Space Heaters

Space Heater Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles

Defective Space Heater Fires Demand More Than an Ordinary Injury Claim

A malfunctioning space heater can do what most small appliances cannot: ignite a structure fire within minutes. Beyond direct contact burns, defective units can cause smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning from unvented gas models, and total property loss. These cases require the kind of product investigation that traces a fire back to a specific engineering failure inside the unit itself.

Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation is a nationally recognized product liability and catastrophic injury trial firm based in Los Angeles, representing victims and families across the United States. Founded by U.S. Army veteran and trial lawyer David R. Shoop, our firm concentrates on complex cases involving defective consumer products, severe burn injuries, and corporate misconduct. If a space heater fire changed your life or cost you someone you love, we want to hear from you.

Call our Los Angeles product liability attorneys at (866) 884-1717 for a complimentary consultation. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Relentlessly Pursuing the Best Possible Outcome

We've Recovered Hundreds of Millions for Our Clients

$30m Product Liability Verdict
$24m Wrongful Death Settlement
$14m Medical Device Settlement
$13.5m Personal Injury
$12m Child Wrongful Death
$11m Personal Injury

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Trial Results That Reflect What These Cases Demand

Product liability litigation against major manufacturers requires real resources and a willingness to take a case to verdict. Our firm has recovered more than $600 million in verdicts and settlements for victims of dangerous products. David Shoop secured a $30 million product liability verdict in Los Angeles County (BC594187) and $54 million in product liability settlements. A separate jury returned a $5,036,489 verdict in a bad faith insurance case, including $3.5 million in punitive damages.

The National Law Journal has recognized Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation for achieving some of the largest product liability and wrongful death verdicts in the country. David Shoop has been selected to the National Trial Lawyers Civil Plaintiff Top 100 Trial Lawyers in California. These results reflect the preparation and commitment we bring to every matter we accept.

Call (866) 884-1717 to schedule your consultation today, or get in touch with us online using our easy-to-use online contact form.

How We Reconstruct a Space Heater Failure

Proving that a heater was defective, not simply misused, demands methodical investigation. We work with fire cause-and-origin investigators who apply NFPA 921 standards, the peer-reviewed methodology used by fire marshals, insurance investigators, and courts to determine how and where a fire started. We also engage product testing engineers, biomechanical analysts, and accident reconstruction professionals who can identify whether a design or manufacturing failure created the hazard.

Before representing victims, David Shoop litigated multi-million-dollar cases on behalf of large corporations and insurers. That background shapes how we anticipate a manufacturer’s defense before it surfaces, and how we respond to it. We have also handled matters involving U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission investigations, navigating the regulatory record that often accompanies recalled or flagged products.

When a Space Heater Becomes Legally Defective

Federal regulations require automatic tip-over shutoffs on electric and kerosene space heaters and guarding around heating coils or burners. Unvented gas models must also include an oxygen depletion sensor that shuts the unit down before carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels. On the voluntary side, UL 1278 is the industry safety standard that electric space heaters are tested against before reaching consumers.

When those safeguards are absent, inadequate, or improperly implemented, a product liability claim may arise under one of three theories:

Design defect: The heater’s basic design lacks an adequate shutoff mechanism or protective guard, making the entire product line dangerous.
Manufacturing defect: A specific unit left the factory with faulty wiring or substandard, flammable materials not consistent with the approved design.
Failure to warn: The manufacturer provided inadequate warnings about fire or burn risks, leaving consumers without information they needed to use the product safely.

Recent CPSC Recalls Illustrate the Problem

Defective space heater recalls aren’t rare events. Two recent examples show how serious the failures can be.

In November 2024, GoveeLife and Govee recalled approximately 512,500 smart electric space heaters after wireless control features caused overheating and fire in at least seven reported incidents. Testing confirmed the heaters didn’t comply with UL 1278.

In June 2026, Vornado recalled more than 255,000 SRTH tower heaters after a fan blade could detach from the motor shaft, causing the unit to overheat and potentially ignite. If you own either product, check the CPSC recall database for remediation steps and preserve the unit if you’ve already experienced an incident.

