Products Liability Attorneys
Products liability is a legal term that describes the responsibility of companies who make, distribute or sell consumer products that are defective and injure people. Most consumer products must meet certain safety standards in order to be sold in this country. When an unsafe product is sold to consumers and causes injury, the manufacturer, seller, or distributor may be held liable for the damage.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 29 million injuries occur each year as a result of unsafe or defective consumer products. Products that cause serious injury can vary widely - from a defective electrical appliance to a prescription drug with dangerous side effects. Some of the most common instances of products liability occur in the following categories:
- Defective industrial equipment
- Defective medical devices
- Defective automobiles
- Side effects from pharmaceutical drugs
- Unsafe motorized equipment, such as ATVs
- Poorly manufactured children's toys or furnishings, such as cribs
- Defective home appliances
A consumer who uses a dangerous or defective product and suffers injury may have legal grounds for a claim. Successful cases, however, must prove the existence of at least one of the following kinds of defects:
- Design defect - the problem exists in the design of the product, regardless of how the product was assembled or manufactured
- Manufacturing defect - the product was designed properly, but a defect occurred in the manufacturing phase
- Inadequate warning/marketing defect - the product label or packaging fails to clearly warn of any potential dangers known to the manufacturer, seller, or distributor
The marketing defect or inadequate warning is often associated with class action lawsuits involving prescription drugs. If a drug company is aware of potentially dangerous side effects associated with a medication and fails to properly warn consumers, hundreds of people may become hurt as a result.
Class actions can also be filed against product manufacturers for defects in the product that affect the product function or integrity. These types of claims often involve breach of warranty claims or diminished value of the product. Products liability claims can also be the basis for a mass action or class action case when the products injure or kill on a broad scale. The companies that make dangerous or defective products have often invested millions of dollars to launch a product into the marketplace with a certain expectation of profit. Those companies are not ready to admit fault and take a significant loss without a fight, and they often have extensive legal representation of their own. A class action or mass action products liability claim allows multiple victims to unite in one legal case. Not all products liability situations result in a class action; some cases may involve a limited number of victims due to quick product recalls or other factors.
Regardless of how many other people were hurt, however, what's important is that you receive compensation for any serious injuries caused by a dangerous consumer product. You need skilled legal counsel from a firm prepared to take on the big companies - and legal advice from attorneys who know when to settle and when to proceed to trial.
The Law Firm of America is a network of reputable and experienced firms across the country, staffed by attorneys who are ready to take on your case. We believe that every client deserves justice - and an opportunity to hold negligent companies accountable.
No recovery? No fee.
If our affiliate firms don't recover financial damages for you, you don't pay - it's that simple. The attorneys within our network have built their reputations by helping clients win cases and achieve the results they deserve. If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt by a dangerous product and you have legal questions, contact The Law Firm of America at 1-888-933-1514 or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced and dedicated attorney who cares about your case.