, your therapist could use techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to help you develop healthy coping mechanisms after the incident.

Laser Therapy

Instant Pot pressure cookers that explode could cause scars and inflammation, requiring laser therapy to help reduce the effects.

This procedure is also important for keeping the victim’s self-confidence up.

Pressure Cooker Recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled thousands of Instant Pot pressure cookers in July 2015.

They reported how the cooker base’s thermal probe that conducts electrical energy throughout the cooker can cause a fire and electric shock.

In the same year, three consumers reported electric shocks while using their Instant Pot.

As such, the CPSC recommended that Instant Brands (the manufacturer of Instant Pots) replace the defective pressure cooker units that they recalled from customers.

Similarly, distributor Double Insight received 107 reports in 2018 stating that users’ Instant Pot models overheated and caused fire hazards.

This report included five counts of minor property damage.

Further reports highlighted errors in the appliances’ manufacturing processes.

The tooling would misalign when in use, which would overheat and melt the cooker’s underside.

Following these reports, the CPSC recalled approximately 104,000 units.

It also recommended replacements or full refunds of the purchase prices for the affected individuals.

Other pressure cooker brands that the CPSC recalled following consumer reports about defects include:

• Breville – Fast Slow Cookers
• Cook’s Essentials – Pressure Cooker
• Crock-Pot – Express Crock Multi-Cookers
• Cuisinart – Electric Pressure Cooker
• Double Insight – Instant Pot
• Electric Pressure Cooker sold on QVC (model PC501, PPC770, PPC780, PPC790)
• Farberware
• Instant Pot – “Smart” Model Pressure Cooker
• Manttra – Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker
• Maxi Matic – Elite Electric Pressure Cooker
• Nutri-Pot
• NuWave – Pressure Cooker
• Power Pressure Cookers XL (including PC-WAL1)
• Tristar Pressure Cooker Products (including model TRI6)
• Ultrex-Brand – Pressure Cooker

Examples of Instant Pots That Exploded and Injured or Burned People

Here are some existing Instant Pot lawsuit cases that could put things into perspective.

Boxing Legend Severely Burned by Exploding Pressure Cooker

Guillermo Rigondeaux is a world-renowned boxing legend.

In March 2022, his face was severely burned after a faulty pressure cooker exploded.

The Instant Pot blowout caused boiling water to splatter everywhere, burning his eyes and chest.

Rigondeaux needed emergency care immediately.

His serious injuries caused him to lose 80% of his vision after his corneas sustained severe burns.

At the time, he thought he would have to retire. However, he was ready to return to the ring in February 2023.

Ohio Family Loses Home Due to Fire Started by Pressure Cooker Explosion

In Ohio in January 2023, a family’s home caught on fire.

Jennifer Latham was upstairs with her husband and two children when she heard the fire alarm go off.

She ran downstairs and found their kitchen in flames.

The family escaped the fire but they lost their house and two pet cats in the aftermath.

Defective Pressure Cooker Severely Burns Toddler: $27 Million Verdict

In November 2018, toddler Samantha Gonzalez and her family received a $27 million verdict in their defective pressure cooker lawsuit against Lifetime Brands.

In 2015, grandmother Caridad Fernandez Reinaldo gave then-two-year-old Samantha a bath in the sink while making chicken soup in a Vasconia pressure cooker.

The family’s faulty pressure cooker overflowed and sprayed hot soup onto Samantha, causing her to suffer second and third-degree burns over 60% of her body.

While authorities declared that the Vasconia pressure cooker wasn’t defective, Samantha’s pressure cooker lawyers discovered that the appliance’s pressure valve activated by mistake and that there was an issue with the locking system of old models.

Confidential Settlement Reached In Case Involving Severe Burn Injuries

Kohl’s Department Stores Inc. paid victim Bridget Iovino a confidential settlement in November 2018 after her Elite Bistro pressure cooker exploded, leaving her to endure second and third-degree burns.

50-year-old Bridget was using her Elite Bistro pressure cooker to make chicken broth the same way she had done a few times before.

