Shein Defective Products
Injured by a Product from Shein? File a Personal Injury Claim Today
Online shopping is generally safe and secure. It allows users from all over the world to access their favorite products with just one click. Recently, companies such as Temu or Shein have become increasingly popular for their low prices and fast shipping. However, with the emergence of these e-commerce companies, the quality of many products has declined. Different studies have shown that some cheaply-made products from these Chinese companies contain carcinogens that exceed the legal limit by more than 930 times. This leads many people to wonder whether, if a Shein product causes harm to a user in 2024, the victim could file a personal injury lawsuit.
This page will show you everything you need to know about California product liability law and recent cases involving defective Shein products. If you or a loved one has been injured by Shein clothing, contact Adamson Ahdoot. Our firm specializes in securing successful settlements for injured victims. Call us today to schedule a free consultation at (800) 310-1606 or submit your case online.
What is Shein?
Shein is a fashion retail chain that has recently been described as an ultra-fast fashion brand. Originally from China, but based in Singapore, Shein sells low-cost clothing and other home, car, or electronics products to up to 220 countries with 70 million active customers. It is known for its low-cost clothing, fast shipping, and iconic status in fashion and trends.
In recent years, Shein has grown faster than its competitors in the fashion industry. One of the reasons the clothing retailer has surpassed companies like H&M or Zara in value and sales is its rapid production of clothing and accessories. This has led many to question the quality of its products, claiming that its clothing poses a risk of injury. Shein has also been criticized for environmental pollution and poor working conditions.
Is Shein Legitimate and Reliable?
Regarding functionality, payment security, and efficiency, Shein’s platform is a legitimate online store. But when it comes to the quality of the clothing and accessories, the story changes. As we have previously noted, Shein has been making headlines for some time now for the unreliability and ill repute of its clothing. But the Chinese chain sells not only clothes, but also electronics, makeup, toys, and more – some of which are defective.
Its vendors’ low production costs have compromised its products’ safety, potentially injuring consumers. Today, many experts are warning and condemning the high levels of chemicals in the clothing from Shein’s sellers.
A study shows that 60% of Shein’s clothing poses a risk of injury – 11% of which exceed the allowable toxicity limit by 100%.
What is a Defective Product?
A defective product is any garment or item purchased in a store that poses a real risk to the consumer. However, this is only true if it is used correctly, carefully, and according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Product failures or defects can occur at any of these three stages:
- Manufacturing defect
- Design defect
- Missing warnings, mistakes in instructions, or false marketing
High Toxicity Levels in Shein Products
Many reasons have shone an unflattering light on Shein. Mass production, low product quality due to shoddy manufacturing, and labor abuses are some of the main factors. Today, Shein is the largest e-commerce manufacturer with an average of 40,000 to 100,000 new products per day.
These numbers have led to several investigations into Shein’s products in recent years.
One of the most recent was produced by Greenpeace, which released revealing data. In a detailed report, they criticize the Chinese fashion company for having a business model based on illegal and harmful chemicals. According to the NGO, Shein endangers the health of consumers and pollutes the environment.
During the investigation, Greenpeace found that 15% of the products had dangerous levels of toxicity. These concentrations exceed the limits set by most governments. In addition, 11% of the garments were 100% or more above allowable chemical limits. Finally, 32% contained levels of toxicity that were of concern but within acceptable limits. In total, nearly 60% of the products tested posed a risk of injury.
The NGO also points to government inaction to prevent these items from being sold: “SHEIN products containing hazardous chemicals are flooding the markets and violating regulations – which are not enforced by the authorities.
Lead, PFAS, and Phthalates in Shein’s Adult and Children’s Clothing
In addition to Greenpeace, many other organizations have launched initiatives to warn online users about the dangers of shopping at stores like Shein or Temu. The Belgian consumer rights organization Test Achats is the latest to take action.
