Product Liability Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyers / Product Liability Lawyer

Representing Victims Injured by Dangerous Products

Every consumer product you purchase is supposed to be safe, and every product manufacturer is required to ensure the safety of what they sell. However, too often, manufacturers will cut corners, putting your safety on the line. Your car can have a faulty part that makes it unsafe to drive. Your prescription medication or the food you eat can be hazardous for human consumption. If a dangerous consumer product has seriously injured you or a loved one, product liability law allows you to seek compensation for your injuries.

A catastrophic injury from a defective product can change your life forever. Unsafe or dangerous household appliances, automobiles, prescription medications, and more can leave you permanently injured, unable to work, and in debt. An experienced product liability lawyer from Munley Law can help you file a product liability lawsuit and bring you the compensation you need, so you can go back to living your life to its fullest.

Every dangerous products lawyer at Munley Law has a national reputation for obtaining justice on behalf of their injured clients. With over 60 years of experience in product liability cases, we fight for those injured or killed due to a defective product. Our board-certified civil trial advocates have consistently earned rankings among the Best Lawyers in America. Daniel Munley earned the title of Product Liability Lawyer of the Year – Plaintiffs, 2020.

If an unsafe product has hurt you or someone you love, contact us today for a free consultation.

Common Defective Products Leading to Injury

We all have the right to expect that the products we purchase have gone through a certain level of quality control and are all safe to use or consume. Unfortunately, the number of products that injure people annually in the United States alone is astonishing. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 58 children’s products were recalled in 2019 due to 776 incidents or injuries reported. And the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has recorded thousands of dangerous and unsafe product incidents.

While defective product lawsuits can involve any consumer product, some are more common than others. Some of the most common types of product liability lawsuits include:

• Medical Devices – Many different types of medical devices and tools can cause patients harm. Some examples include blood clot filters, hip implants, hernia mesh, knee replacements, and more.
• Automotive Parts – Unsafe auto parts can lead to terrible car crashes, claiming innocent lives. We have handled cases involving faulty ignition switches, explosive airbags, and more.
• Medicine and Prescription Drugs – Prescription and over-the-counter medication can be harmful or even carcinogenic. If you or a loved one developed cancer, suffered a serious illness, or died because of dangerous medication, you may have a product liability case.
• Consumer Products – Household items, from furniture to cosmetics and personal care products, have been recalled for the dangers they pose to consumers.
• Heavy Machinery – Heavy equipment and machinery used in industrial settings or on construction sites can malfunction, leading to workplace injuries and death. We have represented injured workers and their families in cases against manufacturers of machinery and equipment.

Unsafe consumer products can cause you to sustain severe and long-term injuries, which can cause thousands of dollars in medical bills or force missing work for long periods.

Injuries typically seen in a product liability case include:

• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Burns
• Internal injuries
• Toxic exposure
• Paralysis
• Loss of a limb
• Blindness
• Wrongful death

At Munley Law, we have helped people who have been hurt or lost a loved one due to defective products of all kinds.

Understanding the Different Types of Product Liability Claims

Generally speaking, in Pennsylvania, consumer products can cause your injury in one of three different ways.

Manufacturing Defects

Products with manufacturing defects, while designed to be safe, can contain a flaw due to an error in how they were made. Faulty construction or accidental contamination from the product manufacturer can lead to these defects.

Even if the product was designed correctly, a small manufacturing defect — such as a missing bolt or screw — can lead to significant harm. For this reason, oversight of the manufacturing process is crucial.

Design Defects

A product with a design defect can contain a flaw in the design that makes the product unsafe. A feature of the product might make it unsafe, or the product may lack a feature to make it safe for use or consumption. An example of a design defect might be something like a curling iron that sparks when heated — in this case, there is a clear flaw in the design of a product.

Failure to Warn

Failure to warn, or a marketing defect, means the product lacked proper warning or instructions about potential risks. Most consumers are familiar with the warning labels and instructions that decorate all kinds of products. A lack of adequate warnings or instructions can be costly.

