You use dozens of products every day. Most of them function properly every time, but sometimes, due to defective or flawed design, manufacturing, labeling, or instructions, they can cause harm or injury. Any product – from a hair dryer to a food product or even a coffee mug – can cause serious injuries. You may not even know how potentially dangerous an everyday item can be until you get sick or injured. While any defective product can cause harm, some products are more likely to be defective or harmful than others.
Medical devices
Medical devices are intended to improve a person’s health, but when they are poorly designed or malfunction, they can cause serious or even fatal injuries. Faulty implants or medical tools can cause illness, infection, organ damage, severe pain, and injury, or even death. The most common defective medical devices include metal-on-metal hip replacements, transvaginal mesh implants, and cardiac stents.
Pharmaceutical drugs
Doctors prescribe medication to help alleviate an illness or medical condition, but sometimes prescription drugs can create new problems. Serious side effects can emerge after years of regular use. Additionally, drugs that haven’t undergone sufficient testing or that are prescribed outside of their intended purpose can cause irreversible harm.
Motor vehicles
Most automobile accidents are the result of human error. But, sometimes, defective parts such as brakes, seatbelts, ignitions, airbags, tires, or faulty vehicle design are to blame, causing treacherous driving conditions, insufficient safety, or serious accidents. These defects can lead to serious personal injuries or even death.
Appliances and Machinery
Household appliances – especially everyday items like coffee makers, microwaves, and toasters – can cause electrocution, fires, and other hazards if defective. For example, a mislabeled or malfunctioning water heater can cause irreversible harm to small children, or a faulty air conditioner may spark a house fire. Similarly, in an industrial setting, heavy equipment or machinery can cause catastrophic injuries to workers on the job if they are defective or not labeled properly.
Children’s Products
Our children are the most precious people in our lives, and we expect that the items we use to dress them, transport them, or entertain them also are safe. But, when things like car seats, bedding, or toys are improperly made, installed, or labeled, the results can be deadly, as children are less likely to be able to help themselves if they are injured.
Chemicals and Cleaning Products
When cleaning products or cosmetics are improperly labeled, they can cause injury including burns and poisoning. Without clear and correct warning labels or ingredient lists, you may be harmed even without a product defect.
Contaminated Food
Ideally, the food we eat should be clean and safe, but periodically, food items are recalled due to a bacteria or illness outbreak. These outbreaks can be widespread, cause severe injury or even death, and may take months before the food item is safe to consume again.
If you are injured by a defective product, you should immediately seek medical attention. Once you have recovered from your injuries, contact an experienced product liability attorney with a proven track record of favorable verdicts and settlements. Do not attempt to take on the corporation on your own. If available, collect any paperwork relating to the defective product, including receipts, original packing, and instructional manuals. These documents are helpful when filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
Contacting a personal injury attorney can help you get questions answered and help you decide if you have a valid liability claim.
