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Millions of people use electric blankets, heated throws and heating pads to stay warm through cold nights. When a manufacturer designs or builds one badly, the result can be a house fire, serious burns, electric shock or the loss of a loved one. If you were burned by a defective electric blanket or heated blanket, the product liability lawyers at The Killino Firm can investigate what went wrong and hold the responsible companies accountable. Call 878-888-7878 for a free, confidential consultation.
If a child was burned, see our child burn injury page, which covers the rules and damages that apply to injured children.
Electric blankets and heated blankets that overheat, spark or catch fire have been the subject of repeated recalls. When a fire damages property or causes injury because of a design defect, a manufacturing defect or a failure to give clear warnings, the victim may be entitled to compensation. These cases are a type of defective product claim.
A heated blanket, also called an electric blanket, passes electricity through thin, insulated wires or carbon fiber elements that are sewn into the fabric. The wires resist the flow of current, and that resistance turns electricity into heat. A control unit on the power cord sets the heat level, and many blankets also have a thermostat and an automatic shutoff timer. Many blankets take roughly 10 to 15 minutes to warm up.
There are several types. Fitted blankets go under the sheet and warm the bed from below, while over blankets sit on top of you as you sleep. Heated throws are meant for the sofa, and low-voltage or battery-powered models use a power adapter or a battery pack. Many standard blankets draw somewhere around 100 to 200 watts. Every part of this design is there for a reason, and each part is also something that can fail. If the wires are damaged, the insulation breaks down, the controller fails or the plug connection loosens, the blanket can overheat in one spot. That is when burns and fires happen.
Electric blankets and heated blankets are generally safe when they are well made, in good condition and used the way the manufacturer instructs. Newer blankets usually have better temperature controls and an automatic shutoff. The danger comes from defects and wear. Older blankets, damaged blankets and blankets without modern safety controls carry a higher risk, and some blankets sold in the past had only a single high setting that could overheat with long use, and some had no automatic shutoff at all.
A blanket that is unsafe when it is used as directed is not the user’s fault. It may be a defective product, and the manufacturer may be legally responsible. That is the basis of most electric blanket lawsuits.
For most healthy adults, using a heated blanket as directed is not harmful. Problems arise in a few situations. Sleeping for hours with a blanket on a high setting, using a damaged or bunched-up blanket, or keeping skin in constant contact with a heat source can cause burns and skin damage.
Some people should be especially careful, or avoid electric blankets altogether. People with diabetes, nerve damage or poor circulation may not feel a burn developing until it is serious. Anyone who cannot tell when the blanket is too hot, or cannot operate the controls, including infants and people with reduced mobility, is at greater risk. A wet electric blanket is dangerous, so anyone who may wet the bed should not use one. And pregnant women should ask a doctor before using an electric blanket because of concerns about overheating. Like many household appliances, electric blankets also produce low-level electric and magnetic fields, so if you have health concerns, ask your doctor. Keep pets away from electric blankets too.
If you were burned or hurt by a heated blanket, the cause may be the product and not anything you did. Our lawyers can review what happened.
The same guidance applies to people who search for electric blankets by that name. Used correctly and in good condition, they are considered safe for most people. Misuse, age and defects are what turn a comfort item into a hazard, and a blanket that has aged, been folded or washed incorrectly deserves extra attention.
Overheating is a concern during pregnancy, and many health organizations suggest limiting or avoiding electric blankets. Ask your doctor before you use one. If you are pregnant and were injured by an overheating blanket, call us to talk about your options.
Only if the blanket was made for it. Leave a blanket on all night only when it has thermostat controls or an automatic shutoff designed for overnight use, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Never leave an older blanket, or one without an automatic shutoff, running while you sleep. Fires that start at night are especially dangerous because people are asleep and slow to notice smoke. If a blanket that was sold for overnight use overheated or caught fire while you slept, keep it and call us.
Many modern heated blankets are machine washable, but only after you unplug the controller and remove it, and only if the care label says so. Never dry clean one. Washing a blanket the wrong way can damage the wires or connectors inside it, and a damaged blanket is a fire risk. If a blanket was labeled washable and the wiring failed or overheated afterward, the label itself may be part of the problem. Keep the blanket and the label.
No blanket is risk free, but the safest ones share certain features. They are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories. They have an automatic shutoff timer and overheat protection, and a thermostat or temperature control that works across the whole blanket. Some are low-voltage designs. They come with clear instructions and warnings, and they have no open recalls. Check the CPSC recall list for your brand and model before you buy and after you buy.
