NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- Consumer advocates Wednesday hailed the settlement of a class-action lawsuit over Sears stoves in which the retailer agreed to install safety brackets for free to prevent the appliances from tipping over or provide other reimbursements . Stoves in danger of tipping over can be fixed for free under terms of a settlement announced Wednesday . According to the court-approved agreement , Sears will notify nearly 4 million customers who may have bought stoves between July 2000 and September 2007 that they either can get anti-tip safety brackets installed for free or receive gift cards or reimbursements of up to $ 100 to qualifying customers . The brackets keep the appliances bolted to the floor or wall to prevent them from tipping over . Such accidents have caused more than 100 deaths or injuries , mostly from scalding and burns , according to the nonprofit consumer group Public Citizen . The value of the settlement depends on how many customers respond to Sears ' offer , but Public Citizen said it could end up costing the retailer more than $ 545 million . Watch to see if your stove is in danger of tipping » . In addition to paying $ 17 million in legal fees , Sears will install brackets on all new stoves for free for the next three years . `` This agreement by Sears and the lawyers for the consumer is a real deal , '' said Joan Claybrook , president of Public Citizen . `` This is a fantastic deal for a lawsuit to make this headway and get the protection for the consumer . '' Sears Holdings Corp. spokesman Chris Brathwaite said the plaintiffs ' counsel is overestimating the settlement 's monetary value . `` The parties dispute many aspects of the case , including the value on this settlement -- which Sears estimates to be a small fraction of what plaintiffs ' counsel estimates , '' Brathwaite said in a statement . Claybrook and other consumer advocates said they would like the Consumer Product Safety Commission to require anti-tip brackets for all stove installations . Installing brackets is now voluntary . Claybrook said the agreement `` sets a model for what the Consumer Product Safety Commission should do and should have done . They 've known about it for 25 years and done nothing . '' She said an amendment requiring anti-tip stove devices should be added to Senate legislation intended to beef up the safety commission . Commission spokeswoman Patty Davis disagreed , saying , `` The statistics and risk do not support mandatory rule-making at this time . We believe the voluntary standards are working . '' Brathwaite said customers can visit the Web site http : //www.searsrangesettlement.com/ for information . E-mail to a friend .
Sears agrees to install anti-tip safety brackets on stoves for free . Stoves tipping over blamed for than 100 deaths or injuries . Sears will install brackets for free on new stoves over the next three years . Consumer group says settlement may cost retailer more than $ 545 million .