Faulty Consumer Electronics & Appliances Claims
We expect the products we bring into our homes to work safely—especially when they’re things we rely on every day, like kettles, heaters, phones, or chargers. But when something goes wrong with a faulty appliance or electronic device, the consequences can be serious. Fires, electric shocks, burns, or property damage can happen in seconds and often without warning.
At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we’ve spent over 20 years helping individuals and families in Tallaght and across Dublin when unexpected injuries or damage were caused by products that simply weren’t safe. You’re not expected to know every technical detail about what went wrong—but if a product failed and caused harm, you may have the right to take action.
We understand how upsetting and disruptive these incidents can be. That’s why we take the time to listen, explain your options clearly, and guide you through each step. You’ll speak directly with a local solicitor who’ll handle your case thoroughly and personally, from start to finish. Contact us to help you get the answers and the support you deserve.
What You Can Claim For
Consumer electronics and household appliances are part of nearly every home in Ireland. From kettles and phone chargers to tumble dryers, e-scooters, and space heaters, we rely on these products without a second thought. Most of the time, they work as expected. But when something goes wrong—especially due to a hidden fault—the outcome can be more than inconvenient. It can be dangerous.
Faulty or poorly manufactured appliances can cause a range of serious incidents, including electrical fires, explosions, burns, or electrocution. Unlike many workplace injuries or road traffic accidents, these events often happen in domestic, familiar environments—kitchens, bedrooms, utility rooms—where people assume they’re safe. This makes the consequences even more disruptive, particularly for families with children or elderly relatives.
Some of the most common issues we see in faulty product claims involve:
- Overheating lithium-ion batteriesin phones, power banks, e-cigarettes, or e-scooters
- Faulty wiring or short circuitsin kettles, toasters, heaters, or Christmas lights
- Unstable heating elementsin tumble dryers or ovens, leading to fire outbreaks
- Non-compliant chargerswith counterfeit parts or poorly insulated plugs
- Poorly manufactured deviceslacking essential safety cut-offs or warning labels
These faults can lead to:
- First- and second-degree burns
- Electric shockinjuries, sometimes with nerve or muscular impact
- Smoke inhalationrequiring hospitalisation
- Fire damageto personal belongings, fixtures, or entire rooms
- Psychological stressand anxiety, especially when homes must be vacated or temporarily uninhabitable
Even when physical injuries are minor, the disruption and financial impact can be significant. Clothing, furniture, flooring, and devices may be lost. Families might have to relocate. Insurance excess costs and delays can add further pressure. And in many cases, the incident was avoidable—had the product been properly designed, tested, or manufactured.
It’s important to understand that under Irish law, the responsibility doesn’t lie with the consumer to “spot” these risks in advance. The law expects products placed on the market to be safe for their intended use. If a failure occurs during normal use—and causes injury or damage—you may have legal grounds to bring a claim.
What Makes a Product Legally Defective?
In Ireland, defective product claims are governed by the Liability for Defective Products Act, 1991. This law allows injured parties to bring a claim without needing to prove fault or negligence. Instead, it relies on a principle known as strict liability. If a product is found to be defective and causes harm, the producer or supplier can be held legally responsible—even if they weren’t directly careless.
What Counts as a ‘Defective’ Product?
A product is considered legally defective if it fails to provide the level of safety the public is generally entitled to expect, taking all circumstances into account. This includes:
- The presentationof the product (including packaging, instructions, or warnings)
- The intended or foreseeable useof the product
- The time it was placed on the market(safety standards evolve)
This means that a product doesn’t have to be broken to be defective. If it lacks clear warnings, is unsafe under normal usage, or contains an undiscovered fault that causes harm, it may meet the legal threshold.
