Pressure Cooker Explosion: Know Your Rights to Compensation for Burn Injuries

Did you know that fire departments across the U.S. respond to an estimated average of 172,900 home structure fires caused by cooking activities annually? While pressure cookers are designed for convenience and speed, a significant number of injuries occur each year due to explosions, highlighting the importance of understanding your rights if you’ve been injured. If you’ve suffered burn injuries from a pressure cooker explosion, you may be entitled to compensation.

Why Pressure Cookers Explode: Understanding the Risks

Pressure cookers work by creating a high-pressure environment that cooks food faster. However, this same pressure can turn these appliances into hazards if something goes wrong. Several factors can cause a pressure cooker to explode, including:

Defective Lid Seals: A faulty seal can lead to spills and explosions of the cooker’s contents.
Faulty Gaskets: Defective gaskets can allow the pot to open prematurely under high pressure, causing severe burns.
Inadequate Venting: If the pressure cooker doesn’t vent properly, it can explode due to excessive pressure buildup.
Defective Lid Locks: If the lid doesn’t lock correctly, it can be opened before the pressure is safely released.
Overheating: Overheating can cause the pressure inside the cooker to build up rapidly, exceeding safety limits and resulting in an explosion.
Faulty Wiring: Electrical issues can lead to malfunctions and explosions in electric pressure cookers.

These malfunctions can lead to devastating consequences, including severe thermal burns, lacerations, and even traumatic brain injuries.

Common Injuries from Pressure Cooker Explosions

Pressure cooker explosions can cause a range of injuries, with burns being the most common. These burns can vary in severity:

First-degree burns: These minor burns may result in settlements of $50,000 or less.
Second-degree burns: Settlements for second-degree burns typically range from $125,000 to $200,000.
Third-degree burns: More severe third-degree burns, especially those causing facial disfigurement or permanent scarring, can lead to settlements between $450,000 and $2,000,000.

Other injuries can include cuts from flying debris, broken bones, and eye injuries. In a study of pressure cooker burn injuries, 34.3% of patients experienced ocular injuries.

Do You Have a Right to Compensation?

If you’ve been injured by a pressure cooker explosion, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit. These lawsuits typically allege that the pressure cooker had a design defect, a manufacturing defect, or lacked adequate warnings.

Who is Liable?

Potentially liable parties include:

The manufacturer of the pressure cooker
The retailer that sold the pressure cooker (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy)
Component part manufacturers

What Compensation Can You Recover?

If you win your case, you may be able to recover compensation for:

Medical expenses (past and future)
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Scarring and disfigurement
Property damage

Recent Lawsuits and Settlements

There have been numerous lawsuits and recalls related to exploding pressure cookers. For example, in December 2024, a Colorado jury awarded a woman $55.5 million after she suffered severe burns from a Sunbeam pressure cooker explosion. In January 2026, Amazon was sued after a pressure cooker sold on its site allegedly exploded and caused serious injuries to a customer.

Several brands have faced recalls due to safety concerns, including:

Insignia (sold at Best Buy)
Sensio Bella
Sunbeam
Crock-Pot

These recalls and lawsuits highlight the ongoing risk of injury associated with defective pressure cookers.

Steps to Take If You’ve Been Injured

If you’ve been injured in a pressure cooker explosion, it’s crucial to take the following steps:

Seek Medical Attention: Your health is the top priority. Get immediate medical treatment for your burns and other injuries.
Preserve the Evidence: Keep the pressure cooker, including all its parts, and don’t attempt to repair it. This will be important evidence in your case.
Document Everything: Take photos of your injuries, the scene of the explosion, and the damaged pressure cooker. Keep records of all medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
Contact a Pressure Cooker Lawyer: An experienced attorney can evaluate your case, advise you of your legal rights, and help you pursue compensation.

Finding the Right Legal Representation

Pressure cooker explosion cases can be complex, requiring a thorough understanding of product liability law and the ability to prove that the pressure cooker was defective. Look for a lawyer with experience in product liability cases and a proven track record of success. Many attorneys handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay any fees unless they recover compensation for you.

Don’t Wait, Act Now

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective pressure cooker, don’t wait to take action. Contact a qualified personal injury attorney today to discuss your rights and explore your legal options. You may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries, pain, and suffering.