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Our Impressive Track Record We Win...A Lot!

In the last 14 years, Shoop & team's impressive track record includes hundreds of Product Liability cases resulting in verdicts or settlements exceeding $1 million. For a Product Liability team with an exemplary track record, clients choose Shoop.

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Who Bears Responsibility for a Defective Space Heater in California

The manufacturer is the most obvious defendant, but California product liability law reaches further. Every party in the chain of sale, including the distributor and retailer that sold the unit, can be held responsible when a defective product causes injury. In rental housing situations, a landlord who provided a defective heater or failed to address a known hazard may also face liability.

California applies strict liability to defective product claims. An injured person doesn’t need to prove the manufacturer was careless. The claim requires showing that the product was defective and that the defect caused the harm. This distinction matters in space heater fire cases, where a manufacturer may argue that reasonable care was taken during production even as a dangerous unit reached the market.

Our firm has experience with CPSC investigations and the regulatory record those proceedings generate, which can be significant evidence in litigation. We coordinate cases in California and across the country, including Texas, New York, Florida, and Arizona, pursuing claims wherever they need to go.

Compensation & How We Handle These Cases

Defective space heater claims can support compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage. In cases involving a fatal fire, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim. The full scope of recoverable damages depends on the facts of the incident and the nature of the injuries involved.

We don’t take every case that comes through the door. We evaluate each matter carefully, preserve physical and documentary evidence early, and prepare every case as though it will be tried before a jury. That approach, combined with the financial and technical resources to sustain complex litigation, can make the difference between a meaningful result and a rushed settlement.

Talk to Our Firm About Your Space Heater Injury Case

If a defective space heater caused a fire, a burn, or a fatality in your household, the window to preserve evidence and protect your claim is short. We offer complimentary consultations and represent clients on a contingency basis. You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

Injuries a Defective Space Heater Can Cause

Not every space heater incident looks the same. The range of harm depends on the type of unit, how quickly the failure escalated, and whether others were present in the structure. Common injuries in these cases include:

Thermal burns: From direct contact with an overheating surface, open flame, or radiant heat
Smoke inhalation: Resulting from a fire that spreads beyond the heater itself
Carbon monoxide poisoning: Associated with unvented gas heaters operating in enclosed spaces
Electric shock: From faulty wiring or damaged components
Structure fire losses: Property destruction when the unit ignites surrounding materials

If any of these describe what happened to you or a family member, the cause may be traceable to a defect in the unit rather than how it was used.

Steps to Take After a Space Heater Fire or Burn

What you do in the days following an incident can significantly affect a product liability claim. Preserve the damaged heater and all its components, and don’t discard the unit even if it’s badly damaged. Photograph the heater, the surrounding scene, and any injuries as thoroughly as possible. Seek medical attention promptly, both for your health and to create a documented record of your injuries.

Check the model number against CPSC recall records at cpsc.gov, and document any recall information you find. Then contact a product liability attorney before speaking with any insurance representative from the manufacturer or retailer. Early legal involvement can help preserve the evidence chain.

Call (866) 884-1717 to speak with our Los Angeles product liability attorneys about a space heater fire or burn injury claim. We can evaluate your case.

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How long do I have to file a lawsuit?

Deadlines vary by state. Acting quickly is essential to preserve evidence and comply with the applicable statute of limitations.
Do I still have a case if the heater has been thrown away?

Preserving the product is ideal, but other forms of evidence such as fire reports, witness testimony, photographs, or purchase records can still support a claim. Speak with an attorney as soon as possible so the investigation can begin.
What if I already filed a property insurance claim?

Filing a claim with your insurance company does not prevent you from pursuing a lawsuit against the manufacturer. You may still recover compensation for personal injuries, wrongful death, and other losses not covered by insurance.
Can I bring a lawsuit if the heater had warning labels?

Yes. Warning labels do not excuse a dangerous design or a manufacturer’s failure to provide adequate warnings.

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