Types of Product Defects That Lead to Claims
- Design Defects:These occur when the product was manufactured according to plan, but the design itself is unsafe. For example:
- A hair dryer with vents that trap hair too easily
- A plug-in heater with a balance issue, prone to tipping and igniting nearby materials
- A charger designed without proper surge protection
- Manufacturing Defects:These happen when something goes wrong during production. The item may have been designed properly, but the particular unit you received had a fault. Examples include:
- A blender with loose internal wiring
- A kettle with a faulty power switch
- A dryer with a misfitted heating element
- Marketing Defects (Failure to Warn):Sometimes, a product doesn’t include sufficient safety instructions or warnings. A product might be dangerous if not used correctly, and the manufacturer or importer has a duty to say so. For example:
- No guidance about not leaving a heater plugged in overnight
- Lack of warning that a phone charger isn’t compatible with certain high-voltage sockets
- Poor translations or missing warning labels on imported items
Who Can Be Held Liable?
- Manufacturers– whether based in Ireland or abroad
- Importers or distributors– particularly important when products are sourced outside the EU
- Retailers– if the manufacturer can’t be traced
- Online platforms, in some cases, where they operate as direct sellers rather than third-party hosts
Does It Matter If the Product Was a Gift or Second-Hand?
Not always. If a defective product causes injury during normal use—regardless of whether it was bought new, received as a gift, or used in a shared household—you may still have grounds for a claim. The law doesn’t require ownership, only that you were injured or affected as a result of using the product.Types of Product Defects That Lead to Claims
- Design Defects:These occur when the product was manufactured according to plan, but the design itself is unsafe. For example:
- A hair dryer with vents that trap hair too easily
- A plug-in heater with a balance issue, prone to tipping and igniting nearby materials
- A charger designed without proper surge protection
- Manufacturing Defects:These happen when something goes wrong during production. The item may have been designed properly, but the particular unit you received had a fault. Examples include:
- A blender with loose internal wiring
- A kettle with a faulty power switch
- A dryer with a misfitted heating element
- Marketing Defects (Failure to Warn):Sometimes, a product doesn’t include sufficient safety instructions or warnings. A product might be dangerous if not used correctly, and the manufacturer or importer has a duty to say so. For example:
- No guidance about not leaving a heater plugged in overnight
- Lack of warning that a phone charger isn’t compatible with certain high-voltage sockets
- Poor translations or missing warning labels on imported items
Legal Time Limits and Why Early Action Matters
In Ireland, product liability claims—whether for injury or property damage—are subject to strict legal time limits. Understanding these limits is essential, as missing them can leave you without any legal recourse, no matter how serious the defect or injury.
The general rule is that you have three years from the date of injury, or from the date you first became aware (or should have become aware) that the injury was linked to a defective product. This is known as the “date of knowledge” rule. It applies in cases where the harm wasn’t immediately obvious, such as when a slow-developing electrical burn becomes infected, or when an appliance causes hidden structural damage only discovered later.
In addition to the three-year rule, the law also imposes a ten-year long-stop limit from the time the product was first placed on the market. This means that even if you discover an injury today, you generally cannot bring a claim if the product in question has been on sale for more than ten years—regardless of how recently you purchased or used it. This can be especially relevant for older electronics or appliances purchased second-hand or installed in a property some years ago.
Because of these limitations, delaying action can be risky. Evidence may be lost or destroyed. Retailers may no longer carry records of the item. Online listings can disappear. Manufacturers may issue recalls or safety warnings you were unaware of. Most importantly, insurers or legal teams representing the other side may argue that the cause of the injury cannot be reliably traced back to the product, especially if no physical evidence remains.
To protect your position, it’s important to act quickly and document what you can. Helpful early steps include:
- Retaining the product (if safe to do so)
- Taking photographs of the damage and injuries
- Seeking medical attention and requesting records
- Noting the date, time, and circumstances of the incident
- Contacting a solicitor to secure advice and preserve key evidence
Even if you’re unsure whether your claim qualifies under these time limits, an early conversation with a solicitor can clarify your options and help you avoid being timed out of a valid claim.
