As consumers, we expect products on the market to be safe. But manufacturing companies sometimes try to cut costs or expedite to-market processes, neglecting to put products through necessary, rigorous testing. In these situations, innocent people can sustain serious injuries.
If this happened to you, you have legal options. Product liability laws allow Mississippi residents to take legal action against companies that manufacture and sell defective products.
A Jackson product liability lawyer from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC can guide you through this process and provide sound legal counsel. We have defended the rights of Mississippi citizens with passion and experience for a combined 150 years of legal practice. Our product liability lawyers will do everything possible to get you the maximum compensation amount you’re owed.
We’ll begin with a completely free consultation at our Jackson, MS law firm to discuss your case. From there, we’ll work to build a solid attorney-client relationship that will continue to strengthen as we move toward recovery and justice together.
What Are Dangerous and Defective Products?
Too often, unsafe products end up in consumers’ hands. The legal concept of product liability applies to a dangerous product when it causes harm to people using it correctly.
Countless people are injured every year by dangerous products that never should have made it to market. A defective product can be any consumer good that injures or kills someone.
But there are some types of products that are more often named in product liability claims than others. Our Jackson product liability attorneys can help you handle a case involving:
Auto Parts
Essential functional parts and safety features can cause serious harm to drivers and passengers when they are defective. Car accidents and personal injury can result from faulty:
- Seat belts
- Air bags
- Brake components
- Steering system parts
- Engine components
- Tires
Medical Devices
Millions of people use medical devices every day. If you seek medical attention for any health issue, it’s likely that a medical device will be used in your diagnosis or treatment.
If a design flaw or manufacturing error results in a defective medical device, injury claims can address the impact on the victim’s life. In some cases, your products liability lawyer may need to investigate further to determine if medical malpractice was a factor.
Dangerous Drugs
Drugs that are mislabeled, fail to provide adequate warnings, or give improper instructions for intended use are considered dangerous products. A pharmaceutical company can be held liable for a dangerous drug that causes serious injury to users.
Consumer Goods Used at Home
A defective product in the home may be a fire hazard or choking hazard or otherwise put adults and children at risk of personal injury. Dangerous product defects can be found in the following:
- Electronics
- Household appliances
- Power tools
- Lawn equipment
- Children’s toys
- Baby furniture
- Cleaning products
- Building materials
- Sports or recreational equipment
Agrochemicals
Products designed for agricultural or outdoor use could have dangerous toxins that threaten those who use them and the environment. This includes:
- Herbicides
- Pesticides
- Insecticides
- Fungicides
- Rodenticides
- Fertilizers
- Soil Conditioners
- Plant growth regulators
It’s possible that you were injured by something not included in the list above. If you’ve been injured by a different hazardous product, you can speak with one of our Jackson products liability lawyers about your rights and legal options.
What Constitutes a Defective Product?
A defective product is not simply something that doesn’t work well. It is an unsafe product that can cause catastrophic injuries or death.
Product liability laws generally recognize three main categories of defective products in products liability lawsuits:
Manufacturing Defect
Manufacturing defects occur in the production process. This is a flaw that happens while the product is being manufactured. It may affect only a few items, a batch of items, or more until the production error is discovered.
Defective Design
A design defect occurs before a product even goes to the manufacturing stage. As the design is inherently flawed, all products will be affected, not just a few.
Failure To Warn
If a company does not adequately warn of a product’s dangers and proper and intended use, it may be held accountable for damages incurred by the user.
Injuries From Defectives Products
The repercussions of an injury caused by a poorly manufactured product may include a long period of recovery and medical bills. Harmful products can cause:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Lacerations and bruises
- Burns
An injured victim may be facing years of medical expenses. A product liability lawsuit can help you achieve the means to reach the highest level of recovery possible.
The Jackson product liability lawyers from our law firm will work hard to pursue compensation on behalf of you or a family member. We’ll begin with a free case evaluation to explore your legal avenues for recovery.
How a Product Liability Lawyer Can Help You
Defective products are a serious issue in the eyes of the law. In Jackson, MS and across the country, injured victims have the legal right to take action against a company that designed, manufactured, or sold a harmful product.
Your Jackson product liability attorneys from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC will investigate your case to see which legal doctrine applies. Product liability claims are typically brought based on one of these three concepts:
- Strict Liability – This is the most common type of liability claim. It does not require you to prove negligence, only that the product was, in fact, defective and caused harm.
- Negligence – This aims to prove that a company violated a standard of care in the manufacturing, design, or advertising of a product.
- Breach of Warranty – Companies that make and sell products may claim their products will be safe when used properly. But if a consumer is injured while following the product’s proper use, a company can be held responsible for goods that do not perform as advertised.
Recoverable Damages from a Product Liability Claim
Your legal representation can advise you of the compensation you may be entitled to in your case. Every case is unique, but most injury victims will be eligible for compensatory damages to compensate for their losses, including both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to financial losses like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Damages that are non-economic are non-monetary losses such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Disability or disfigurement
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
How Can I Find Out if a Product Has Been Recalled?
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission keeps a regularly updated recall list. Additional recall sources include recalls.gov, which covers many different categories of recalled products.
For example, if a defective children’s toy has made it to market, you can find more information about the product on these websites. However, a product does not need to be recalled for you and your Jackson product liability attorneys to pursue legal action.
What Should You Do if You Are Injured by a Defective Product?
Our liability lawyers in Jackson, MS recommend taking certain measures to protect yourself and your right to recover compensation after a defective product injury.
- Seek medical attention and document all evidence of medical treatment and bills
- Keep the defective product in its original packaging, with instructions and receipt of purchase
- Take pictures of your injuries and the product immediately after the incident
- Write notes detailing exactly how the incident occurred
- Ask any eyewitnesses of the incident for a statement and their contact information
- Contact an experienced attorney at a law firm you trust to discuss a potential products liability claim
Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC Is Here for Jackson, Mississippi
Through our work, the Jackson personal injury attorneys of Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC are proud to stand up for each and every Mississippi citizen injured by a defective product. Our decades of experience in faulty product litigation and other personal injury practice areas gives us a platform to effectively defend the civil rights of our community members here in Jackson, MS.
If you are a new client, we invite you to schedule a no-cost case evaluation with one of the top-rated Jackson product liability attorneys from our office.
Get in touch with us today for a free consultation.
