A military veteran in Chesterfield, Virginia, is recovering from serious injuries after a glass shower door exploded while he was using it. Kevin Caple had just finished a hot shower in his rental home when the incident occurred. As he began to open the shower door, it suddenly shattered, sending glass shards falling onto him.
Caple sustained deep cuts to his foot and hand but acted quickly to control the bleeding. He jumped through the broken glass, grabbed a towel, and applied a makeshift tourniquet to his foot before calling 911. Emergency medical services arrived within 15 minutes and treated him at home, confirming he would need stitches on both his foot and hand.
Following the initial treatment, Caple went to the VA Hospital for stitches and later required surgery on his foot. Surgeons had to use a tendon from another toe to repair the one in his big toe. Despite the ordeal, he expressed gratitude that the situation was not worse, acknowledging that he could have lost consciousness in the bathroom with no one to help.
Caple moved out of the rental home several months later, and his landlords returned his security deposit. However, he continues to question why the glass door shattered so violently. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2012 and 2016, approximately 2,300 emergency room visits in the U.S. were linked to shattering glass shower doors. A 2018 safety alert outlined strict manufacturing standards for glass used in showers, doors, and enclosures.
Caple speculates that the explosion could have resulted from a manufacturing defect, installation damage, or temperature changes. Attorney Howard Bullock, an expert in product liability cases, explains that proving liability in such cases can be complex. It requires demonstrating that the product had a defect at the time of sale or installation and that this defect directly caused the injury.
Bullock advises victims to preserve any remaining glass and hardware for expert analysis. If negligence is proven, liability could fall on the manufacturer or installer. The severity of injuries and long-term medical impact would also influence any potential legal case.