She noticed an unusual amount of steam coming from the cooker, but before she could do anything, the pressure cooker exploded, burning her body with scalding liquid.

Bridget and her husband, Gene Iovino, sued Kohl’s and manufacturer Maxi-Matic USA Inc. for negligence, breach of express warranty, failure to warn, strict liability, and loss of consortium in September 2015, resulting in a confidential settlement.

Defective Pressure Cooker Severely Burns Child

In 2022, an unnamed Georgia mother and her young child settled with Instant Brands, Inc. for an undisclosed amount after their defective Instant Pot pressure cooker exploded.

The faulty lid lock on their Instant Pot IP-DUO 60 V2 caused the pressure cooker’s lid to fly off, leaving the child severely burned.

During the pressure cooker litigation, both parties went back and forth before they could settle.

The plaintiff demanded Instant Brands, Inc. provide evidence of similar incidents where their pressure cooker’s lid malfunctioned, but the manufacturer argued to provide evidence only for the specific model unit for two years before the incident.

After several delays, Instant Brands, Inc. agreed to settle the case and pay the injured child monthly compensation once she turns 18 and a final lump sum payment when she turns 22.

They will also shoulder legal fees for the family.

This case is one of many Instant Pot lawsuits filed against the company.

Filing an Instant Pot Lawsuit: What You Need to Know

Filing new pressure cooker lawsuits can be intimidating for anyone without much legal experience.

That’s why having a legal expert on your side is important in securing your success after surviving freak accidents in the kitchen.

Safety limits exist, regardless of how advanced your Instant Pot safety features are.

You could have the latest models — an Instant Pot Ultra, Instant Pot Duo, a Tristar Power Pressure Cooker XL, or Crock-Pot Express Pressure Cooker — the risk of serious burn injuries remains.

Moreover, as much as you follow all safety measures to avoid Instant Pot explosions, manufacturing defects could still lead to substantial burn injuries.

Manufacturers could and should ensure they prevent serious injury as much as possible.

They could implement better designs that prevent a pressure cooker’s lid from collecting excess pressure.

They can develop advanced safety features for internal temperature.

As a supplementary measure, they could remind users to follow precautions regarding the base seal, inner pot, and anti-blockage vent.

Regardless of the possibilities, you deserve to seek a pressure cooker settlement for your damages.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the Instant Pot Lawsuit instantly.

Reach out to us for a free case evaluation today.

Mitigate Injuries

If you have been a victim of a pressure cooker explosion, see your doctor as soon as possible to receive the care necessary and see if surgery or immediate care will be needed.

It’s important to treat any injury related to a pressure cooker explosion as early as possible.

Make sure to follow orders from medical professionals and do everything in your power to mitigate future economic impacts related to your injury.

Hire A Defective Pressure Cooker Injury Lawyer

After getting the proper medical treatment, contact a TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your best legal options with an experienced attorney from our firm.

Hiring a personal injury attorney is an important first step.

Be sure to seek representation from an attorney who is experienced, well-resourced, and dedicated to your case.

An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to guide you along the legal process and ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation for the losses that you have suffered.

Defective Pressure Cooker Lawsuits: What Are The Potential Damages?

If you have suffered any sort of injury related to a defective pressure cooker, you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer.

Damages refer to the total amount of losses, economic and non-economic, incurred as a result of an accident or injury.

TorHoerman Law’s defective pressure cooker attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve.

Potential damages that can be recovered include:

• Permanent scarring and disfigurement that comes with serious burns
• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and future wages
• Emotional damages
• Permanent disability
• Property damage
• Punitive damages

TorHoerman Law: Your Instapot Lawyers

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries or severe burns after your pressure cooker exploded, you may be eligible to file an Instapot Lawsuit against the manufacturer.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case consultation.

You can also use our chatbot to receive a free, instant online case evaluation and find out if you qualify for a Defective Pressure Cooker Lawsuit today.

TorHoerman Law has a team of experienced product liability attorneys ready to serve you.

To date, our firm has won more than $4 billion in verdicts and negotiated settlements for our clients.

We operate on a contingency fee basis, so we are always committed to getting the best results possible for our clients.