What You Can Claim For
Amputation is more than a single moment in time—it creates ongoing needs, costs, and adjustments that affect almost every part of daily life. When we work with clients in Tallaght and across Dublin, our focus is on helping them secure the support they need to move forward, both financially and practically.
If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, the law allows you to pursue compensation. But what does that actually cover? Below, we break it down in plain terms.
Medical and Rehabilitation Expenses
After an amputation, there are often significant medical and recovery-related costs, including:
- Surgery (including corrective or reconstructive procedures)
- Private physiotherapy and occupational therapy
- Ongoing consultations with specialists
- Pain management and mental health support
- Skin grafts, stump care, and infection prevention
Even if some of these are provided through the HSE, private treatment is often faster or more comprehensive—particularly for rehabilitation.
Home and Vehicle Modifications
If your home or transport no longer suits your mobility, changes may be required. We’ve helped clients recover the costs of:
- Wheelchair-accessible entrances, bathrooms, or lifts
- Stairlifts, widened doorways, or grab rails
- Adapted vehicles with hand controls or wheelchair access
- Domestic assistance during recovery or ongoing support
These adjustments are not luxuries—they’re essential to preserving independence.
Prosthetics and Equipment
Prosthetics are not one-time purchases. They must be maintained, adjusted, and replaced as your needs change. You may be entitled to claim for:
- Initial prosthesis (e.g., leg, arm, hand)
- Replacement limbs over the course of your life
- Specialist prosthetics for sport, water, or workplace use
- Residual limb protectors and liners
- Training in how to use and maintain prosthetics
For some clients, multiple prosthetic options are needed—one for daily use and another for work or exercise. These are real, valid expenses.
Pain, Suffering, and Quality of Life
Lastly, compensation recognises the personal impact of what you’ve endured. This includes:
- Long-term pain or phantom limb discomfort
- Loss of mobility, freedom, or hobbies
- Impact on relationships, intimacy, or social life
- Mental and emotional strain
We take time to understand your full picture so the claim reflects you, not just your injury.
Loss of Earnings and Future Income
Amputation often leads to:
- Extended time off work
- Need to change careers or work fewer hours
- Reduced earning potential for life
If your injury affects your ability to work—or forces an early retirement—you may be entitled to recover those losses as part of your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring a claim if I didn’t buy the product myself?
Yes. You don’t need to be the person who bought the appliance in order to bring a claim. If you were injured or affected while using the product as intended—or simply present when the incident occurred—you may still have a valid case. This includes visitors, tenants, and family members.
What if the product was a gift?
You can still bring a claim. The law focuses on whether the product was defective and caused harm—not whether you paid for it. If the item was gifted and later failed during use, you may still be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer or importer.
Do I still have a case if the product was second-hand or bought online?
Potentially, yes. Claims involving second-hand products depend on several factors, including how old the item is, who sold it, and whether it had been tampered with or misrepresented. If the appliance was purchased from a reputable seller, they may still be liable under product safety laws. For online purchases, we’ll also assess whether the seller operated within the EU or was subject to Irish legal standards.
What if the item worked for a while before failing?
That’s not unusual, and it doesn’t disqualify your claim. Many appliances develop faults after weeks or months of use. The key question is whether the product failed during normal, intended use. If it caused injury or damage due to a design flaw, manufacturing defect, or lack of proper warning, a claim may still succeed.
Do I need to keep the appliance to make a claim?
Keeping the item can strengthen your case, especially if it can be assessed by an expert. But it’s not strictly required. If the appliance was discarded for safety reasons, photos, receipts, repair records, and witness accounts can still provide a solid foundation. Your solicitor can also assist in gathering additional evidence or tracing the product batch through supplier records.
Speak to a Local Solicitor About Your Faulty Product Claim
If you’ve been injured or your home has been damaged by a faulty appliance or device, you don’t have to deal with it alone. At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, you’ll speak directly with a solicitor who understands these claims and will guide you clearly from the start. We’ve been supporting individuals and families across Tallaght and Dublin for over 20 years. Get in touch today for practical advice.