Electric blankets contain heating coils wrapped in insulated wires that heat up when the blanket is plugged into an outlet. Like space heaters, defectively designed electric blankets pose thermal burn and fire hazards.
Electric blankets are designed to lie flat on a bed, and the heating unit inside is controlled from the power cord. Using the blanket folded or bunched up can cause a short in the wires, and the blanket can overheat and cause a fire. Many older models do not have adequate safety controls, such as an automatic shutoff, that can prevent overheating, and some have only one “high” setting that can easily overheat with prolonged use. Electrical fires, smoldering and full flame combustion have happened far too often, and the chances increase when the product becomes worn or damaged.
Electric blanket fires are most often traced to problems in a few places. A faulty temperature controller can fail to turn the heat down or off. Heating elements can overheat when the blanket is folded, bunched or not lying flat. A plug connection can detach from the blanket and overheat, and loose connections increase the risk of a short circuit. Design defects and cheap wiring are also to blame, as are missing warnings about how long the blanket can be left on or what can be placed on top of it.
How Can I Use an Electric Blanket Safely?
Buy your blanket from a reliable source, and make sure it is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories. Avoid second-hand blankets. Replace your blanket regularly, even if there are no signs of damage or wear, and check the manufacturer’s guidance on how long it should stay in use. Then follow these electric blanket safety rules every time you use it. Keep the blanket flat, and never fold it, bunch it or tuck it in around the mattress. Do not pile pillows, blankets or other items on top of it, and do not use it on an adjustable bed, a waterbed, a recliner or a sofa bed. Unplug it when you are not using it, store it loosely rolled instead of creased, and do not use it if it is wet.
Before each use, check the blanket and the cord for danger signs. Look for wires visible or poking through the fabric, scorch marks or discolored areas, frayed or worn fabric, damage to the cord between the plug and the control or between the control and the blanket, a control that buzzes when switched on or gives off an odor, and a connector, where the cord plugs into the blanket, that is damaged or overheating. Stop using the blanket right away if you see any of these signs, and keep it. It may be important evidence.
Yes. Heating pad fires do not just occur at home. They also occur in hospitals and nursing homes. The Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes safety information on heating pads because of the hazards of this everyday item. If a heating pad or heated throw injured you or a family member, the same product liability rules can apply.
An electric blanket fire can cause second-degree and third-degree burns, some of which need skin grafts and leave permanent scarring and disfigurement. Smoke inhalation can cause lung injury even in people who were not burned. A defective blanket can also cause electric shock. In the most serious cases a fire can lead to amputation or death, and families who lose a loved one may have a wrongful death claim.
Manufacturers have a responsibility to protect consumers. A person seriously injured by a defective electric blanket may be able to bring a product liability claim, and The Killino Firm can investigate a potential case and pursue compensation for people harmed by unsafe products.
Manufacturers must test their products for safety, but testing alone does not guarantee a safe product. Design defects and cheap wiring have caused electric blanket fires and heating pad fires. If a manufacturer makes a product that is unsafe when used as instructed, or fails to adequately warn consumers about the dangers, it can be held responsible for the resulting injury or property damage. For example, a manufacturer may fail to warn that the product cannot be left on for a certain number of hours, or cannot be used in water or placed under bedding.
A heated blanket fire lawyer investigates the blanket, the cord and the controller, checks recall records, works with fire and electrical experts, and deals with the manufacturer and insurance companies for you. The earlier we are involved, the better the chance that the blanket and the scene are preserved as evidence.
Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include the manufacturer, the designer, the retailer and the distributor of the faulty product. Our lawyers look at the product, the warnings, the recall history and the wiring and control design to identify every company that may be liable.
A victim of an unsafe product may be awarded compensation paid by the manufacturer, designer, retailer or distributor. Depending on the case, this can include medical expenses such as burn treatment, surgery and rehabilitation, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, property damage to the home and belongings, and pain and suffering and scarring. Families who lose a loved one may also recover wrongful death damages.
Get everyone out of the home and call 911. Get medical care for burns, smoke inhalation and any other injury, even if it seems minor. When it is safe, take photos of the blanket, the cord, the controller and the damage. Do not throw the blanket away, repair it or return it to the store. Keep it in a safe place as evidence, along with the packaging, the manual, the receipt and any recall notice. Report the incident to the Consumer Product Safety Commission at cpsc.gov, and call The Killino Firm before you speak with the manufacturer or an insurance company.
