When we purchase and use a product, we expect it to be safe. Many of the products we use daily can put us in danger if they are defectively designed or manufactured. Product manufacturers and retailers have a legal obligation to ensure they’re selling reasonably safe products. Defective children’s products, faulty airbags, and malfunctioning electronic devices can cause serious consumer injuries.
If a product has injured you, it’s worth discussing your case with an experienced attorney. You may be entitled to compensation for your current and future medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and more. The Los Angeles product liability attorneys at Saeedian Law Group have helped many injured consumers recover compensation from product designers, manufacturers, and retailers. Contact the Saeedian Law Group today to schedule a complimentary case evaluation to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Examples of Injuries Caused By Defective Products
A wide range of injuries can result from defective products. Every year, thousands of people become injured or killed due to faulty products that don’t work properly or lack appropriate safety features. Some of the most common types of injuries that can result from defective products include the following:
- Kidney, brain, liver, or heart damage caused by dangerous prescription medication
- Infection due to dangerous prescription medication
- Head injuries caused by faulty scooters, bikes, motorcycles, and motor vehicles
- Choking injuries related to defective children’s products
- Burn injuries from defective electric appliances such as toasters and microwaves
- Broken bones caused by products that break unexpectedly
- Various medical injuries caused by dangerous prescription medication
- Medical injuries caused by defective medical devices, such as knee and hip replacements
California Product Liability Laws
California has some of the strictest product liability laws passed to protect consumers. However, not every product that breaks or causes an injury is defective under the law. Generally, when a consumer was using the product as intended to be used and suffered an injury or loss that wasn’t related to normal wear and tear or improper use, he or she may have a valid product liability claim. In most cases, consumers can hold the company that manufactures the product liable for the damages caused by the defective product. The company that manufactured the product is in the best position to understand the uses of the product and the potential dangers that could result.
Additionally, under California law, victims can hold every business in the chain of distribution liable as well. For example, the distributor of the product and the retail location that sold the product to the consumer can be held liable for resulting injuries. There are three main types of liability claims: defective design, manufacturing defects, and failure to warn.
Design Defects
Product designers are legally obligated to ensure that their product is reasonably safe for consumers. When the product design itself is flawed in a way that can lead to injuries, even if the product is being used as intended, the victim can pursue a product liability lawsuit. Nearly any type of consumer product could have a defective design. Defectively designed children’s products may have detachable parts that could easily cause a child to choke.
A defectively designed vehicle may have a gas tank placed in a way that makes fires and explosions more likely. In other cases, the safety equipment may be defectively designed. Unsafe medical devices can cause a patient to suffer additional injuries or medical complications.
Manufacturing Defects
In manufacturing defect cases, a product was designed adequately, but an error in the manufacturing process causes the product to become dangerous. In these cases, an error that happens during the manufacturing process makes an otherwise safe product dangerous to consumers. The manufacturing error may affect one product or thousands of products.
Failure to Warn
The third category of a product liability case involves a company’s failure to warn consumers of potential dangers related to their product. When a product is missing instructions or not adequately labeled, consumers injured by the product can hold the manufacturer liable. Under California law, manufacturers have a legal duty to warn consumers about potential hazards or include recommendations for the correct way to use the product. They are also responsible for warning consumers against foreseeable product misuse that could lead to injuries. Companies attempt to avoid these types of lawsuits, which is why some products are sold with visible warnings, such as tags on electrical devices telling consumers “do not place in water.”
Recovering Compensation in a Product Liability Case
Victims of dangerous products can pursue a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer. Depending on the facts in your case, the best legal strategy may be to pursue compensation from one or all of the at-fault parties. The value of your legal claim will depend on several factors, including the long-term prognosis of your injuries. For example, your claim will be more valuable if you’ve suffered serious injuries and cannot return to work. You can pursue economic damages for your current and future medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, and other easily quantifiable damages.
Additionally, you can pursue non-economic damages for the pain and suffering you’ve endured. If the product manufacturer knew about the defect and intentionally avoided protecting consumers, additional punitive damages may be available. At Saeedian Law Group, our Los Angeles attorneys have the knowledge and resources available to work with financial and medical experts to determine the total value of your claim.
Injured By a Dangerous or Defective Product? We Are Here to Help
If a dangerous or defective product has seriously injured you or your loved one, it’s essential that you discuss your case with an attorney as soon as possible. You only have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim before compensation. One of the experienced product liability attorneys at Saeedian Law Group can learn more about the facts of your case and provide you with effective legal advice about the best legal strategy to recover compensation. Contact Saeedian Law Group to schedule a no-obligation consultation today.
