Consumers expect products to work safely as advertised, but some products can turn out to be ticking time bombs. A defective product can cause frustration and serious harm, or even permanent disability or death. The consequences of defective products can be life-altering, and that’s why a comprehensive legal strategy is essential.
Common Injuries Caused by Defective Products
Defective products don’t discriminate. They can hurt anyone, anywhere, and at any time. Below are the most common injuries associated with faulty consumer goods:
Burns
Space heaters, electric blankets, cell phones, and kitchen tools can overheat or short-circuit, which might result in serious burns.
Choking
Children’s toys with small detachable parts are frequent offenders here. Manufacturers failing to follow safety guidelines can be held responsible for injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Faulty helmets, defective airbags, or malfunctioning equipment can lead to concussions and TBIs. Features designed to protect shouldn’t become the source of injury.
Fractures and Broken Bones
Defective ladders, workout equipment, or furniture can cause sudden accidents that lead to broken bones or even spinal injuries.
Internal Injuries
When products are poorly designed or improperly manufactured, internal damage can require major surgery or cause long-term complications.
Poisoning or Chemical Exposure
Mislabeled household cleaners and cosmetics can cause poisoning from ingestion or merely touching the chemicals.
Product Defects That Lead to Liability
Understanding why a product failed is critical to building a solid legal case. However, product liability law generally categorizes defects into three main types:
- Design Defects
- Manufacturing Defects
- Marketing Defects
A design defect is when the product is inherently unsafe due to its design. Manufacturing defects occur when the design is safe, but something goes wrong during the production process. As for marketing defects, those happen when a product lacks proper instructions or warnings.
Your product liability claims attorney will help determine which defect applies and gather evidence accordingly. Injured consumers have several legal avenues when pursuing justice for defective product injuries.
Legal Strategies for Compensation
Your legal team must prove that the product was defective, that you used it as intended, and that the defect caused your injury. This usually requires a combination of expert testimony, documentation, and forensic product analysis.
A smart legal strategy unfolds with preserved evidence. Your attorney will inspect it or work with experts to analyze the product’s failure. Keep photos, receipts, and packaging if possible. If the product has harmed many people, a class action lawsuit may already be in progress. Otherwise, your attorney may advise an individual lawsuit to maximize compensation.
Compensation is not just about paying for medical bills and may include provisions for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability or disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Some cases might even warrant punitive damages, which is extra compensation awarded to punish especially reckless manufacturers.
Want to know more? Contact Sullivan and Sullivan today to schedule a consultation and discuss your case. Taking on a massive corporation or manufacturer means battling companies with vast legal resources. You’re likely to be outmaneuvered or low-balled in a settlement without an experienced product liability claims attorney.
No Settling on Safety
Defective products are a nuisance and can pose a threat to your health, finances, and future. If a dangerous or faulty item has harmed you, you do not have to fight alone. An experienced product liability claims attorney can help you pursue justice and hold negligent companies accountable.
Don’t let a defective product write your story. Take legal action and take your life back with the personal injury attorneys at Sullivan and Sullivan.
