Product Liability FAQ

Injured By A Defective Product? Contact Us Today to Evaluate Your Case

Whether you are driving a car, using a power tool, or using a household cleaner, you expect whatever you are using to be safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for consumers. As a result, thousands of people each year are injured by defective products. In many cases, injuries include burns, broken bones, brain injuries, and many others. When these accidents occur, victims should hold those responsible for their injuries accountable for carelessness and negligence. If you have been injured by a defective product and are wondering what to do next, contact Grey Law and speak to a Los Angeles personal injury attorney who can answer your questions.

Are There Different Types of Product Liability Claims?

If you’re wondering what product liability is and how you can be compensated for your damages, you will first need to consult with a damaged product attorney in Los Angeles trusts with these cases to learn about the different types of product liability claims. Generally, these claims will involve products that have a manufacturing defect, design defect, or failed to include sufficient warnings or instructions as to their proper use. To learn which category your claim would belong, discuss your situation in more detail by meeting with a lawyer, as they can hold manufacturers and others accountable for their extreme negligence.

Who is Liable in Defective Products Cases?

If you have been injured by a defective product and are now wondering who can be held liable once you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, the answer is that there may be many different parties who could be named as defendants in your lawsuit. While this typically includes retailers, manufacturers, and even suppliers, it could also include engineers, product designers, consultants, and any other parties who played a role in the product’s creation, manufacturing, and marketing. To learn who specifically should be included in your personal injury lawsuit, turn to a defective product lawyer for expert guidance and counsel.

What Must be Proven to Win My Case?

Should you choose to pursue a personal injury lawsuit regarding the injuries you sustained due to a defective product, there will be four elements of negligence that must be proven to win your case. First, you must prove you were actually injured by the product. Second, you must prove the product you claim injured you was actually defective in a manner that resulted in your injury. Third, you must prove that the alleged defect or lack of sufficient warnings or instructions was the catalyst that resulted in your injuries. Finally, you must prove that when you were using the product and sustained your injuries, the product was being used in a proper manner at that moment. Manufacturers, retailers, and others often fight hard against these allegations for fear of negative publicity and plummeting sales.

Is There a Statute of Limitations for Filing These Lawsuits?

Yes. If you are injured by a defective product, you have a limited amount of time in which to file your lawsuit. Since the statute of limitations can vary from state to state, always speak to an attorney who can handle these cases on a daily basis. In most situations, the statute of limitations will start from the date you suffer your injury. However, some states don’t start the clock on these cases until the date the victim actually discovers the injury, which in some cases can make a tremendous difference. In any case, should you fail to file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations, your case will automatically be dismissed by the court, leaving you with no compensation for your injuries. Rather than make this costly mistake, make sure you call a lawyer as soon as possible following your defective product injury.

What Types of Compensation Can I Receive?

When you file a personal injury lawsuit after being injured by a defective product, you will be seeking compensation for various types of damages. With most of these lawsuits, victims will seek compensatory and punitive damages. Regarding compensatory damages, these will include such things as your medical bills, lost wages, and even your pain and suffering following the accident. As for punitive damages, the court may choose to award you additional compensation for your injuries if it believes the defendant displayed gross negligence or carelessness when designing or manufacturing the product in question. Since it will be crucial you be compensated for the largest possible amount, put your product liability claim in the hands of a trusted lawyer who will fight hard for maximum compensation.

Can I Sue a Pharmaceutical Company?

If you take a pharmaceutical drug and experience dangerous side effects, you may or may not have a claim against the pharmaceutical company. For example, if a doctor properly prescribed the drug, warned you of its potential side effects, and you chose to voluntarily take the drug, you probably won’t have a case. However, if the side effects you experienced were unusually dangerous or you were not properly warned about the side effects prior to taking the drug, you could possibly sue your doctor, pharmacist, and drug manufacturer. In many situations where pharmaceuticals are called into question, victims band together to file a class-action lawsuit.

Should you be injured by a defective product, don’t be convinced nothing can be done to hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for their actions. Instead, contact Grey Law and discuss your concerns with a knowledgeable and caring injury lawyer. Once you do, you may realize you do in fact have a strong case that can be won either in court or through an out-of-court settlement. To find out where you stand, schedule your consultation with one of the best lawyers in Los Angeles, for their expertise.