Injuries Caused by Product Defect Cases

As consumers, we assume that the products we purchase and use are safe when we use them as they are designed. Unfortunately, that basic assumption often proves incorrect. In fact, consumers are regularly injured by products they use every day - everything from seat belts and air bags that fail to operate, to gas tanks that explode on impact, to chairs and ladders that collapse at just the wrong moment because of a defect, to tools or machines that are defective. The types of products that can and do cause serious injuries or death are virtually unlimited.

“Product liability” is the general name of the area of law that holds product designers, manufacturers and suppliers responsible for the injuries to consumers caused by defects in their products. A product liability case can be based on three different legal theories – negligence, breach of warranty, and strict products liability. Of these three theories, Strict Products Liability is by far the most important and the most useful for attorneys representing people injured by defective product. Under California law, strict liability only requires the injured person to show that the product was defective, that the product defect existed when the product left the manufacturer’s possession, and that the defect caused the injured person’s damages.

If a defective product has injured you or someone close to you, keep the product and any packaging, instructions, and labels. These items are important in proving your case. Defective product cases can be very complex and expensive to prosecute. Select a law firm with substantial expertise and resources.