Product liability laws in the United States exist to protect consumers from defective products and ensure they have options for legal recourse after suffering injuries from such products. Every product manufacturer must ensure the items they produce and sell perform as advertised, present no unreasonable risks to end users through normal use, and include comprehensive instructions for safe use and required safety warnings.
When a manufacturer fails to ensure their products’ safety, injuring an end user through no fault of their own, the manufacturer or other party in the supply chain could absorb liability for their damages. When multiple consumers suffer similar damages from the same product, a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer can form against them. Product liability claims can appear for many reasons, but there are a few types of products that tend to generate these cases more often than others.
Auto Parts
Millions of Americans rely on their vehicles every day, and a defective part can cause catastrophic injuries. When an automobile manufacturer or parts manufacturer becomes aware of a defect in one of their products, they have a legal responsibility to notify owners of compromised products. Typically, these incidents lead to product recalls, and over the years many auto manufacturers and parts manufacturers have been compelled to offer free repairs and replacements to consumers who purchased their defective products.
Medical Devices
The review and approval process for medical devices in the United States is incredibly expansive, but some medical devices have unfortunately caused devastating injuries to the people they were intended to help. Some medical devices such as hip replacements, pacemakers, inferior vena cava filters, and prosthetics have been the subject of intense scrutiny over the past several years and generated a tremendous amount of product liability litigation throughout the world.
Lawn Care Equipment
Products like lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, and other landscaping tools have also caused severe injuries due to defective designs or fault construction. These devices often include complex mechanics and sharp components capable of causing severe lacerations, crushing injuries, and other serious wounds that may lead to permanent disability or disfigurement.
Home Improvement Tools
Most homeowners have their own tools to handle small repair jobs around their homes. Unfortunately, some of these tools can cause serious injuries if they contain defects, fail to include adequate instructions or safety warnings, or contain unreasonably dangerous components. Power tools are especially hazardous when manufacturers fail to include comprehensive instructions for use or safety markings.
Toys and Games for Children
Children’s toys have evolved tremendously over the past several decades, and many modern toys are complex, contain internal machinery, and some include lithium-ion batteries and computer parts. Toys for infants and toddlers require special consideration to ensure they do not present choking or strangulation hazards to the children who play with them. All toy manufacturers must ensure their products comply with applicable regulations and perform as advertised.
Medications
Unfortunately, pharmaceutical development in the United States has led to many injuries from drugs intended to treat specific conditions or illnesses. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications are capable of causing serious medical harm if manufacturers fail to disclose known possible side effects or interactions with other substances. For example, some major drug companies recently faced significant lawsuits due to the addictive nature of the drugs they produced and their contribution to the opioid crisis in the United States.
Food Products
Over the past several years, food product manufacturers have pulled products from store shelves once they learned of contamination or other hazards to consumer health. All food product manufacturers and food producers in the US must abide by applicable regulations to ensure their products are safe for consumption, include all relevant food allergy information, and have complete lists of ingredients and nutrition information clearly displayed on their packaging.
Taking Legal Action for Product Liability
Anyone who suffers injury or illness due to a defective product of any kind should seek legal counsel as soon as possible. A product liability claim can not only help the victim recover their losses but also hold the manufacturer accountable for the damage they have caused to the victims and others. Product liability claims can lead to product recalls that remove dangerous products from store shelves and compel manufacturers to be more diligent in the creation and quality assurance of the products they manufacture and sell.
The team at McLachlan Law, APC has substantial experience handling product liability claims for clients in California. We understand how difficult these cases can be and the substantial damages they often entail. If you are ready to take legal action after an injury from a defective product, contact us today and schedule a case review with our team so you can learn more about your legal options.