Defective Flammable Clothing Materials: What You Need to Know

Burn injuries are life-long and can be debilitating.

If you have suffered an accident involving your clothing catching fire and sustained severe injuries, do not be quick to blame yourself.

It is possible that your flame-resistant or fire-retardant clothing did protect you from injury.

The clothing may have been defective, or the appropriate materials were not used in manufacturing.

Clothing that fails to meet federal standards can intensify burn injuries. If this is the case, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. 

Regulations for Flammable Materials

The Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA), administered through the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), regulates flammable clothing.

The CPSC has the power to issue flammability standards for clothing textiles. The CPSC may also issue product recalls if a product does not meet their standards.

These standards are based upon the type of fabrics and fibers used in the clothing manufacturing process. 

Types of Flammable Materials

The Consumer Product Safety Commission classifies flammable fabrics into three categories:

1. Normal flammability (Class 1);
2. Intermediate flammability (Class 2); and
3. Rapid and intense burning (Class 3).

Class 3 products are highly regulated and prohibited from being used for clothing in the United States. 

In addition to regulating the types of fabric a manufacturer uses, the CPCS also considers the type of fibers used in the fabric and whether the fibers can easily ignite or cause product defects. 

How to Prove Liability

For a successful flammable clothing lawsuit, there must be an injury associated with flammable articles of clothing.

If an injury occurred, proving liability against an individual or entity within a clothing product’s chain of distribution is imperative.

Negligence

One avenue of proving liability is on the basis of negligence.

To prove negligence, you must demonstrate that an individual or entity violated certain regulations pertaining to flammable clothing or that they failed to meet their standard of care.

Clothing manufacturers are legally obligated to keep you safe by making clothing that is in compliance with the Flammable Fabrics Act.

If an individual or entity makes clothing that does not pass the flame resistance and durability tests set forth by the CPSC, they have breached their standard of care and may be sued on the basis of negligence. 

Product Liability

An injured party could also sue the manufacturer for product liability based on a design or manufacturing defect or inadequate product warnings or instructions.

Common defects include:

• Toxic chemicals used during the manufacturing process;
• Use of highly flammable material;

• Lack of warnings of flammable material;
• False claims that the material is non-flammable;
• Choking hazards, and
• Strangulation hazards.

The most common type of defect is the use of flammable materials. Your legal representative can provide more guidance on whether product liability applies to your case. 

Who Can Be Held Liable?

After proving that negligence or product liability applies, the next step is determining who is liable.

The following individuals or entities could be held liable:

• Retail sellers or clothing store owners;
• A designer or manufacturer, and
• A distributor or wholesaler. 

In particular, liability can be found when a retailer knowingly sells articles of clothing that are dangerous or fails to remove defective clothing from their shelves.

Manufacturers that use defective flammable clothing materials or distributors who continue to ship flammable clothing to retailers are other examples of potentially liable entities.

Recent Recalls

The Red League Recalls Children’s Pajamas

In April 2022, the CPSC recalled children’s pajamas sold by The Red League, a New York-based company, after their material failed to meet the federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear.

The inadequate material poses a risk of burn injuries in children. Consumers should immediately take the recalled pajamas away from children and contact The Red League to return the pajamas for a refund.  

Richie House Recalls Children’s Robes

The CPSC recently recalled Richie House’s “A Memory In” children’s robe due to the company’s failure to meet the flammability standards for children’s sleepwear.

The Commission cited a risk of burn injuries to children.

Consumers should immediately take the recalled robes away from children and contact Richie House for a full refund.

Walmart and Richie House are directly contacting all known purchasers.

Did You Suffer an Injury from Flammable Clothing? Contact an Attorney

If you or your child suffered a burn injury from flammable clothing, such as a Red League or Richie House product, we can help.

Further, if you were burned while wearing fire-resistant or fire-retardant clothing, our knowledgeable team of attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

We are experienced trial lawyers and prepare every case with the expectation that it will reach the jury’s hands.

To learn more about the laws and requirements to file a flammable clothing lawsuit in Texas, contact Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP immediately to request a case evaluation.