Pursue legal action to a product that could potentially harm you severely?

[retrolefty]

You are right, if I knowingly gave this to someone and let them use it, I am the "bad guy". But I did not, I won't, but it seems with the legal system, something has to happen first in order for action to take place. Does that sound fair and just? Someone literally has to DIE or get INJURED in order for action to take place.

 Like it or not, a party (or the state) must have 'standing' to bring forth a suit. There must be a real actual victim. It is one of many fundamental concepts of our legal system, most likely to cut down on time and work for the judicial system. The wheels of justice turn slowly enough without a lot of claims from people not directly effected by an action or product.

[tom66]

You are right, if I knowingly gave this to someone and let them use it, I am the "bad guy". But I did not, I won't, but it seems with the legal system, something has to happen first in order for action to take place. Does that sound fair and just? Someone literally has to DIE or get INJURED in order for action to take place.

 Like it or not, a party (or the state) must have 'standing' to bring forth a suit. There must be a real actual victim. It is one of many fundamental concepts of our legal system, most likely to cut down on time and work for the judicial system. The wheels of justice turn slowly enough without a lot of claims from people not directly effected by an action or product.

Some exceptions apply. It is illegal to drink drive or speed, yet you may not injure anyone doing those actions, you are simply increasing the risk.

However I do believe it is not possible to sue someone over potential losses. So you cannot bring a civil suit to a court if you speculate on possible harm. Actual harm must be shown.

[MikeW]

I'm thinking it would come more under negligence laws.

Until someone actually gets hurt the best you can do is convince the people selling it in your country that it is dangerous and hope they pull it in fear of getting sued after the fact.

[donmr]

For example: you say "The 8 gauge wires that supply the LiPo load to the vehicle are also only rated for about 200A for the length."

In fact these small wires may act as current limiting resistors and prevent the batteries from exploding.
That would make it a deceptive/defective product which cannot perform its intended function, but not dangerous.

Of course if they get too hot...

I agree that such products should be brought to the attention of the regulatory agencies like the CPSC here in the US.

[Alexei.Polkhanov]

Each year, there is an estimated average of 60 electrocutions associated with consumer products.  The three most common product categories associated with electrocutions are small appliance, power tool, and lighting equipment.

Every year in the U.S., more than 2,600 people are killed in home fires.
32,675 people killed in car accidents. (2014)
...

Looking at this forum it sounds like whole human population is about to go extinct due to electrocutions when reality is completely opposite.

Total 170 deaths in industry, and only 6% of that (~10 ) industries outside construction/mining etc. Your chances of being electrocuted are far less than winning a lottery.

[mikeselectricstuff]

So what have you done to actually prove it's dangerous, rather than just expressing some opinions based on untested assumptions?
Have you actually measured the output current?
If it hurts or damages you or your property then you can sue. Otherwise it's down to the enforcement authorities of the countries it's imported into.

Speaking of dangerous things, how about this one...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391288917634

Looks similar to this delight , but aimed at babies not coffee....

[Zero999]

Each year, there is an estimated average of 60 electrocutions associated with consumer products.  The three most common product categories associated with electrocutions are small appliance, power tool, and lighting equipment.

Since this thread is about a 12V jump starter, there's no risk of electrocution, just fire.

The original poster should report their findings to the organisation responsible for safety.

[KL27x]

The 8 gauge wires that supply the LiPo load to the vehicle are also only rated for about 200A continuous draw for the length, with a 5% drop.

An emergency jumpstarter does not necessarily have to output enough current to start a car to be useful. There's presumably a pretty decent battery in the car, already, or else you wouldn't STILL be using a jumpstarter; you would have replaced the battery.

I have jumped my car with 20AWG 24AWG (I still have the roll) wires. And no, I didn't even double them up. Hooked them up, made sure the wires weren't cooking, and then waited for the battery to take enough charge from the running vehicle to start itself. If the wires don't get dangerously hot in the first minute or two of charging, the current will just drop off from there.