Product Liability Takes Many Forms
Did you know that each year there are more than 29 million injuries in the United States caused by defective or unsafe products? Have you sustained an injury that is related to a defective product or manufacturing process? Your injury may warrant a product liability case and the attorneys can help at Heller Trakhtman & Associates. The team of attorneys have the experience, knowledge and skill to help you navigate the legal process in a product liability lawsuit.
What Is Product Liability Law?
Product liability is a civil law that protects consumers when they are injured by a defective product. In these cases, the injured individual may file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer and/or the seller of the defective product. Liability can be applied to any party in the chain of distribution – the manufacturer, a parts manufacturer, the wholesaler, the retail store and any parties responsible for assembly or installation. The statute of limitations for a product liability case is two years when it includes personal injury and five years when the case is based on property damage.
You may be wondering – how can a product be defective? Product defects in a product liability case fall into three primary categories:
- Design defect – The design of the product itself is defective and dangerous. A design defect may require you to show that there was a reasonable design alternative that would be safer.
- Manufacturing defect – A manufacturing defect is when the design of the product is safe and sound – but there is a defect or mistake in the manufacturing process that has led to a dangerous defect.
- Marketing defect – A marketing defect or failure to warn means that the design and production of a product have met specifications, but the warning or instructions on the product were not sufficient to prevent foreseeable risk.
Contact An Attorney Today
A product liability lawsuit can be difficult to navigate if you are inexperienced and they can help at Heller Trakhtman & Associates. The defense in product liability cases will often claim that the product was misused or that the supplier of the product that caused the injury was incorrectly identified within the manufacturing process. They can help you prove that the product was defective due to strict liability, breach of warranty or negligence. Call them at 847-929-9624 or contact them via email.