Defective Product Liability Lawyers in Pittsburgh

Simply put, products are considered defective when a flaw or problem makes them unreasonably dangerous for consumers. Product defects are a significant concern for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike, given the inherent dangers and potential for injuries that they pose. The most common types of product defects are:

Design Defects

Design defects occur when a product's design is faulty or contains a flaw that poses an unreasonable danger. Even if manufactured precisely according to design specifications, products with design defects will still pose a risk to consumers. Examples of design defects are products like furniture or automobiles that are overly prone to toppling over due to an inordinately high center of gravity or an improperly designed safety guard on a power tool that does not effectively prevent injury.

Manufacturing Defects

These defects occur during the manufacturing process when errors in manufacturing individual products lead to deviation from the intended design. These aberrations can be very dangerous and result from errors in materials, assembly, or quality control. Manufacturing defects may also occur due to incorrect installation of wires or circuitry. Given the dangerous nature of individual product defects and the potential for extensive damage or injury, manufacturers have a responsibility to eliminate manufacturing defects to the best of their ability and release safe products to market.

Marketing or Labeling Defects

Marketing defects can occur for many reasons. In some instances, manufacturers may have a 'failure to warn’ consumers, meaning they did not include adequate warnings or instructions for safe use. Even if a product is well-designed and manufactured, it can still be considered defective if the potential risks or dangers associated with its use are not effectively communicated to consumers. Marketing defects may also occur when manufacturers fail to provide accurate claims regarding the product's use.

TYPES OF PRODUCTS THAT MAY HAVE DEFECTS

While manufacturers in any industry can produce faulty or defective products, some tend to yield more defects than others, given the nature of the products and their intended applications. Some everyday products that may have defects include:

• Airbags
• Automobiles
• Car Tires
• Defective Seatbelts and Car Safety Devices
• Medical Devices
• Home Appliances such as air fryers and blenders
• Cleaning Products
• Cosmetics such as beauty products and implants
• Contaminated Food and Beverages
• Pharmaceutical Drugs
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Children’s Toys or Gear, such as car seats, cribs, baby formula, skateboards, and bicycles
• Amusement Park Rides
• Gardening Tools and Equipment
• Building Materials
• Office Products
• Consumer Protection Class Actions

Other examples of products linked to injury include:‍

• Forklifts
• Vape Pens
• Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Blanket
• Denture Cream Poisoning
• Hernia Mesh Defects
• Exactech Polyethylene Oxidation product defects

COMMON DEFECTIVE PRODUCT INJURIES

Thousands of people each year are unfortunately injured or killed by defective or faulty products. Regardless of the product defect cause or the type of product that is defective, injuries suffered due to product defects can be devastating and have long-lasting impacts on the lives of victims and their loved ones. Common injuries sustained in defective product accidents include:

• Burns
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Asphyxiation
• Broken Bones
• Choking
• Organ Damage or Failure
• Lacerations
• Amputations
• Eye Damage
• Electrocution and other electrical injuries

To prove liability in a defective product case, you and your attorney must prove not only that there is, in fact, a defect but that it was the direct cause of an injury suffered. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to collect compensatory damages from the party or parties responsible for the product flaw that led to an injury. Liable parties may include:

• ‍Manufacturers—In the event of a manufacturing defect, the main manufacturing company is likely at least partially liable for the injuries and damages caused by the defect.‍
• Sellers—If the retailer of a product is aware of a product defect or is somehow responsible for causing a defect, that party may also be liable for the damages resulting from any injuries suffered.‍
• Marketers—If marketers fail to adequately warn consumers of potential risk or fail to provide accurate information and instruction regard the product's use, they can be held liable for damages.