Virginia Product Liability Attorney

Imagine you’re traveling down the highway, and your steering wheel is faulty and your car loses control. A hair dryer overheats and catches fire, and you badly burn your hand. Or even worse, your pacemaker stops working and you suffer a heart attack.

In this era of technology, virtually everything we buy, use, or consume is made by someone or something else. The clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the toys our children play with, and the equipment we use every day. Even the medical devices we use and the pharmaceutical drugs we take. It’s all manufactured somewhere. We don’t tend to give much thought about how things are made, or what safeguards are in place to make sure that the products we use aren’t harmful. We rely on designers and manufacturers to be aware of potential dangers and to make products so that they’re safe for our use.

Holding Manufacturers Responsible

When you buy a product, you have certain rights as a consumer. One of those rights is the right to be safe while using the item. Companies have an obligation to design and manufacture safe products; however, that isn’t always the case. Unfortunately, some manufacturers are negligent when designing products, and that sometimes can lead to you or your family members suffering serious injuries. When that happens, you may end up with injuries due to that product’s use.

There are countless products on the market that have the potential to cause injuries, but some of the most common include:

     • Defective Vehicles & Auto Parts – Vehicles must pass rigorous inspection testing before heading to the market, so when flaws are discovered, it may be too late for many families and their loved ones. Common recalls are seatbelts, airbags, ignition switches, and tires.

     • Dangerous Cribs – Cribs should be safe places where children can rest and sleep, but some cribs pose serious risks of injury and death to infants.

     • Toxic Toys – Some toys are manufactured with toxic chemicals, plastics and metals (including lead), which can cause sickness and even neurological damage in young children.

     • Asbestos – Asbestos is widely used in manufacturing and in many home and commercial products. Exposure to asbestos can cause diseases such as asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, and several kinds of cancer.

     • Benzene Acute Myeloid Leukemia Risk – Exposure to benzene—one of the top 20 chemicals used in the United States—has been linked to acute myeloid leukemia, a fast-spreading cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

     • E-Cigarette Injury – The lithium ion batteries used to power electronic cigarettes, or “e-cigarettes,” can explode or catch fire at any time, causing serious and permanent injuries.

What To Do If You Are Injured By A Defective Product

After suffering an injury from a defective product, you may be thinking about your legal rights to compensation. Companies will often claim they can’t be held responsible if a consumer was injured and often claim the product wasn’t use as “directed or intended”.  If you are hurt by a defective product, here are some simple steps you can take:

     • Immediately seek medical attention, even if you think the injury is not that severe.

     • Gather information from witness (if any). Record that information with a written statement or a video recording.

     • Take photographs or a video of the product and the scene.

     • Keep the product. Be careful when handling the product, and place it in a bag or box for safe keeping. If anyone (including the manufacturer asks for the product, do not give it to them).

     • Collect any available documentation. This includes instruction manuals, purchase receipt, and anything else product related.

     • Also take photos of both cars damage, and any injuries that were caused as a result of the accident.

     • Call the office of Attorney James Feinman for your free initial consultation.

If you have been hurt by a poorly designed or manufactured product, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. Contact Attorney James B. Feinman for your free, no-obligation initial consultation.