Unsafe commercial products and how to hold negligent companies responsible
If you or a loved one have experienced a significant injury because of poor design, faulty construction, or insufficient warning labels, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Commercial companies have the financial means to defend themselves with experienced teams that look to minimize payouts; you need an experienced product liability who knows what it takes to win and stand up to these large commercial entities. The product liability and personal injury lawyers at Bethlehem Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have handled cases against automakers, drug companies, tech companies, and equipment manufacturers of all sizes. Call our Bethlehem product liability team at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation.
$32 Million Wrongful Death
$26 Million Truck Accident
$17.5 Million Car Accident
$12 Million Product Liability
$9 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$7.5 Million Auto Accident
$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident
$6.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
$5 Million Medical Malpractice
$5 Million Bus Accidents
What is Product Liability?
Product liability is the legal responsibility that manufacturers and distributors have when a consumer is injured by a faulty product. When a dangerous or unsafe product injures you, you must prove that the product was defective and caused your injury. In the United States, 11.7 million people visited emergency rooms in 2021 as a direct result of injuries resulting from the use of consumer products. Manufacturing defects are the most common type of product liability claims in the U.S.
Unlike other personal injury claims, you do not have to prove that negligence was the cause of the accident or injuries; all you need to show is there was a defect that caused your injury. A product defect can injure you in the following ways:
- Design defect – The product lacked a feature making it safe for use.
- Manufacturing defect – The product had a feature that made it dangerous.
- Failure to warn – The product did not have any warning labels or instructions about its risks.
What is Pennsylvania’s Strict Liability Law?
When a dangerous or unsafe product injures you, you must prove that the product was defective and caused your injury. Unlike other personal injury claims, you do not have to prove that negligence was the cause of the accident or injuries; you need to show that there was a defect that injured you, thereby breaching the warranty (manufacturers and sellers may be liable).
What is the Statute of Limitations For My Product Liability in Pennsylvania?
The injured party has two years from the date of injury to file a claim. There are some exceptions, in certain circumstances, under what is known as the “discovery rule”:
- Fraudulent concealment – If the product defect is not discovered at the time of injury due to its fraudulent concealment, the two-year clock does not begin to tick until the point at which a reasonable person would have discovered the defect.
- Statute of repose — Pennsylvania law grants 12 years to deliver defective real estate improvement claims that injure you (or damage your property).
What Do You Have to Prove in a Product Liability Case?
Under strict liability rules, victims only need to show that the problem with a product was the main cause of their unexpected injuries. They must prove that:
- The product is defective
- The product was used as the manufacturer intended
- The product defect caused the user to endure harm
- Compensation can afford the damages that the victim endured
Valid product liability cases include those where you have been injured due to poor design, faulty construction, or insufficient warning labels, regardless of whether manufacturers or sellers acted negligently or intentionally.
What Compensation is Available in a Bethlehem Product Liability Claim?
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and physical disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Other financial and non-financial losses
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Product Liability Claim?
- Product manufacturer
- Manufacturers of the products’ parts
- Assembler(s) of the product (individual and/or company)
- The installer of the product (individual and/or company)
- Wholesalers or distributors
- Merchants who exercise resale of the product
Do you need a product liability attorney to represent you to seek compensation?
If you’ve been injured by a dangerous product, chances are you’re not alone. Often, defective products result in class action lawsuits or mass torts. Both types of legal action involve multiple plaintiffs (party seeking legal action) who have been harmed by a single defendant, especially when the defendant is a large corporation. In both types of proceedings, plaintiffs with similar grievances are consolidated into a single lawsuit rather than hundreds of individual court cases. If you were hurt by a product that may be the subject of a class action, mass tort, or that you have endured harm from, a Bethlehem product liability lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help you decide how to proceed. We have the experience, the resources, and the winning team to get you the compensation that you are entitled to…consultations are complementary — call us today!
