Queens Product Liability Attorney
Representing clients injured by defective products
Products should be made with care. We hope that the company that makes these products will take every step to ensure its customers’ safety. Whether we buy products for the home or work, we do so with our safety in someone else’s hands. When designers or manufacturers fail to do their jobs properly, they put others at risk. If you have been injured by a defective product, contact an attorney. You may be entitled to compensation that can help you on the road to recovery. Our firm has been a legal resource to New York for over 30 years. Contact The Law Offices of George Poulos for a consultation to discuss your legal matter.
Defects and product liability
Defect cases can cover a range of issues, including:
- Design defect
- Manufacturing defect
- Failure to warn
A design defect is when a person is seriously injured by the design of a product. For these cases, the plaintiff must prove that their injury would have been avoided if the designer decided on a safer, equally practical, and economically feasible design. You must prove that there were other options available to the designer.
Manufacturing defects are much different. In these cases, the design of the product was proper. The issue stems from a deviation when manufacturing the product. In these cases, you will have to prove that your injuries would have been avoidable if the manufacturer followed the initial design.
Another issue is the lack of proper warnings that appropriately alert the dangers of using the product. Most products come with warnings and guidelines for use. When a person is injured by a product that should have a warning against the action that caused harm, it may constitute a product liability case.
You May Not Have to Prove the Manufacturer Was Careless
New York recognizes strict product liability, and it is the reason these cases exist as a separate area of law. In an ordinary negligence claim, you must show the defendant did something careless. Under strict liability, the question is different. The focus is on the product, not the conduct. If the product was not reasonably safe and that defect was a substantial factor in causing your injury, a manufacturer can be held liable even if it exercised every possible care in designing and building it.
That matters because manufacturers are usually careful, and proving otherwise against a company with engineers, records, and lawyers is hard. Strict liability lets you ask a narrower question a jury can actually answer. Liability is also not limited to the manufacturer. Others in the chain of distribution, including distributors and retailers, can be responsible.
How Long Do You Have to Sue?
The deadline is generally three years from the date of injury. Latent injuries from toxic exposure run three years from when you discovered the injury or reasonably should have. Evidence is the other clock. Preserve the product itself, keep the packaging and any warnings, and do not return it or throw it away.
Examples of product liability cases
There are too many product liability cases that have made national news to list by name. Some auto defect cases include:
- SUV rollover incidents
- Defective acceleration pedals
- Unmanageable motorcycles
More common are incidents of product liability involving the parts of a vehicle, including:
- Batteries
- Airbags
- Tires
- Seat belts
- Floor mats
- Brake systems
Some of the many product liability lawsuits regarding household products include:
- Toys
- Cribs
- Microwaves
- Dishwashers
- Furniture
- Cleaning Products
- Batteries
- Exercise Equipment
Industrial products can also cause injuries, including some notable incidents involving the following products:
- Scaffolding
- Ladders
- Hand tools
- Wood chippers
- Safety equipment
Contact an experienced Queens personal injury attorney to discuss your legal matter
If you were injured by the negligence of a manufacturer or designer of a product, it is important to discuss your legal matter with an effective and experienced law firm. The Law Offices of George Poulos have represented clients in New York for over 30 years. We understand the uncertainty after sustaining serious injury. If you have been injured and believe that negligence was involved, we can help you assess your case, explore which type of defect caused your injury, and guide you through your legal options. To schedule a consultation, contact The Law Offices of George Poulos.