The ASACLEAN Blog
All consumers have the right to purchase functioning and safe products. With millions of products being produced and bought every day in the U.S., there is a small percentage of defective products entering the market, potentially causing harm to other consumers.
Generally, a defective product is described as an item that cannot do its basic function. But, in the legal sense, a defective product is an item that can cause serious harm to a consumer. If you’ve been seriously injured due to a defective product, you are entitled to file a lawsuit against the company that produced it.
With millions of products hitting the shelves every day in the U.S., it can be difficult to determine which products you should be cautious of. Here are the top five common defective products you need to look out for:
1. Children’s toys
When it comes to children’s safety, the parent must ensure that their child is away from harm as much as possible. But it can be challenging to do this as it is impossible to monitor your child 24/7. The majority of the time, parents tend to buy their children toys to keep them occupied and happy. Unfortunately, children’s toys are one of the top defective products you need to look out for in the market.
Although there are regulations and laws about the production of children’s toys, some defective products still make it in the market. When buying toys for your children, make sure that it is labeled properly, and that is it from an authorized company. Avoid buying toys without labels and from shady sites online.
2. Motor vehicles
Approximately 115 million vehicles travel on U.S. streets every day. Every 60 seconds, a car accident occurs somewhere in the country. Defective motor parts are one reason why these car accidents occur.
Motor defects involving the brake, ignition switch, seatbelt, emissions system, tire, or airbag defects can cause serious personal injuries, and sometimes, even death. Before purchasing a vehicle, make sure that all the parts are functioning properly.
3. Household appliances
All Americans use household appliances every day. You might not realize how often you use it, but it’s an integral part of your everyday life. You wake up in the morning, open the TV, use the vacuum cleaner, switch the lights on and off, wash your clothes with the washing machine, and many more. These household appliances were manufactured to make your life easier, but unfortunately, it’s also one of the market’s top defective products.
Some household appliances are prone to defects. Fortunately, some household products have product liability claims. Some household appliances with product liability claims are:
- Kitchen ranges without anti-tip devices;
- Faulty water heaters;
- Clothes dryers that accumulate too much lint; and
- Hair Dryers that cause fires.
4. Medical devices and pharmaceuticals
Medical products were created to treat illnesses and save lives. But when a medical product has defects, it can potentially cause more harm than good to the patient.
Although pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices now undergo extensive testing before being released on the market, there are still some instances where defects weren’t easily detected until a consumer used them.
Here are some defective pharmaceutical drugs that faced defective drug lawsuits over the recent years:
- Abilify;
- Concerta;
- Nexium;
- Invokana;
- Prilosec;
- Taxotere;
5. Industrial equipment and machinery
Defective industrial equipment and machinery can cause serious harm to a lot of people. When industrial equipment malfunctions, it can lead to catastrophic workplace accidents, which can cause serious injury to some workers, and in some cases, can even cause death.
Defects involving industrial equipment and machinery can involve something as simple as a ladder breaking or a saw without proper guard to something major like a crane collapsing or electrocution due to a machine malfunctioning.
If a product causes or contributes to your injuries due to a defect or malfunction, you may have grounds for a claim against the manufacturer or distributor.
You do not need proof of the defendant’s negligence in these cases, although you do have to prove that the product was unreasonably hazardous and that a defect caused your injuries.
How to Pursue a Product Liability Claim in California
First and foremost, receive medical care for your product-related injuries. Once you’re on the mend, start gathering information about the incident. Write down the name and manufacturer of the product. Take photos of the item that injured you and the part that is defective if possible. Record where you were when the incident occurred, and what you were doing. If you were using the product in a way the manufacturer did not intend, take note of this.
A defective product liability injury lawyer can help you pursue a product liability claim, regardless of whether the company was negligent. If you or a family member recently sustained an injury while using a product as the manufacturer intended, do not hesitate to immediately contact a defective liability lawyer. They can serve as a helpful legal guide as you recover from your injury.
