March 21, 2018
Browsing stores can be an enjoyable experience for many people. Unfortunately, every year there are many products that end up causing injury to those who decide to purchase. If you or a loved one is in pain from a product malfunction, contact an attorney for representation, like a personal injury lawyer Cheyenne WY residents turn to.
Consumer Expectation
When a consumer buys an item, it is reasonable for them to trust that it has passed safety tests. If the product causes a serious injury, it can result in an emergency room visit for the consumer. Defective product injuries range from mild scrapes and cuts to serious and even life-threatening conditions or fatalities. When consumers purchase a product, they expect the item to work safely and not cause them harm. We can help you seek compensation for a product that seriously injured yourself or a member of your family.
Responsibility of Companies
Manufacturers and distributors of products should be held accountable for selling dangerous items. A product needs to be thoroughly evaluated and pass a series of tests before being available to consumers. It is possible that tests were not performed correctly or that they were sufficiently tested. In other instances, there may have been a flaw in how the item was manufactured.
Proof of Product Defect
You will need to gather evidence that supports your claim that the product malfunctioned. There are four main elements for defective product lawsuits, and are listed as follows:
- You must prove you were seriously injured or suffered damages. Almost being injured, or being mildly injured is not considered valid.
- You must prove the product lacked sufficient warnings or instructions for safe use.
- You must prove your injuries were a direct consequence of poor instructions or a defect in the working of the item.
- You must prove you were using the product properly when the injury happened, and that it did not occur due to mishandling on your behalf.
Who is Liable for Product Error
There may be many hands that evaluate a product before it reaches market. All parties involved in the product’s path to consumers could potentially be held responsible. Most often, the chain of distribution consists of the retailer, manufacturer, supplier, wholesalers, distributors, consultants, quality-control engineers, and contractors.
A product defect attorney can help you determine whether it was the designer, marketer, manufacturer or other party that was negligent. Someone had likely made a mistake along the road of the product going into stores for sale. We believe that party should be held responsible and compensate you for such recklessness.
Call an Attorney
At our law firm, we have been dedicated to protecting the rights of the public and consumers. We offer a free case evaluation for all new clients, so you can get to know our team better. We can help you decide if taking action is the best decision for you.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Cannon, Hadfield, Stieben & Doutt, LLC for their insight into product defect and personal injury.