We care about your consumer rights
The United States is a country that runs on consumer goods and, as a result, has many federal laws to regulate how these goods are produced and distributed. Despite this fact, some unsafe products manage to be approved and make it into the hands of unsuspecting consumers. A defective product doesn’t always just break or fail to work; it can explode, catch fire, or do other dangerous things that can injure individuals and even cause fatalities in some extreme cases. According to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) statistics, dangerous or defective products result in 3 million injuries and 22,000 fatalities every year in the United States.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous product, you deserve to be represented by a firm that is knowledgeable on consumer laws and protections. Lara Law Firm’s Alhambra product liability attorney is locally-based and dedicated to serving injured clients. As a smaller firm, we’re able to give you our undivided attention to ensure we address your concerns and leave no stone unturned as we investigate your case.
It’s a great experience to have the Lara Law firm as my legal representative.
– John Leong
Frequently asked questions
What are California’s product liability laws?
Product liability refers to personal injury lawsuits that victims can file when they’ve been injured by a dangerous or defective product. Because there is no one federal product liability law, each state has its own laws that define negligence and strict liability.
In California, victims can file a product liability claim on the ground of negligence, which occurs when an individual or company breaches its duty of care to consumers, or strict liability, which allows victims to recover damages if the product was caused by a design flaw, manufacturing error, or marketing defect. Because these laws can be complicated to understand, it’s important you hire a personal injury attorney who has demonstrated experience in product liability claims.
What are some examples of product liability cases?
Product liability is a diverse area of the law that focuses on the accountability of corporations that fail to create safe products. When consumers are injured because of a product defect, the people who are responsible must be held liable. There are many things that can go wrong in the creation of any type of product, which is why the details of product liability claims vary so widely.
For example, are the companies that produce defective or dangerous products usually to blame for injuries and damages? It depends entirely on what caused the accident. The party responsible for a design issue, for example, is usually not the same party that assembles the product in the manufacturing stage.
Product defects can include a wide array of issues including, the design, manufacturing, or marketing of an item. Depending on the type of product defect, liability for resulting injuries may fall on designers, factories, advertising agencies, people involved in the patent process, and others.
The main types of dangerous product defects include:
- Manufacturing defects: If the product has a flaw or defect that occurred during manufacturing or assembly, the manufacturer can be held liable for damages.
- Design defects: If a design error is what resulted in the product’s defect, the designer may be at fault.
- Failure to warn: If the dangerous product wasn’t labeled properly or failed to include adequate safety instructions or warning, it might have a marketing defect.
- Breach of warranty: If a product comes with a warranty and fails to live up to its terms, victims can file a claim based on a breach of express warranty.
Some product liability injuries can be serious and even fatal. Burn injuries, for example, may require numerous cosmetic surgeries and skin grafts, and some products that explode can result in the loss of limbs.
Examples of product liability
A product liability claim can be filed due to defects with any type of product, as long as the use of the item caused injury to the claimant and/or other consumers. From medical devices to children’s toys, product liability law covers a wide range of items and scenarios.
Automotive defects are some of the most popular subjects of product liability cases. A defective vehicle or car part can lead to accidents and result in serious injuries or fatalities for drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Some common instances of product defects include issues such as:
- Rollover accidents
- Failed seatbelts
- Defective airbags
- Faulty seatbacks
- Unable-to-secure child car seats
What happens when an airbag is defective?
One of the most common defective products that is known to contribute to accidents and injuries is the airbag. Airbags are an essential safety feature in a motor vehicle that has protected countless drivers and passengers from more serious injuries in auto accidents. Unfortunately, they frequently fail during deployment.
When an airbag is defective, it can either fail to deploy in an accident, resulting in less protection, or it can deploy improperly and end up causing the most serious injuries to drivers and passengers. Airbags have been known to cause injuries including broken bones, decapitation, blindness, and damage to the skull and brain. A unique injury is what is known as an airbag burn, which can occur due to the chemicals that inflate airbags.
How we can help?
Whether you were injured by a defective airbag or some other product, you can rely on our firm to deal with the insurance companies that try to delay or undermine your claim. We’re also not afraid to go up against the manufacturers, automakers, or other companies whose negligence led to your pain and suffering. Our attorney can get the compensation you need to pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
You don’t have to remain silent during this trying time. We can be a voice for you and pursue justice on your behalf so you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay for your surgeries or medications. Lara Law Firm is committed to helping our community members when they’re at their lowest.
