Purchasing items for the store or private sellers shouldn’t be a safety hazard. People should be able to count on the products they buy to work as intended without causing an unnecessary or unreasonable risk of harm. Unfortunately, there are times when products don’t do what they are supposed to do, which can put people in harm’s way.
Individuals who are harmed by a defective or dangerous product may choose to file a product liability claim. This can enable them to hold the liable party accountable for the product’s defects and possibly have that party cover the expenses related to any injuries the product caused.
There are three factors that can lead to a property liability claim, based on the root of the problem with the product:
- Defects in design: These occur when the product isn’t designed properly from the start, which leads to the product being inherently unsafe.
- Defects in manufacturing: These happen when there are problems caused during the manufacturing of the product or when the product is assembled.
- Defects in marketing: These are present when the instructions or marketing materials that go along with products don’t include information vital to product safety. For example, there might not be sufficient warnings or instructions to help a person use the product without suffering harm.
Anyone who is harmed when they use a product as intended should consider their right to seek compensation for the financial damages they have to deal with because of the incident. If you are prepared to take this step, be sure not to shortchange yourself. You need to remember that you have current medical expenses and potential future medical care costs to consider. An experienced advocate can help you understand what your claim is worth and how best to proceed.