As consumers, we assume the products that we buy are safe to use. However, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2010 alone about 38 million people sought medical care because of a faulty product. Product liability cases are filed when products that we believe to be safe end up causing an injury. Knowing that an injury was caused by a faulty product is one thing, but proving product liability in a court of law is entirely different. You need a lawyer, and you need evidence to prove product liability. Here’s what to know about making a case.
The Product Has to Be Responsible for the Injury
To file a product liability case, the product has to have caused the injury. In other words, there must be an injury that you would not have gotten if not for the faulty product. For example, if you are using a lawnmower, and a rock shoots out the back that causes an injury, that is not strictly related to product failure. In the same scenario, if a faulty bolt blows out the back of the lawnmower and causes the injury, then you probably do have grounds for a case.
Lack of Responsible Warnings
Even if the product directly causes an injury, you may need other evidence, such as a lack of warning labels on the product. Somewhere on the product, there should be advisement to only use it in a certain way in order to avoid injuries. Products must be sold with this information about potential hazards.
Let’s use the lawnmower as an example again. If the bolt on the lawnmower is at risk of coming loose if it is not torqued down to a certain level, and that is not represented in the warning labels or user manual, the manufacturer is at fault. An experienced lawyer will know what to look for on the warning labels to support your case.
Get the Right Support
There are many things that will affect the outcome of a product liability case. You can even your odds by connecting with a product liability lawyer. There is good reason lawyer employment is projected to grow by 6% by 2024. They have the expertise to stand up to manufacturers and others on your behalf. Get the support you need today to manage your product liability case.