Consumers have a right to expect that the products they buy are safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Defective and dangerous products cause thousands of injuries every year. If a product has injured you, it’s important to understand your legal rights and options for compensation.
What is Product Liability?
Product liability covers any damage caused by a defective or dangerous product. It applies to any type of property, including cars, clothing, appliances, and tools. A manufacturer can be held legally responsible for injuries caused by their products.
When you shop for products in the store, you expect that they will work properly. This doesn’t mean that every item will be perfect—there could be some defects. However, manufacturers should make sure that their products don’t cause serious harm when used as intended.
You can hold the manufacturer liable for your injuries if the product is defective and causes serious harm. This applies even if you were partially responsible for the accident or were not using the product as intended.
For example, you might use a toaster to make a sandwich when the handle falls off and causes you to burn. Even if you can’t prove that the company knew of a dangerous defect in their products before they were released, you might be able to hold them liable if they knew about a defect but failed to take action to fix it.
Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe and free from defects before they reach the market. If a defective or dangerous product has injured you, you must talk with an attorney experienced in product liability cases. They can help you understand your legal rights and options for compensation.
Types of Product Defects
According to the law, there are two types of product defects: design and manufacturing. Design defects refer to the flaws in the design of a product. These problems occur before the item is mass-produced and are impossible to correct during manufacturing. Some examples of design defects include the following:
- The product needs to be better designed and suited to its intended use.
- The product has features that increase the risk of injury if misused.
- The product is unreasonably dangerous in light of foreseeable use.
Manufacturing defects occur when the product does not meet industry standards for quality or safety during the manufacturing process. Some examples of manufacturing defects include the following:
- The product contains contaminants that cause injury.
- The product must be adequately packaged to prevent damage during shipping and storage.
- The product has missing parts or components.
- The product contains insufficient warnings or instructions.
There are strict deadlines for filing product liability claims in certain states, so you must talk to an attorney as soon as possible after you’ve been injured.
Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney
Finding an experienced personal injury attorney with a successful track record handling product liability cases can be difficult, especially if you aren’t familiar with the legal process. Here are a few tips to help you find the right attorney for your case:
- Start by searching online for local personal injury attorneys. Many attorneys have websites where they list their qualifications and contact information.
- Read online reviews from former clients to better understand the attorney’s strengths and weaknesses. Also, pay attention to how willing the attorneys respond to online reviews and any concerns from their clients.
- Contact several attorneys on your list and schedule consultations to learn more about their experience and approach to case resolution.
Once you’ve narrowed the list down to a few potential attorneys, meet with each of them to discuss your case in detail and get a sense of whether or not they would be a good fit for your case. Make sure to ask each attorney questions about their caseload, availability, fees, and strategy for resolving your case.
You’ll also want to consider the attorneys’ credentials and the quality of their support staff. An excellent personal injury lawyer will have the experience and knowledge necessary to help you get the best possible outcome in your case.
Conclusion
Quality refers to all product or service aspects that affect the customer’s overall experience. Defects can occur at any stage in the product life cycle, including design, production, distribution, and marketing. Companies may be liable for any injuries caused by their products, regardless of whether or not those products were defectively designed or manufactured.
In some cases, the manufacturer may not be at fault, but another company that played a role in the distribution process may be liable for your injuries. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
