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Editor's Letter

Taking a closer look at liability

The average home has 30 devices that operate on batteries. The question arises: Who pays for the damage caused by faulty batteries?

Many batteries are manufactured in countries that may not adhere to the same standards as countries in North America, leading to unintended fires and other consequences. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Stop and think for a minute — how many devices do you use on a daily basis that have batteries? Your cellphone, laptop, tablet, television remote, electric toothbrush, home robot devices and garage door opener to name a few. Then there are other devices that you might not consider — children’s toys, baby monitors, smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, electric cars, wine openers and even something as mundane as a pepper grinder.

Less than 50 years ago, the average home had two items that ran on batteries — probably a flashlight and a transistor radio. Today, homes are more likely to have at least 30 devices that require battery power.

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Patricia L. Harman

Patricia L. Harman

Patricia L. Harman is the editor-in-chief of Claims magazine, a contributing editor to PropertyCasualty360.com, and chairs the annual America's Claims Event (ACE), which focuses on providing claims professionals with cutting-edge education and networking opportunities. She covers auto, property & casualty, workers' compensation, fraud, risk and cybersecurity, and is a frequent speaker at insurance industry events. Contact her at [email protected]

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