Lawsuits Filed Over ‘Exploding’ Samsung Washing Machines

Samsung is having a very bad year. First reports of their cell phones bursting into flames began accumulating. Now their high-tech washing machines are exploding. In the past year more than 20 people have reported their machine bursting apart.

A federal class-action lawsuit already has been filed against the company over the property damage caused by the violent explosions, however, the effects of the blowouts are so serious the company could be open to personal injury lawsuits, too, if users are hurt in the explosions. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has already warned of possible “impact injuries.” Samsung, in a statement, spoke of the potential for “personal injury.” And the nonprofit Consumer Reports suspended its recommendation of top-loading Samsung washing machines. The class action suit contends 11 Samsung models are potentially hazardous.

In addition to claiming Samsung is selling defective and dangerous products, lawyers argue that the company “has moved aggressively to collect and destroy all evidence of the defective machines.”

The class action lawsuit involves plaintiffs in Texas, Georgia and Indiana, but a separate lawsuit against the company also was filed in New Jersey. Some washing machine owners have described the occurrences that prompted the lawsuits as “like a bomb going off.” One Georgia mom said her toddler son was playing nearby when her washing machine burst apart. Another woman reported a piece of the washer blowing through the roof. Yet another appliance owner said the explosion sent metal shrapnel shooting down her hallway, blasting holes in the walls of her home. One woman said the concussion of the top-loading machine blew off the lid, threw the internal drum out and behind the machine and toppled the washer onto it’s side.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim Samsung has known about the problem for years, but did nothing to remedy it or warn consumers. The suit claims when heavy loads are placed in the machines, they vibrate violently, causing the inner drum to unfasten, “resulting in a dramatic centrifugal explosion that destroys the machine and nearby property.”

After the lawsuit was filed, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a statement about the washing machines. The agency said it was actively “working with Samsung to address safety issues related to certain top-load washing machines made between March 2011 and April 2016.” The commission advised owners that when washing heavy loads, they should use only the delicate cycles until they figure out how to fix the problem. “The lower spin speed in the delicate cycle lessens the risk of impact injuries or property damage due to the washing machine becoming dislodged.”

In it’s own statement, Samsung said: “In rare cases, affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items.”

If you have been injured or a loved killed due to a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the offices of trial attorneys Charles Gilman and Briggs Bedigian at 866-849-9899 or contact them online. The firm handles cases in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.