Defective Products
Product manufacturers generally want us to be safe when we use their products. They typically test their products for potential defects in design or manufacturing, and warn us about foreseeable instances that may pose a safety risk when using or operating their products. Sometimes, those warnings seem overly obvious, such as a lawn mower sticker that warns you to “keep hands and feet away from the rotating blades.”
In reality, the need for simple warnings like this usually stems from actual instances when a consumer did not foresee a safety risk. The lawnmower sticker, for example, may exist because someone actually placed their hands into the rotating blades, not foreseeing the possibility of an injury.
However, not all product defects are as obvious. When an injury occurs, in spite of proper use following all instructions and heeding all warnings, it is likely the result of a Defective Product. Defective Products can cause very severe, even deadly injuries. Here in Georgia product defects are categorized as:
- Manufacturing Defects
- Design Defects
- Warning Defects
A “manufacturing defect” is one that occurs when there is an error in the manufacturing process that makes the product unsafe and becomes more dangerous than consumers expect it to be. A “design defect,” as the name suggests, is one that exists in design of the product itself at the time it was sold. A “warning defect” exists when a manufacturer breaches its duty to warn of dangers that are foreseeable but not obvious when a product is used as intended.
All Products Subject to Safety Regulations
As manufacturers have an obligation to market safe products and a duty to warn consumers of potential safety issues, virtually all products are subject to Defective Products law – for example: appliances, cars, medical devices, chemical products, food, drugs, children’s toys, and more. The consequences of Defective Products can be broken bones, burns, head injuries, and even wrongful death.
Defective Products Lawsuits
A plaintiff in a product liability lawsuit must prove that the defendant was the manufacturer of the product, that the product was defective when it left control of the manufacturer, and that the defect caused the injuries. With that, there are things that can negatively impact a Defective Product case such as:
- Making modifications to the product (e.g. removing safety mechanisms)
- Using the product improperly (e.g. exceeding weight restrictions warned on a product)
- Using a product past its expiration date
- Taking a larger or smaller dose of medication than indicated
- Not following manufacturer instructions for usage
Defective Product law is different from general personal injury law. It requires an experienced attorney who understands the legal theories of strict liability and negligence – don’t call just any personal injury attorney. At C. Ron Smith Attorney at Law, we have that experience, and we are passionate about holding product manufactures accountable for their negligence. We welcome your call today (770) 713-1447 for a free case evaluation.
Product Manufacturers
Product manufacturers generally want us to be safe when we use their products. They typically test their products for potential defects in design or manufacturing, and warn us about foreseeable instances that may pose a safety risk when using or operating their products. Sometimes, those warnings seem overly obvious, such as a lawn mower sticker that warns you to “keep hands and feet away from the rotating blades.”
In reality, the need for simple warnings like this usually stems from actual instances when a consumer did not foresee a safety risk. The lawnmower sticker, for example, may exist because someone actually placed their hands into the rotating blades, not foreseeing the possibility of an injury.
However, not all product defects are as obvious. When an injury occurs, in spite of proper use following all instructions and heeding all warnings, it is likely the result of a Defective Product. Defective Products can cause very severe, even deadly injuries. Here in Georgia product defects are categorized as:
- Manufacturing Defects
- Design Defects
- Warning Defects
A “manufacturing defect” is one that occurs when there is an error in the manufacturing process that makes the product unsafe and becomes more dangerous than consumers expect it to be. A “design defect,” as the name suggests, is one that exists in design of the product itself at the time it was sold. A “warning defect” exists when a manufacturer breaches its duty to warn of dangers that are foreseeable but not obvious when a product is used as intended.
All Products Subject to Safety Regulations
As manufacturers have an obligation to market safe products and a duty to warn consumers of potential safety issues, virtually all products are subject to Defective Products law – for example: appliances, cars, medical devices, chemical products, food, drugs, children’s toys, and more. The consequences of Defective Products can be broken bones, burns, head injuries, and death.
Defective Products Lawsuits
A plaintiff in a product liability lawsuit must prove that the defendant was the manufacturer of the product, that the product was defective when it left control of the manufacturer, and that the defect caused the injuries. With that, there are things that can negatively impact a Defective Product case such as:
- Making modifications to the product (e.g. removing safety mechanisms)
- Using the product improperly (e.g. exceeding weight restrictions warned on a product)
- Using a product past its expiration date
- Taking a larger or smaller dose of medication than indicated
- Not following manufacturer instructions for usage
Defective Product law is different from general personal injury law. It requires an experienced attorney who understands the legal theories of strict liability and negligence – don’t call just any personal injury attorney. At C. Ron Smith Attorney at Law, we have that experience, and we are passionate about holding product manufactures accountable for their negligence. We welcome your call today (770) 713-1447 for a free case evaluation.