Every state sets a deadline, called a statute of limitations, for filing a product liability or personal injury claim. In many states the deadline is two years from the injury, but it varies by state and by the facts. Waiting can also make evidence harder to preserve. Contact us as soon as you can so we can tell you the deadline that applies to your case.
Yes. Heated blanket recalls continue to be announced, so search your brand and model on the CPSC site. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued several electric blanket recalls over the past decade for problems such as faulty temperature controllers, heating elements that overheat when the blanket is not flat, plug connections that detach from the blanket and lead to overheating, and loose connections that increase the risk of a short circuit and fire.
In May 2018, Supervalu and Centra recalled Daewoo branded single and double electric blankets because of a fire safety risk. The company stated that a manufacturing defect may cause the blanket to spark or catch fire. In March 2018, Shop LC recalled 1,650 electric heated micro plush flannel Sherpa throw blankets because the heating coils could overheat and pose fire and burn hazards. In February 2018, Rural King recalled 9,600 electric heated blankets and throws because the electric cord can overheat and catch fire. Two reports involved fires and one involved a burn injury to a customer. The blankets were sold at Rural King stores nationwide and online from October 2017 through December 2017. In March 2015, the CPSC reported malfunctions with Biddeford electric blankets, including a blanket that caught fire while in use.
Read more on our product recalls page. A recall does not remove your right to pursue a claim if you were injured.
Yes. Manufacturers have developed many designs and safety mechanisms to reduce fire risk, but many of these fixes have not been effective. There have been reports of the safety device itself causing a fire by overheating. If a blanket’s warnings did not tell users about the risk of using it folded, bunched or for long periods, that failure to warn can be a basis for a claim.
In a lawsuit involving an elderly woman, a federal court found that a Sunbeam electric blanket was defective. She was sleeping under the blanket when it caught fire. She spent five months in the hospital recovering from burns and had part of her arm amputated. These cases show how one defective blanket can cause life-changing injuries. If you or a loved one was injured or killed because of a defective electric blanket, The Killino Firm can help you hold those responsible accountable.
Call The Killino Firm at 878-888-7878 or contact us online for a no cost, no obligation, confidential consultation. We will review how the fire or burn happened and explain your options.
We contacted this firm when our son suffered a birth injury. They listened to our potential case and took us on. They helped us all the way through the process, always took my calls and questions. Killino is very passionate about his work and it felt like he was upset for our son like he was his own child. The paralegal, Kayla, was always on top of things and helpful. The whole firm that we worked with really did their best for us and now we have what we need to care for our son. We couldn’t be more grateful.
Jeff and his team at Killino Law Firm are truly exceptional! They took on my daughter’s challenging case when no one else would, and their dedication, expertise, and compassion made all the difference. Thanks to their amazing work, we can now take care of our daughter for the rest of her life. Jeff handled everything with professionalism and kept us informed every step of the way. If you’re in need of a personal injury & accident lawyer, look no further—Jeff is your guy. I can’t recommend him and his exceptional team enough!
The Killino firm is an excellent firm that tirelessly advocates on behalf of their clients. I’ve come across a lot of great personal injury attorneys in my time and simply put, Killino is the best.
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In the aftermath of a wrongful death or catastrophic injury, particularly those involving babies and children, victims and their families are forced into the new “normal”. Their lives are often characterized by multiple facets of struggle; physical, medical and financial. The worry and stress can be unbearable. But, that is where the Killino Firm steps in.
Time and again for over two decades Jeffrey Killino has changed the lives of his clients and their families with recoveries that will provide for all future medical care and day to day needs. The Killino Firm clients are regularly purchasing new homes and vehicles; securing much needed medical care and assistance; and sleeping better at night know there are millions of dollars to take care of them for the rest of their lives.
Yes, the Killino Firm regularly secures multi-million dollar settlements and/or verdicts, however, we measure our true success in terms of how we change our clients’ lives. The Killino Firm is dedicated to its clients and their plight. After the cases are over, the Killino Firm stays involved and available to it’s clients as the journey continues.
At the Killino Firm we care about our clients and we care about our community, which is why from time to time when we uncover a hazard or danger with the potential to harm others, the Killino Firm takes action to alert the public and appropriate regulatory authorities.
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