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If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective or dangerous product, you probably have many questions about your next steps. You may have a right to file a product liability claim to recover compensation for your injuries.
Product liability is a specialized field and product liability laws can be complex, so finding a product liability lawyer with experience and knowledge is important to the success of your claim. The team of lawyers at Regan Zambri Long, PLLC, have decades of experience and a history of success in this field and a long roster of satisfied clients.
Products liability is the branch of the law under personal injury (or tort law) that holds manufacturers of products liable if there was a defect in a product that they produced that caused an injury. Consumers have a right to assume that the products they use are safe and that they have been tested for risks before going on the market.
Anyone injured by a dangerous product can recover damages. An injured party can even recover damages if they were not the person who purchased the product. Liability for a defective product can fall anywhere along the distribution chain:
Some common types of product liability are:
Those injured by products in these circumstances may be entitled to compensation through a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the product. If you find yourself considering a claim, you should consult with an attorney with experience in these practice areas. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
The main types of defects in products are:
Manufacturing defects are errors that occurred during fabrication or flaws that arise in the manufacturing process. This often occurs because of a lack of quality control. Many defective products have flaws caused by a defect or deviation in the specifications of the design and other products manufactured in that line would not have the same flaw. In other words, this is a product that differs from all the others on the assembly line– the one-in-a-million defect.
A field where manufacturing defects often occur is food packaging. Without proper procedures and quality control, food can be contaminated and cause widespread problems.
Sometimes product designs are inherently unsafe. In this situation, the manufacture of the product does not matter because the product design itself is causing the issue. This often occurs when the costs of redesigning a product outweigh the benefits to the company. Many class action lawsuits against automobile manufacturers are based on design defects.
A field where this often occurs is in automobile design. Vehicles have a variety of safety defects, including:
The last type of product liability claim involves failure to provide sufficient warnings or instructions with details on the proper use of the product. This can be seen as a defect in the information provided. Manufacturers have a responsibility to publish clear information about risks and safety hazards. Manufacturers also have the responsibility to make sure these warnings are clear and in language that consumers can easily understand. If the risk is hidden, the warning must be adequate.
The most common type of failure to warn arises with medications and pharmaceutical drugs. The manufacturers must include warnings about other medications that cannot be taken with the product or will have adverse side effects. Medications also often face recalls and are removed from the market because they may be harmful to consumers. An estimated 4,500 recalls take place every year for drugs. Some of the most common drugs with side effects and continual lawsuits are Accutane, Actos, Effexor, Humira, Lipitor, Paxil, Pradaxa, Prozac, Reglan, Respitrol, SymVax, Yaz/Yasmin, and Zoloft.
A well-known example of a labeling defect in product liability claims is the McDonald’s hot coffee case. McDonald’s was sued after a customer spilled hot coffee, causing serious burns. After this incident, the woman filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s and the restaurant admitted that it did not warn its customers of how hot the coffee could be and how severe burns could be.
Product liability claims generally must meet four elements for strict liability to apply:
You can be compensated for many kinds of damages in a product liability claim, including:
When a product defect results in death, the surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim which allows them to be compensated for the loss of income of the deceased victim. This also allows the family to recover medical bills and funeral and burial expenses.
If you or someone you love has been injured and you are considering filing a legal claim for your injuries from a defective product in the Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC areas, one of the many experienced lawyers on our team can help.
Our product liability lawyers understand how difficult product liability claims are and we know what is needed to succeed. Our attorneys have the knowledge and experience necessary to fight for your rights. Victor Long, a Senior Partner at Regan Zambri Long, has litigated product liability cases involving medication and pharmaceutical drugs. Long was given a patent for a warning label that was developed in a case involving an infant who was injured in a fire that was caused by a faulty extension cord. Attorney Long has also secured a $4.2 million payout in a defective playground equipment case in Washington, DC.
Our lawyers often operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they are compensated for their services only after you win, and the amount owed is based on the amount you win at trial. Call Regan Zambri Long today or contact us online for a free case evaluation
