Product liability is the area of law that deals with the liability of the manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer of a product for injuries resulting from that product. Research from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates that defective or unsafe products cause 29.4 million injuries and 21,400 deaths each year. Within the U.S., an estimated $700 billion is spent annually on the injuries, deaths, and property damage caused from consumer product incidents. Virtually all products are subject to products liability law, not just items on the store shelves — products subject to the law run the spectrum from food, drugs, appliances, automobiles, medical devices, medical implants, blood, tobacco, gases, real estate, writings, maps, and even commercial jets. The Law Offices of Marc. J Shuman & Associates, LTD. aggressively represents clients who are injured because of a product defect to help them receive full compensation for their injuries.
Cases involving manufacturing defects target negligent actions and decisions that affect the process of physically producing a product. Often these claims center on the quality of materials used during manufacturing or shoddy workmanship. Examples include tainted medicine, vehicles that were assembled with inferior parts and children's toys made with lead paint.
When a product’s design is inherently flawed, dangerous or useless, consumers can bring design defect lawsuits against the company. These claims have nothing to do with how the product was made; even if manufactured perfectly the items would still be unsafe or would not meet up to ordinary quality standards.
This type of liability is also known as a marketing defects claim. These lawsuits are aimed at products that do not carry warning labels or instructions that adequately describe the item’s potential dangers or proper method of use. Generally these claims center on the argument that a product was unsafe in a way that would not be obvious to users, therefore consumers should have been provided some sort of warning about the dangers of using it.
The above descriptions illustrate the basic types of product liability, but it is important to note that in many states these are not the technical claims that plaintiffs pursue. Instead, claimants’ suits are usually based on torts or contract law. Under the former, the argument usually rests on negligence; under the latter, plaintiffs are generally pursuing breach of warranty claims. Because the details of these lawsuits can be very technical, those who are considering bringing product liability cases may want to consult with a product liability attorney. Call 800.722.9744 today to receive a FREE consultation from an experienced defective products attorney at the Law Offices of Marc J. Shuman & Associates, LTD.
Since 1996, the Law Offices of Marc J. Shuman & Associates has been helping Product Liability Accident victims all injured victims and their families navigate the complex legal process. As experienced personal injury, worker’s compensation and wrongful death attorneys, we can help you evaluate the facts, assess your options, navigate the legal challenges, and advocate on your behalf. Marc J. Shuman & Associates has over 77 combined years of experience advocating for over 10,000 injury victims and their families recovering over 50 million dollars on their behalf. We advocate on your behalf, so you can focus on the task of recovery.
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