Every year, an alarming number of companies create products that they later have to issue recalls for because they are a risk to the safety of consumers. There are other products, however, that go without a recall, and they could still pose a risk to your safety. Products that are designed wrong or malfunction after being purchased can cause harm to you or your family, and you have the right to sue under certain circumstances.

What is a Defective Product?

You may be wondering about the difference between what is considered a defective product, and what is just a poor quality product that breaks soon after purchase. Defective product laws vary by state, but most laws say that a product is defined as defective if it fails to perform in the manner it was expected to perform, within reason. Products that can be potentially defective include:

• All-terrain vehicles
• Power tools
• Barbecues
• Industrial equipment
• Garage doors
• Quads
• Lawnmowers
• Boats
• Elevators
• Escalators
• Hair products
• Electronics
• And more

When Can You Sue Over a Defective Product?

As we mentioned above, defective product laws vary by state, but many of the general principles are the same. Most of the time, you don’t have to be the buyer of a product or the user of a product in order to have the right to sue. You may bring a defective product liability claim against a manufacturer, retailer, wholesaler, distributor, or a combination of all of these parties.

Hiring an Expert

Product liability cases can be difficult to prosecute, and you’ll definitely want an expert on your side to help establish the claim. Contact Ahlander Injury Law today to help you sue a company for a defective product. You’ll get the greatest chance of a positive outcome and earn the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.

If you were injured while using a product, do you have a legal case? If your situation possesses the following requirements, it’s time to hire a defective product lawyer.

If You Can Prove an Error, a Defect, or a Failure

To have a case, you must be able to prove that one or more of the following scenarios occurred:

   Manufacturing Error: If a single product has a defect resulting from a manufacturing error.

   Defective Design: If the inherent design of an entire line of products has a flaw and is unreasonably dangerous.

   Failure to Warn: If the dangerous quality of the product is not obvious to the ordinary consumer.

If You Were Using the Product as It Was Intended

You must have been using the product in a way that the manufacturer intended customers to use it (or in a way that an ordinary consumer would use it) in order to have a defective product case. Also, the product can’t have been substantially changed from the condition in which it was originally sold.

One important note, you must be able to prove that you did not know about a product defect when you were using it. If you knew about the defect and continued to use it anyway, you have given up your right to claim injury damages.

If You Have Suffered a Direct Injury or Loss

You are not entitled to a claim if you didn’t suffer any form of direct injury, harm, or significant monetary loss caused by the defective product. By direct, it’s meant that the product itself caused the injury or loss, not if the product caused you to destroy something valuable.

Meeting All the Requirements

If you have met all of the above requirements, then you likely have a solid defective product case. If this is the case, contact an experienced defective product lawyer such as Erik Ahlander to get legal advice and a fair resolution for your injuries or loss.