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With the disorderly year that is 2020 so far, consumer safety issues have entered the spotlight. As brand new challenges and unforeseen circumstances dominate the US and the rest of the world, consumer safety is set to become a brand new beast in 2020.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been criticized in the past few years as civil penalties fall and product recalls reached their lowest level in 16 years in 2019. Now the need for a stronger regulator has emerged.
Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C., a professional law firm, say that consumer safety faces a watershed year.
1. Coronavirus Concerns
One aspect that must be addressed is the number of consumer safety issues that come from coronavirus related products.
News reports recently highlighted the significant number of defective virus testing kits being imported from China. Someone who is misdiagnosed due to these testing kits could find themselves with a case.
2. The Need for a Tougher Regulator
Under President Donald Trump, the CPSC has been handing out fewer civil penalties and issuing fewer product recalls on defective products. Critics say that this is not due to manufacturers getting better but the CPSC becoming softer on consumer safety.
Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C. say that this argument has a lot of merits. The lessening of protections for consumers in a variety of sectors will naturally lead to more personal injury cases and corporations believing themselves to be immune.
They are calling for tougher regulations and better enforcement to protect consumers in these difficult times.
3. A Shining Media Spotlight
A particular trend that’s expected to continue in 2020 is the burning media spotlight. Top-tier media publications are finally awakening to the dangers posed to the population by defective consumer products.
The Washington Post and investigative journalist Todd Frankel has led the charge by performing in-depth investigations into a variety of companies, including Fisher-Price. Other publications are also taking advantage of this trend.
Companies must become more attentive when it comes to consumer safety. Now they must be prepared to answer not just to shareholders and their suppliers but to the public as a whole.
4. Traditional Legal Defenses are Failing
Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C. recommends anyone injured by a product contact a defective consumer product lawyer immediately.
In the past, corporations like Amazon argued in court that they were not responsible for defective products sold by third-party sellers.
Recently, a federal appeals court ruling in Pennsylvania rejected this defense and claimed Amazon was partially liable. This is a gamechanger and could alter how companies defend themselves and open up consumers to getting the justice they deserve.
Expect major legal clashes throughout 2020 and over the next few years as companies like Amazon defend their current policies on third-party sellers.
In the meantime, consumers should be aware that these platforms don’t take responsibility for third-party sellers and their products, according to the policies found on their websites.
What are the main issues for you regarding consumer safety in 2020?