What to Do if a Defective Product Causes You Injury
Although the majority of the products available for purchase undergo a very thorough testing process before they’re labeled safe enough for use by the public, some items may still turn out to be defective and may harm an unlucky handler. If the handler chooses to sue a person or retailer with the claim that a product that was sold to them has caused them harm, this is known as a product liability case. If you’ve recently been injured by a product despite using it as intended, here’s what you need to know and what you can do.
What Is a Product Liability Case?
According to product liability law, a defective product is one that does not function according to its intended or advertised purpose. If a consumer has been harmed by a product by misusing it, they do not have the grounds to file a lawsuit. For instance, if an individual stands on a glass table and it breaks and causes the person an injury, this would not make a valid case. On the other hand, if the same glass table breaks from a hot soup bowl, which causes a spill that inflicts burns, the consumer may be advised to file a lawsuit.
Who Am I Suing?
The manufacturer, as well as the line of distributors in question, are liable for any injury you endure from a faulty product. This means that an entire corporation, retailers, and other responsible distributors are to be held accountable for your injury. Of course, this also depends on the nature of the defect, which may have been caused by improper storing.
On the other hand, while all suppliers and manufacturers involved can be labeled as the defendant in your case, and will thus make your grounds stronger, you will still want to hire a skilled professional to be able to compensate you for the injury you endured. It’s best to find a consumer protection law firm that has dealt with similar cases to yours, seeing as it may be a long and arduous process. It only makes sense that you gain a deeper understanding of what exactly falls under product defects and what is expected should you procure an injury due to one. The best way to do that is to do research and contact a reliable lawyer that specializes in this area.
Do I Have the Right to Sue If I Didn’t Buy the Product?
Whether you have personally paid for the product in question or not does not have any effect on the eligibility of your case. In fact, it doesn’t even matter if you were the one using the product. For instance, if your neighbor uses a power tool next door, and one of the blades of the power tool flies your way and injures you, you have valid grounds for a case. Similarly, if your friend offers you an item to eat, and it causes you food poisoning, you may still sue the manufacturer in question even if your friend was the one who paid for the item. The individual harmed by the defective product has the right to file a product liability lawsuit.
It’s important to know where you stand in a product liability case before you proceed to take any legal steps. If you have recently been injured by a defective product that you used for its advertised purpose, you may be entitled to compensation. Make sure you hire a lawyer who specializes in product liability cases, and that you keep the product in question as evidence.
