Despite the large variety of measures used to prevent injury from manufactured products, defective products still injure a high number of Americans. Consumers trust the expertise and the intention of manufacturers when they buy products, and, over time, this is expressed as brand loyalty. Unfortunately, due to a combination of factors (including human error, negligence, carelessness, and willful disregard), defective products are made and sold. In some products, the defects are of such a nature that they do no harm to consumers. Other products consistently harm consumers, no matter what the defect is. These products include cars, pharmaceuticals, cleaning solvents and other commonly used items.

Product Liability

It is not only manufacturers that have a duty to provide customers with safe and sound products. Wholesalers, distributors and retailers also share this duty. It is the responsibility of the manager just as it is the CEO or wholesalers to make sure their products are safe for consumers to use. If and when this duty is not met, they can and will be held liable for the injuries and personal costs that result. The victims of these injuries have the right to claim financial compensation.

Each year, consumers are injured from using defective products. Product liability applies to any and all products, not just ones that are likelier to be defective; the makers of heavy machinery are just as liable as are makers of home appliances.

Dealing With a Defective Product

If you are injured by a defective product, first seek medical attention immediately. Not only will this possibly save your life and prevent injuries from becoming serious, the nature and extent of your injury will be documented. Next, make sure to save the defective product for later. This may seem counterintuitive, but it will prove very useful, since your attorney can use the defective product itself as evidence. Also, don’t forget to photographically document everything you can with a camera. Take pictures of the product, the scene of the accident or injury, and of any injuries that you incurred. To reiterate, the more evidence you have, the better your case will be.

Save any paperwork related to the product: instruction manuals, warranty statements, the receipt, the box the product came in and any other paperwork relating to the injury, such as canceled checks and other financial documents. If you have any records of contacting the maker of the product for any reason relating to your injury, save those as well. They will be invaluable as evidence during legal proceedings. Gather contact information from any witnesses, if there are any. They can be interviewed at some later date, if it is necessary.

Statutes of Limitation

Most states have statutes of limitations in effect. A statute of limitations is a law specifying the amount of time after an injury for a victim to seek damages. For this reason, it is to the victim’s benefit to begin legal action as soon as possible after the victim is injured.

Reporting the Product

Lastly, report the injury to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and contact an experienced, licensed attorney who knows how to handle cases relating to injuries from your particular product.
The Recall System is “Completely Broken”

The Recall System is “Completely Broken”

Defective recalled tires that should have pulled from service often remain on the road, causing crashes, injuries and deaths. A broken tire recall system is to blame. How do recalled tires stay on the road? How do recalled tires stay […]Read more

Which Hondas Are Being Recalled For Airbags?

Some Honda and Acura vehicles have defective Takata airbags on both the driver and passenger side, while others only have them on one side or the other. The following vehicles are part of the recall: Honda Acura 2001-2012 Honda Accord […]Read more
Which Cars Are Included In The Takata Airbag Settlement?

Which Cars Are Included In The Takata Airbag Settlement?

Cars included in the Takata airbag settlement are broken down to several vehicle manufacturers that have agreed to class action settlements for allegedly manufacturing vehicles that contained defective Takata airbag inflators. The following six automakers participated in the Takata airbag […]Read more
What’s The Difference Between Tire Tread Separations & Tire Blowouts?

What’s The Difference Between Tire Tread Separations & Tire Blowouts?

The difference between a tire tread separation and a tire blowout is that a tire tread separation occurs when the tread detaches from the body of the tire, while a tire blowout happens when the tire pops due to internal […]Read more
What You Need To Know About Defective Tires

What You Need To Know About Defective Tires

Your tires are your vehicle’s point of contact with the road surface; this makes their integrity a vital part of keeping you safe while you travel. When a tire has a design or manufacturing defect, it is not safe or […]Read more