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Product
Defect Litigation
1.
Who can bring a Product Defect lawsuit?
A product defect lawsuit may be brought by or on
behalf of an individual injured or killed by a
defective product against the manufacturer (and
possibly the wholesalers, distributors and seller)
of the defective product. Product defect lawsuits
generally involve several legal theories including
negligence, strict liability, and breach of
warranty.
2.
Who can be held accountable in a product defect
case?
It may be possible to hold any entity in the
product's chain of distribution responsible for the
harm caused by the dangerous product. This could
include the manufacturer of the product, the
manufacturer of a defective component of the
product, a distributor of the product, or the
end-seller of the product.
3.
What types of damages may be sought in a product
defect lawsuit?
A person injured due to a defective product may seek
compensation for:
medical
expenses
physical pain and suffering
mental anguish
disfigurement
physical impairment
loss of earning capacity
property damage
punitive damages
4.
What is product liability?
Manufacturers of food products, drinks, engineering
goods, medicines, etc are expected to be careful in
their production. If they fail in their duty, they
are liable to pay compensation for the consequences
because their defective products might cause loss of
life and damage to property.
5.
How do I prove a product is defective?
Proving a product is defective requires careful
examination and evaluation of the product by
scientists, engineers, and other experts. It also
requires in-depth study of the history of the
product's design, patenting, and manufacture.
Thorough research of applicable industry and
governmental standards is essential to the
successful handling of a product liability case.
6. Do
I need a lawyer in a product defect case?
Due to the complexity of product defect cases and
the need for expertise in the engineering and
scientific fields, any victim of a dangerous product
should consult a
lawyer.
7. If
I am seriously injured by an appliance or some other
type of mechanical apparatus that is more than two
years old, does that mean that the product is too
old to have a lawsuit for the product defect?
No. A product defect claim must be brought within
two years of the time when the accident occurred.
This does not mean that the device responsible for
the injury cannot be much older, five, ten or even
fifteen years older.
8.
Our brand-new power mower backfired and injured me.
From whom may I recover damages?
This is a typical product defect case. You may be
able to prove that the manufacturer of the lawn
mower made a defective product. Most courts today
hold companies responsible for a defective product
strictly liable to consumers and users for injuries
caused by the defect.
9.
Can I bring a product liability claim against a
manufacturer for incorrect product labeling?
Yes. Marketing defects include improper labeling of
products, insufficient instructions, or the failure
to warn consumers of a product's hidden dangers. A
negligent or intentional misrepresentation regarding
a product may also give rise to a product defect
claim.
10.
Is there a Federal product defect law?
There is no federal product defect law. Typically,
product defect claims are based on state laws, and
brought under the theories of negligence, strict
liability, or breach of warranty. In addition, a set
of commercial statutes in each state, modeled on the
Uniform Commercial Code, will contain warranty rules
affecting product liability.
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