Did you know that there were over 13 million emergency room visits in 2019 due to product-related injuries?
It happens a lot more than we realize because it’s not covered in the news that much. We hear about sensationalized cases and the occasional major product recall.
If you find yourself in a situation where you or a loved one has injuries from a specific product, you want to know what your rights are.
It is possible to sue a company under product liability law. Read on to learn what it is and how you can protect your rights.
What Is Product Liability Law?
Product liability law is a part of personal injury law that is supposed to protect the rights of consumers.
Consumers should have the reasonable expectation that a product they use won’t cause them harm. If a product can cause harm, it should be labeled appropriately.
When consumers are injured by a defective product, they have the right to sue those responsible.
How to Sue for Product-Related Injuries
The key component of a product liability case is your ability to prove that the product directly caused your injuries.
You then need to figure out who is ultimately responsible for the product. It could be a manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, the manufacturer of a specific part, or an installation company.
Do you need a product liability lawyer? Absolutely. The first thing that a company will do is to try to discredit you. They’ll blame you for the accident instead of taking responsibility for the defective product.
Product liability attorneys such as Sampson Law Firm have experience and knowledge in this area that you don’t. They’ll also use the resources they have to go after these companies and get the settlement that you deserve.
How Product Liability Cases Work
The first thing you need to do is to gather your documentation. This includes medical bills, financial statements, plus additional costs related to your injury.
You’ll take them to an attorney, and they’ll review your case. They may accept your case or decline it based on their belief in the case.
Product liability attorneys usually get paid on a contingency basis, meaning they’ll get paid when they win a settlement. They’ll take a certain percentage of the settlement.
How much you can receive depends on the company you sue. If it’s a small business that doesn’t have product liability insurance, you may not be able to recover that much in financial damages.
If the company does have product liability insurance, you can get a higher amount because the insurance company will cover the claim.
The length of time it takes depends on how complex your case is. Your case is likely to settle out of court.
Understanding Product Liability Law
Product liability law is a complicated area of law because you have to prove that a product caused an injury. You may also have to prove that you used the product as intended.
In the end, it helps to have a product liability lawyer to represent your interests in the case. Be sure to check out the other articles on this site for more legal tips.
Rene Bennett is a graduate of New Jersey, where he played volleyball and annoyed a lot of professors. Now as Zobuz’s Editor, he enjoys writing about delicious BBQ, outrageous style trends and all things Buzz worthy.