Eclipse Glasses Fail to Meet Safety Standards
The total solar eclipse was an exciting event that filled the news and created numerous opportunities for retailers. Some Amazon vendors “cashed in” on the excitement by selling eclipse glasses and other items advertised as solar-viewing products. But recent concerns over safety standards have led to full refunds and product returns.
Numerous Amazon retailers offered solar eclipse glasses for sale, advertising their use for safe viewing of the eclipse. As reported by Slate, many consumers who purchased the glasses recently received emails offering a full refund of their money. These actions reportedly occurred in response to reports of counterfeit eclipse glasses. In late July, the American Astronomical Society began posting warnings about the production of fake eclipse glasses. In order for these products to truly prevent eye injury, they must meet specific safety guidelines. According to the organization, several retailers were manufacturing glasses that did not meet these standards and fraudulently selling them to the public.
Though Amazon did not mandate return of the glasses, the company did offer refunds. They also placed a notification on their website, stating that all currently offered solar viewing products must comply with proper safety standards. Vendors are now required to provide documentation about the manufacturing process, as well as inspection results to prove that the glasses were tested at an accredited laboratory.
The liability of retailers for defective products
Under certain circumstances, a product retailer or distributor may be held liable for injuries caused by a defective product. If the retailer improperly advertised the product for an unintended use or made warranties about its safety, it may be liable for resulting injuries.
Product liability claims are not easy to navigate without the assistance of an experienced Atlanta product liability attorney. There are numerous factors to consider and legal elements that must be proven in order to secure a recovery. Nevertheless, these civil claims can be effective at providing defective product victims with compensation for their injuries. Even if the injured party was not the actual purchaser of the product, or was injured when someone else was using the product, there may still be grounds for a viable product liability claim against the retailer.
At Harris Lowry Manton LLP, our lawyers have successfully handled the complexities of numerous product liability cases, even helping one family obtain a $40 million-dollar judgment on behalf of a woman and her spouse in regard to the faulty design of her Ford Explorer. To discuss your injuries and your legal options, call us in Atlanta at 404-961-7650, in Savannah at 912-651-9967, or complete our contact form.
Harris Lowry Manton LLP is a dedicated full-service trial law firm. Our Georgia personal injury lawyers fight for the injured throughout every step of the legal process. We explain how litigation works from the moment you come into one of our offices in Atlanta or Savannah until your case is solved. Our legal team has achieved remarkable success because we leave no stone unturned when investigating our client’ claims and what should have been done to prevent their injuries. We file claims against all responsible parties — not just the most obvious one.
Read more about Harris Lowry Manton LLP.