Over 100 claims have been filed against the makers of NutriBullet alleging the machine malfunctions and explodes under normal use, causing first degree burns, severe cuts, and even knocking out teeth. Most of these claims have been filed as product defect cases, with at least 22 lawsuits actively pending, but a recent lawsuit filed is the only pending class action, claiming that the product violates federal and state consumer protection laws, as well as warranty laws. This class action includes all NutriBullet blenders manufactured after January 1, 2007.
Pressure Is the Bullet in NutriBullet CaseThe facts leading up to the injury are the same in almost every NutriBullet case. The plaintiffs have used the NutriBullet in the way it was intended — to blend solids and liquids according to the directions, including no hot foods, for less than a minute. Then either one of two things happens. In some instances, the blender’s canister pressurizes until it separates from the other parts, spewing out its contents everywhere. This causes severe burns because even if the contents were originally cold, since the heat from the blender’s fast spinning blades can make the ingredients scalding hot. In other cases, the buildup of pressure can send the blade assembly flying after the blender’s lid is removed following normal use. This causes severe lacerations and even teeth to be knocked out, since the blade assembly is hurled with great force and is sharp.
Prior Warnings on NutriBullet
Since the product debuted in 2007, over 40 million units have been sold worldwide. But not without warning. In 2014, Consumer Reports recommended consumers not buy one model, the NutriBullet Pro 900, after noticing blades cracked during a durability test. Consumer Reports lifted the warning two years later after NutriBullet made the machine’s blades thicker.
The jury is still out on the average settlement or award in the individual lawsuits, though filings show that plaintiffs are asking from $6,000 to $75,000. Amounts will vary depending on the events leading up to the injury and the injury itself, as well as loss of past and future wages and pain and suffering.
If you have been injured while using a NutriBullet, contact a product liability attorney, who can hear the facts of your particular case and give you an estimated value for your potential lawsuit.