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When a product you trust turns out to be dangerous, it can lead to serious injuries and unexpected challenges. Product liability laws hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable when their products cause harm. These cases can arise from defects that occur during the manufacturing process, flaws in the product’s design, or inadequate safety warnings. Understanding your rights in such situations can help you take action and seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
Defective Manufacturing
Defective manufacturing occurs when a product is made incorrectly, causing it to differ from the intended design and become dangerous. These flaws can happen during production, assembly, or packaging, and even a small mistake can result in significant harm to consumers. Here are some common examples of manufacturing defects:
- Improper Assembly: A car part, like a brake pad, that is installed incorrectly during assembly, leading to malfunction.
- Contaminated Products: Medications or food products that become tainted during production, making them unsafe to consume.
- Broken or Damaged Items: A toy that cracks or shatters due to weak materials used during the manufacturing process.
When a manufacturing defect causes an injury, the injured party can hold the manufacturer responsible, as long as they can prove the defect existed when the product left the manufacturer’s control.
Design Defects
Design defects occur when a product is inherently unsafe due to flaws in its design, even if it is manufactured correctly. Unlike manufacturing defects, these issues affect every unit of a product, making them dangerous for all consumers. To bring a design defect claim, a plaintiff must show that a safer alternative design could have been used without compromising the product’s purpose. Examples of design defects include:
- Unsafe Toys: A toy with small, detachable parts that pose a choking hazard for young children.
- Faulty Vehicle Designs: An SUV with a high center of gravity that makes it prone to rollovers.
- Dangerous Appliances: A space heater with a design that causes it to overheat and catch fire.
When a design defect leads to injuries, the law allows consumers to seek compensation by proving that the design was unreasonably dangerous.
Failure to Warn or Inadequate Instructions
Failure to warn or inadequate instructions occur when a manufacturer or seller does not provide proper warnings or instructions about a product’s potential risks. Even a well-designed and correctly manufactured product can be dangerous if users are not informed of how to use it safely. This type of defect often involves products that have hidden dangers or risks that are not immediately obvious. Some examples include:
- Medication Side Effects: A prescription drug that fails to warn consumers about potential side effects or interactions with other medications.
- Cleaning Products: A chemical cleaner that lacks instructions for safe handling or warnings about hazardous fumes.
- Power Tools: An electric saw without warnings about the risks of improper use or the need for safety gear.
In these cases, a company can be held accountable if the lack of adequate warnings leads to a consumer’s injury or harm.
Proving a Product Liability Case
Proving a product liability case involves demonstrating that a product defect directly caused your injury and that you suffered damages as a result. To succeed, you’ll typically need to establish three main elements:
- The Product Had a Defect: You must show that the product had a manufacturing defect, design flaw, or lacked proper warnings or instructions.
- The Defect Caused Your Injury: It’s crucial to connect the defect to the harm you experienced. This means proving that your injury would not have occurred if the product had been safe.
- You Suffered Damages: Medical records, receipts, and other documentation can help prove the financial, physical, and emotional impact of the injury.
Gathering evidence like the defective product itself, witness statements, and expert evaluations can strengthen your claim. By presenting a clear connection between the defect and your injury, you can pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact an Experienced Thousand Oaks Product Liability Attorney
At Ardalan & Associates, we can help you seek justice when a defective product causes harm. Our team will guide you through each step of the legal process, fighting for the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured by a faulty product, contact us today for a free consultation.
Ardalan & Associates, PLC is a personal injury law firm based in Thousand Oaks, also serving all of Southern California, including Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, and Orange County. We are committed to helping clients involved in personal injury accidents seek justice and navigate their legal journey.