Defective Product Negligence
There is nothing more frustrating than spending money on a product only to find it doesn’t work the way it is advertised as, or it just doesn’t work at all. What can be worse, however, is when that defective product causes an injury or even the death of the person who used it. The law says that when a consumer is injured by a product that is defective, that victim can sue the party or parties who manufactured, distributed, or sold the defective product. A personal injury attorney, like a personal injury attorney in Longwood, FL, will determine which party was negligent in the defect or danger the product presented and pursue damages against that party or those parties.
Product Defects
There are three categories a defective or dangerous product falls into:
- Design defect: When there is a flaw or error in the design of the product that existed even before the manufacturing of the product began.
- Manufacturing defect: When an issue during the manufacturing process caused a defect in the product.
- Inadequate warning: When the manufacturer fails to put the proper warnings on the product regarding the proper way the product should be used to avoid injury
In the majority of personal injury cases, the argument the victim makes through their attorney is that their injuries were a result of the alleged at-fault party’s negligence and failure to use reasonable care to keep others safe.
Product liability cases are not so much based on negligence, but are instead argued on the strict liability doctrine. This doctrine says that the manufacturer of the defective product is liable for the injuries that their product caused the victim. This means that even if the company took steps to ensure the product was safe, they could still be held liable under certain circumstances.
These three factors must be present to prove strict liability:
- The product was dangerous even when it was used in the manner it was intended to be used.
- The defect or danger existed when the victim purchased the product.
- The defect or danger caused the victim’s injury.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you have been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. A personal injury attorney should understand the overwhelming stress an accident and the resulting injuries can have on families and work diligently to obtain financial compensation because of the harm victims suffered by the at-fault party. Contact an attorney today to see how he or she can help with your case.
Thanks to David & Philpot, P.L. for their insight into who you can sue if you are injured using a defective or dangerous product.