DETROIT - Pressure cookers have become a popular and useful kitchen appliance. They are designed to speed of the time to cook slow dishes slow cook dishes. They can often reduce cooking times by 50% and retain nutrients well, which makes them a fast and healthy way to prepare meals.

Pressure cookers are sold both online and at retail stores. There are several major brands, including Instant Pot, Presto, Ninja, Tristar, Hawkins, Crock-Pot, and T-fal. Many big box chain stores sell them, including Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Menards, and Lowes. They are often given as wedding and engagement gifts, or for other special occasions.

While these cookers prepare food both healthy and fast, there have been serious injuries caused by their use. The cookers can cause the hot liquid and food to “explode” on a person either using the apparatus or in close proximity to it. The high pressure of the cooker is often the culprit.

One explanation for pressure cooker explosions is that they allow pressure to trap inside them with no way of seeping out our escaping the appliance. This causes significant pressure inside the product. When the lid is opened, this pressure can cause the food to explode onto a person in the vicinity. Other causes of the exploding cooker injuries include alleged faulty parts and other defects.

The injuries reported from pressure cooker explosions are usually burns from the hot contents in the cooker. Primarily, these burns occur on the face, arms, chest, and torso of the victim. Serious injuries to the eyes can also happen from an explosion. These injuries can lead to hospitalization, extensive medical care, plastic surgery, and permanent disfigurements.

Several lawsuits have already been filed by consumers harmed by pressure cooker devices. Lawsuits, in general, allege that the company sold a defective product and failed to warn consumers about the serious hazards of the cooker. Lawsuit allegations include that:

• Negligence in designing, manufacturing and testing the pressure cooker – especially since there were “safer alternative designs” available

• Failure to prevent the “sudden and unexpected explosion” of the cooker’s contents, even when the consumer uses the product according to the instructions

• Failure to provide proper and adequate warnings and instructions with its pressure cooker

• Makers knew or should have known that the cooker was not fit for use

In addition to suing the manufacturer in a product liability suit, cases can often be filed against the retailer or seller of the cooker. Allegations in those suits include breach of warranty and violations of consumer codes. Many suits include both the manufacturer and seller.

Pressure cooker lawsuits seek two types of damages. First, the lawsuits seek compensation for the pain and suffering, fright and shock, scarring and disfigurement, and other types of non-economic claims. The suits also seek economic losses, which are compensation for medical bills and lost wages.

It is important for you to preserve the cooker that caused your injury. And, if you have the store receipt or credit card bill to prove both the purchase and purchase date it will be helpful in your case. Finally, try to locate the original packaging and product instructions if you saved them.

All states have statute of limitations for filing lawsuits. The time deadlines vary from state to state so it is important that you contact an experienced defective products attorney as soon as possible after the incident. This will avoid missing deadlines that might limit your ability to sue the manufacturer or retailer that sold you the product.