After conducting several investigations, Test Achats discovered that Shein’s children’s clothing may contain toxic components. Out of a total of 25 children’s clothes, 40% contained harmful and illegal substances. The garments selected for chemical testing included everything from jackets to shoes to swimwear. Among the toxic elements found in Shein’s clothing, were phthalates, allergens such as nickel and lead, irritants such as dimethylformamide and quinoline, and nonylphenol ethoxylates.
CBC Media also conducted its own study in 2021 as part of its consumer research program. The results reflected the same negative trend.
The study, conducted by Diamond Lab, tested 38 samples of apparel and accessories. The fast fashion retailers studied were Shein, AliExpress, and Zaful. High levels of chemicals were found in all of them. However, Shein was the e-commerce with the highest amount of illegal toxic products.
Dangerous levels of chemicals were found in one in five products. These included lead, PFAS, and phthalates. Again, children’s clothing scored very negatively, with one children’s jacket containing more than 20 times the legal limit of lead.
Some Governments Are Already Taking Action
Due to the recent alarming news, some governments have begun their own investigations. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has shown the most interest in obtaining new evidence. Its experts conducted a thorough investigation in 2024, analyzing eight Shein products that could lead to an injury lawsuit.
The results showed that there was indeed a risk of injury from toxicity in some items, although some were more dangerous than others. In particular, some children’s shoes exceeded the allowable amount of toxic substances by 428. This is the highest toxicity record to date.
California Product Liability Law for Shein Injuries
In California, product liability law focuses on protecting the rights of consumers. It does this by placing full responsibility for a defective item on the seller, distributor, or manufacturer. Any company involved in the product’s lifecycle can be held liable for any type of injury caused.
California law allows victims of injuries resulting from the use of a product to file a claim for damages. A victim of a defective product injury has a two-year statute of limitations. In the case of property damage, the statute of limitations is three years.
Also, the plaintiff must provide certain evidence that the product caused the injury.
In order to meet the burden of proof against Shein, the plaintiff must prove four points:
- The product purchased had defects that caused the injury.
- The defects in the product arose from its origin, whether in design, manufacture, distribution, or retail sale.
- The product was properly used and in the consumer’s possession when it caused the injury.
- The injuries resulted specifically from the use of the defective product.
Temu, Shein, Amazon, AliExpress, or Wish may be liable for product liability under California law.
How to Sue Shein for Injuries
To file a 2024 defective product injury lawsuit against Shein or any other online fast fashion retailer, proven legal expertise is essential. These industry titans have strong legal teams that can be difficult to challenge, so the victim should hire an injury lawyer with experience in Shein cases.
It will also be necessary to compile several elements to build a strong case to support a claim against Shein:
Gather as much evidence of the injury as possible. This includes photos of the product and injuries, as well as subsequent medical reports.
Research the product and inquire about other similar cases. Knowing whether there has been prior negligence related to the product may be key to the claim.
Prepare a report on the product defect that caused the injury. This will include the details of the accident and the type of injury caused.
Begin the process of negotiating a financial settlement. Your legal representative will be responsible for representing you in obtaining financial compensation.
File the injury claim. If your legal representative cannot reach a settlement, they must file a formal lawsuit, which may go to trial.
Start Your 2024 Shein Defective Product Injury Lawsuit with AA Law
We know how frustrating it can be to suffer an injury and not know how to hold the responsible party accountable. Especially, when the responsible party is a fashion giant like Shein, Temu, Alibaba, or Amazon. At Adamson Ahdoot, we want victims of defective product injuries to know that they have the right to seek compensation. We will fight for your rights.
Our bilingual law firm has over 100 years of combined legal experience and has handled thousands of defective product injury cases. With the help of our attorneys, 2024 injured victims can be confident of a successful settlement in a lawsuit against Shein.
Call us today at (800) 310-1606 or submit your inquiry through our website. Our bilingual legal team is available 24/7 to provide a free consultation and answer any questions you may have.
