Stockton Products Liability Lawyer

airbag

Products liability is a subset of personal injury that involves defective and dangerous products. Our personal injury law firm has represented individuals and families for the harm they have suffered caused by hazardous products that were sold to consumers by negligent manufacturers. If you have been injured by a defective or dangerous consumer product and believe you may benefit from speaking to the best Stockton products liability lawyer, read on.  

A Trusting Public

Americans enjoy access to some of the most innovative products on the planet. Oversight by government agencies and consumer advocacy groups has resulted in confidence in the products we use regularly. Without conscious thought, we rely on proper design, adequate testing, and careful manufacturing procedures to keep us safe. 

Unfortunately, sometimes those systems fail, and due to negligence in one or more of those areas, a harmful product may be released to the public, causing injuries or even death. When that happens, the injured parties deserve justice and financial compensation for their damages.  

Products Liability Law

Despite efforts to keep the products on the American market safe, consumers are exposed to unsafe products regularly. Manufacturer defects can remain undetected until the product goes on to cause harm. The same is true with yet-to-be-discovered design flaws. California has comprehensive products liability laws designed to protect the public from harm caused by dangerous and/or defective products. 

Part of the job of an experienced products liability lawyer is to determine where in the supply chain the negligence occurred and what entity should be held responsible for the harm caused. There are usually many possible defendants involved in a products liability case. Potential defendants include:

  • Component part manufacturers
  • Assembling manufacturers
  • Distributors
  • Retail outlets
  • Wholesalers
Proving Negligence in a Products Liability Case

Manufacturers of defective or dangerous products could be held liable (legally responsible) for failing to warn the public of the dangers associated with using their products. Product manufacturers are legally obligated to provide clear warnings of potential hazards on product labeling or within included paperwork. 

If a defective or dangerous product causes harm to a consumer, some combination of the following types of liability could be the legal bases for a lawsuit:  

  • Design Defect
  • Manufacturing Defect
  • Failure to Warn
What are Some of the Most Dangerous Consumer Products? 

While virtually all products have the potential to be defective, some are more prone to become dangerous due to a defect. Here are some of the most common product types associated with products liability lawsuits:

  • Medications - prescription and/or over-the-counter - such as Zantac, Elmiron, and Metformin. These can have undisclosed side effects, be defectively manufactured, include incorrect or incomplete instructions, or not have the required warning labels.
  • Medical Devices, such as the Paragard IUD or Allergan Breast Implants
  • Tools and Machinery
  • Harmful chemicals and/or pesticides such as Round-Up and Dicamba
  • Tobacco
  • Food Items
  • Firearms
  • Motor vehicles such as trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, ATVs
  • Auto accessories such as airbags, seatbelts, tires, and car seats/booster seats
  • Household appliances - may overheat, causing a fire
  • Children's toys - there are many cases of toys presenting a choking hazard or having been made with dangerous paints or other chemicals
  • Children's furniture, such as cribs that come with asphyxiation or entrapment hazards
  • Clothing / Apparel - choking danger, or constructed with flammable material

Other defectively designed or manufactured products that could cause injury include the following:

  • Tire jacks (see recent Harbor Freight recall)
  • Electric heaters that create a fire hazard
  • Defective step stools or ladders that make a fall risk
  • Industrial equipment such as cranes, forklifts, or scaffolding, all of which, if defective, could cause catastrophic injuries

Sometimes, but certainly not always, dangerous and/or faulty products are recalled from the marketplace due to the discovery of significant danger associated with their use. Recently recalled products include:

In addition, it seems that every few months, there is a recall on food items sold at grocery stores due to contamination with salmonella or E. Coli.

Below is a video from CBS reporting on the Takata airbag recall.

Recovering from Injuries Caused by Dangerous Products

Many times, injuries caused by defective products are overlooked. The injured person may not immediately realize that their injuries were caused by a defective item. This is often the case with defective or dangerous medications.

Consumers do not deserve to be injured by a dangerous product. However, an injured person may feel helpless to take on a huge manufacturing corporation. It is essential to hold these companies accountable. An experienced Stockton products liability attorney can protect your rights and best interests as an injured party.

What are the Common Types of Injuries from Defective Product Use?

Each year many consumers suffer injuries, and some are killed due to using defective and dangerous products. Some of the most common injuries caused by defective products include: 

  • Suffocation
  • Head Injuries due to falls
  • Poisoning
  • Broken Bones
  • Lacerations
  • Cancer diagnosis caused by the use of a dangerous drug
  • Electrocution
  • Burns
  • Disfigurement
  • Paralysis
Importance of Consulting with a Products Liability Lawyer

Recovering from severe injuries can take months or even years. Often people are left with chronic pain or permanent disabilities. Recovery from injuries takes time and standing up to a large corporation takes courage. After suffering injuries caused by a defective product, it is essential to understand your options and legal rights. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a dangerous or defective item, our law firm invites you to discuss your claim with our experienced Stockton products liability lawyers without obligation.

Contact a Products Liability Attorney Serving Stockton, CA

If you or a family member has experienced an injury or other medical harm due to your use of a dangerous or defective product, do not delay - reach out to us so that we can discuss your legal rights. Call our experienced products liability lawyers in Stockton at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 to set up a no-obligation consultation. We also offer an online contact option.

The products liability lawyers employed at our firm are experienced and skilled in investigating cases against dangerous product manufacturers. We have had success with such cases through informal settlement negotiations and jury trials. We have successfully recovered compensation for Californians who have been harmed by defective medical devices, dangerous drugs, industrial equipment, defective automobiles, and other hazardous products.

We are honored to be members of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Please take a moment to read reviews from many of our prior clients on AvvoGoogle, and Yelp. A sampling of our successful case conclusions can be found on the verdicts and settlements page of our website.

Editor's Note: Updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 3.17.23]

Image by Marcel Langthim from Pixabay 

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