When you purchase a product for your home, yourself, or another member of your family, it is with the expectation that the product is safe and will not cause harm. However, there are times that dangerous or defective products cause harm to innocent consumers, and if this happened to your family, you may be wondering what you should do next.
You may feel unsure about how to proceed. Who is responsible for your pain and suffering? Was the incident the result of gross negligence on the part of the manufacturer? You have the right to know the answers to these questions and more, and you may also have grounds to pursue compensation through a products liability claim.
What are your rights as a consumer?
Consumers have the right to hold liable parties accountable for injuries and damages caused by defective products. Those injured could have a rightful claim to compensation for medical bills, emotional trauma, and other economic and noneconomic losses. If you are unsure if you can claim compensation, you still can talk with a lawyer to learn about your legal options.
What type of product defect claim can you file?
In a civil claim involving a defective consumer product, it is important to identify the specific type of defect in question. The three main types of defects commonly found in consumer products are as follows:
- Defect in manufacturing -- This type of defect occurs because of a mistake or omission committed by a manufacturer.
- Defect in design of the product -- This occurs because the original design was faulty, untested, or there were other problems during the product development process.
- Defect in product warnings --This happens when the manufacturer or marketer of the product did not inform consumers about possible risks, potential side effects and other issues.
Ultimately, it is the manufacturer's responsibility to include proper warnings, test all products and ensure that there are no blatant problems with a product before putting it on the market. However, all parties in the product development and marketing chain could be held liable, including the designer, component manufacturers, distributor, and retailer.
Fighting for a full recovery
If you suffered harm due to a defective product, there is no time to lose. You do not have to suffer in silence, but may fight to secure compensation for everything you have lost. Seek the advice of personal injury attorney experienced in handling defective product claims.