As consumers in the United States, we use an endless number of products in our daily lives. From shoes to food to appliances to electronics, different kinds of products are simply ingrained in almost everything we do. With hundreds of millions of products available–often with just a simple click of a button–it should be no surprise that not all of them are as high-quality as they should be or promise to be. While receiving a less than perfect product can be disappointing, it can truly be upsetting if that product unexpectedly malfunctions and causes injuries to you or a member of your family.
Injuries caused by defective or dangerous products can often lead to legal claims based on products liability legal principles. If you believe you may have a case, please contact a highly experienced Myrtle Beach product liability attorney today to discuss how we can help you.
Motor Vehicle Defects
Some of the defective products that can be the most dangerous are parts or components of cars, motorcycles, or large commercial trucks. There are many parts of motor vehicles that may malfunction and cause a driver to suddenly lose control of the vehicle. Such loss of control can often lead to a devastating crash that results in serious injuries.
Some of the most common auto or truck parts that can lead to accidents include the following:
- Brakes and antilock brake systems;
- Tires;
- Axles;
- Coupling;
- Steering system;
- Airbags.
When a manufacturer engages in widespread sales of car parts for several different models of vehicles and the part is inherently defective, millions of people may be affected by the defective part. This can not only lead to a large-scale recall by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but also can can result in serious and even fatal crashes.
Dangerous Products Right in Your Home
In addition to parts for motor vehicles, there are many potentially defective or dangerous consumer products right in your own home. Some of these products may be unknowingly used by your family members on a daily basis and you may not realize the risk of possible injury exists until it is too late.
Some of the most common household products that can malfunction or otherwise lead to injury can include:
- Appliances — Stoves, microwaves, blenders, grills, toasters, washers and dryers, and other standard household appliances can result in serious burns, lacerations, or other injuries if they malfunction.
- Child products — If you have a small child, you know they require a great number of products from the time they are born. Cribs, strollers, car seats, changing tables, high chairs, and other special furniture can cause falls and injuries if they are defective. In addition, toys and other products that are wrongfully marketed for certain children can lead to suffocation or choking injuries. Small magnets and unsafe lead paint pose additional risks.
- Electronics — Electronics are now ubiquitous in our homes, from televisions to surround sound to computers to robot vacuums. Electronics can often malfunction and cause fires, burns, electrocutions, and similar injuries. In addition, if the mounting for a television fails, it can fall and cause serious injuries.
- Recreational and sports equipment — We all like to have fun and we may use sporting or recreational equipment to do so. Unfortunately, fun times can be ruined if such equipment malfunctions and causes injuries.
Holding Companies Liable for Selling Defective Products
If a product causes you injury, you likely wonder whether you have any legal rights to hold the company responsible for selling the product in the first place. You do have rights to recover for your losses if the company was negligent in producing, selling, or marketing the product that injured you.
Companies are generally negligent in one of three ways:
- Defective marketing — The product itself is not defective, however, the company failed to properly and completely warn of the possible dangers and risks of using the products. Consumers therefore use the product without knowledge of these risks.
- Defective design — The product was designed with an inherent defect or flaw. This means that every unit that stems from that design will have that defect or flaw and could possibly malfunction.
- Defective assembly — In this situation, the product was properly designed without flaws, however, a flaw or defect was incorporated in the assembly stage. This could be because the product was assembled incorrectly and not according to instructions or perhaps the company used inadequate materials to make the product.
Identifying what caused the defect in the product that led to your accident can be complicated and you always want the help of a skilled product liability attorney to hold the manufacturer liable for its actions.
Helping You Recover for Your Losses
Once you establish that the company was negligent in designing, assembling, or marketing the product that injured you, you can seek compensation for your injury-related losses. Many losses include medical bills, lost income, estimated future lost earnings, future medical care, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, permanent disability, and more. If a company knew of a dangerous defect and failed to issue a recall or warn consumers, you may even be able to recover punitive damages, which are intended to punish the manufacturer for its actions. An experienced attorney can evaluate the specific damages available in your case.
Contact a Myrtle Beach Defective Product Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you have sustained injuries from a product that you believed was safe, it is only natural to want to hold the company liable for its actions. However, it can be difficult to know where to begin in doing so, especially when it comes to large corporate manufacturers. Fortunately, the defective products attorneys at the Joye Law Firm are here to help you. Our firm has the resources necessary to help you obtain compensation from large companies and we always strive for the maximum possible recovery for every client. We are dedicated to our clients, so if you want to learn more about how we can help you, please call our office for a free consultation at (888) 324-3100 as soon as possible.
