Possible Legal Claims
If a person has been injured as a result of using a defective product, he or she may have remedies at law. The causes of action available to an injured party may differ depending on the product, the severity/or type of injury and other specific facts of the case. Defective product cases will generally involve legal claims of personal injury or product liability. In some cases, there may also be a claim for wrongful death. In a personal injury case, the plaintiff (injured party) must prove to the court that the manufacturer had a legal duty to the consumer, that duty was breached, the breach of duty was the direct (proximate) cause of the victim’s injury and that the injury occurred. In contrast, if the cause of action is for product liability, the plaintiff must prove that the product was either defective in design, defective when manufactured or that the product’s manufacturer know of harmful risks associated with the product and failed to warn potential consumers. In cases of wrongful death, the victim’s family must prove that their loved one’s death was caused by using the product. There may also be wrongful death cases where the company failed to warn consumers of dangers associated with using the product, or, in cases of medical drugs or devices, the doctor failed to warn the victim of potential risks. Other potential claims in defective product cases include fraud, negligence and/or breach of warranty. It is important to discuss your case with an attorney prior to defective product litigation.