Product liability claims deal with injuries caused by a defective or dangerous product. These claims hold the supplier, retailer, distributor, or manufacturer responsible for the defective product.
Victims can get compensated for the damage caused by the defective product through a product liability claim. But this is easier said than done.
To deal with the many complications involved, victims should get in touch with product liability lawyers. These legal professionals ensure victims are treated fairly and that they get the compensation they deserve.
Product liability claims arise for different reasons. Let’s take a look at five valid product liability claims.
Types or Product defects
- Design Defect: There are injury inducing flaws in the design of the product, even if manufactured correctly.
- Manufacturing Defects: These are the flaws in the final product that cause issues in the manufacturing process.
- Marketing Defects: Also called failure to warn, these defects relate to the lack of warnings about the product’s potential risks.
Now let’s talk about some 5 real-world examples of product liability claims.
Design Defect: Dangerous Toy
Children’s toys must follow firm safety standards. But sometimes a design defect can lead to a server injury.
Case Example
A company produced a toy with small, detachable parts. These parts can be hazardous, as children might swallow and choke on them. Even though a standard for the smallest size is set, the toy can still easily be detached into smaller parts, leading to injuries.
The toy had an inherent defect in the design. The manufacturer could be held responsible for the foreseeable defect in the product. This product defect can lead to a valid product liability claim.
Manufacturing Defect: Faulty Airbags
Automobiles have airbags in them that inflate in the event of an accident. If manufacturing defects don’t allow them to inflate when needed, the consequences can be dire.
Case Example
The defect is not in the design of the airbags but more in the manufacturing of vehicles. The airbags did not conform to the safe standards set by the manufacturer. Hence, the bags didn’t inflate at the time of the collision.
Failure to Warn: Prescription Drugs
A pharmaceutical company should inform their consumers about the potential side effects of the medicine. Failure to do this can lead to a product liability claim.
Case Example
The company did not disclose all the side effects of the medicine. Due to this, people suffered from specific side effects that were listed in the medicine.
Manufacturing Defects: Exploding Electronics
Electronics should be manufactured to very high safety standards. Any malfunction can cause serious damage.
Case Example
The smartphone company did not manufacture the batteries of the smartphone to meet the expected standards. The smartphone batteries ended up exploding, causing serious injuries.
Design Defect: Hazardous Household Appliances
Household appliances are supposed to work safely under normal conditions. But defects in their design can cause significant safety hazards.
Case Example
A microwave’s faulty design caused it to leak radiation. It posed a serious health threat. The design defect had left several with radiation burns.
Conclusion
The failure to warn about the risks of the product or defective design can lead to serious injuries. Victims can claim compensation with the help of product liability lawyers from the manufacturers, retailers, or distributors of the defective product.
