Americans are one of the largest consumers of products in the world. While products produced in the United States have to adhere to laws and regulations designed to assure the safety of consumers, there are still instances where a product can become dangerous or even deadly.
Throughout the United States, state laws are in place to protect consumers from defective or dangerous products. These laws usually fall within the theories of breach of warranty, strict liability, or negligence. This means that if a product fails to meet a consumer’s ordinary expectations, there may be grounds for a product liability suit. Types of defects may include defects in the design of the product, manufacturing defects and errors or defects on the labeling of the product, including flawed safety warnings and improper labelling.
Depending upon your situation, there may be several parties that are responsible for a product defect. They include but are not limited to the retail seller, the wholesaler, the product manufacturer, the company that installs or assembles the product, and even the manufacturer of parts of the product. A reseller such as someone who sells a product online or at a garage sale, is typically not liable.
If you or someone you love has suffered from an injury or illness due to a dangerous product, you may be entitled to compensation. In order to see whether you qualify, it may be in your best interest to find a firm familiar with wrongful death and product liability to discuss your situation and determine whether you have a case and how to proceed. Compensation may include lost wages, pain and suffering and a recuperation of medical and rehabilitation costs.
Source: findlaw.com, “What is Product Liability?” Accessed June 5, 2017