Issues of Product Safety: Defective Product Basics
Posted in Products Liability on April 30, 2013
As a consumer, there is usually no question as to whether the product being purchased is safe. Many products are, in fact, safe, but this should not discount the dangers posed by defective products. In this three-part blog series, our legal team will discuss issues surrounding general product safety, medication and medical device defects, and the key components in automobile safety.
A product may be considered defective for a number of reasons, including design and manufacturing flaws and failure to warn of potential hazards. If the current design of a particular product makes it dangerous to use as intended, it is considered defective. Additionally, if a product malfunctions due to a manufacturing error or poses safety hazards that could have been avoided with appropriate warning or instruction, it is also considered defective.
Product defects are not limited to any one type of product. Rather, they encompass a very wide range including toys, medications, medical devices, cars, clothing, and others. As defective product attorneys, our legal team at Robinson Calcagnie Robinson Shapiro Davis, Inc. has obtained substantial verdicts and settlements for various product liability cases, including a verdict of $4.9 billion in a case of defective vehicle design.
If a recall is issued for any product, consumers should immediately stop using the product and follow instructions to remedy the problem. If a recalled product has caused harm, legal action may be warranted.
Some useful resources to help determine which products are safe to purchase include, but are not limited to, the following:
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Consumerbell
- Recalls
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
For more information concerning product safety, visit our blog again for the next post in our Issues of Product Safety Blog Series.