Other types of marketing defects can include advertisements that show improper or unsafe use of the product or a product that comes with incorrect instructions that could lead to injury.

Whether your injury was caused by a manufacturing defect, a design defect, or a failure to warn, you have a right to justice. When a defective product injures you or a loved one, your physical pain is only the beginning. Lost wages, emotional pain, and suffering can be overwhelming. Our team of experienced defective product lawsuit attorneys will do what it takes to win you the largest settlement or verdict possible.

Pennsylvania Strict Liability Law in Your Defective Products Case

Because Pennsylvania is a strict liability state, you don’t have to prove that negligence caused your injuries. Simply put, strict liability states that if a dangerous or unsafe consumer product injures you, you only have to prove the following:

• The product was defective
• The product caused your injury

In the case of a defective product, the court understands that it would be next to impossible for a consumer or plaintiff to prove a specific party acted maliciously in the chain of a defective product reaching the market. Moreover, whether or not there was intention or recklessness, the reality remains that the product is dangerous. For this reason, a consumer only has to prove that the product was defective in some form and that this directly caused harm.

At Munley Law, your product liability attorney will help determine if the defective product was a substantial factor in causing you harm.

Proving Liability in Your Defective Product Case

When a defective product injures you, anyone in the distribution chain can be held liable.

Groups who can be held liable in a defective product case in Pennsylvania include:

• Manufacturers
• Wholesalers
• Distributors
• Retailers
• Lessors

Products must also meet a risk-utility standard (also referred to as passing a risk-utility test). This is, in essence, a cost-benefit analysis of whether the risk of using a product is outweighed by the benefit. Under this standard, a product is considered to be defective if a reasonable person would determine that the likelihood and severity of harm a product could cause is greater than the burden of taking necessary precautions against this harm. The courts can determine whether the economic costs of impending or possible lawsuits are higher than the cost of changing the overall product design to make it safer.

The product liability attorneys at Munley Law can help you receive the compensation you need when a dangerous product causes you serious injuries. For almost 60 years, Munley Law has been the go-to firm for injured workers and their families. No firm is more experienced or more successful in handling product liability lawsuits and puts you first.

Statute of Limitations on Dangerous Product Claims in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for a product liability lawsuit is two years from the date of your injury. After two years, you relinquish any rights to your claim, which is why you must speak with a defective product attorney as soon as possible. There are some instances when the statute of limitations is suspended, and your dangerous products attorney can determine if this applies to your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue for a product recall?

Yes. In many cases, product recalls are followed by a class action lawsuit in which the people who were hurt by a specific product take collective action against the manufacturer. However, even if you are not a member of a class action, you may be able to bring an individual case against the company responsible for your injury. Products liability lawyers at Munley Law can help you determine the best course of action.

Generally, class action lawsuits are advised for cases in which the individual impacts are not severe, but taken as a whole, paint a picture of a product that’s extremely dangerous. If a toaster oven is giving many users minor burns, no individual case may be worth a huge amount, but coming together to file a class action can have a real impact. Conversely, individual cases are usually recommended for more severe situations. If one individual experienced catastrophic harm from defective products, their best bet at substantial compensation would likely be via the route of an individual case.

Unfortunately, it often takes multiple tragedies for a product to be recalled from the marketplace. By then, of course, the damage has already been done to several families.

What is an implied warranty?

Most goods are covered by something called an “implied warranty”. This is essentially a legal term that means that a consumer can expect a product to work as advertised, for a reasonable period, and that it will be of reasonable quality. In other words, the product should conform to a reasonable and ordinary buyer’s expectations. Consumers can assume that if they buy a microwave, it will make their food hot. Specific laws vary from state to state, so it’s important to examine the rules in your area.

It’s also important to note that these consumer safety measures apply only to items purchased in a store. In other words, if you buy a TV from your neighbor that doesn’t work, you would not be entitled to a refund or repair.

How much is my product liability case worth?

Product liability lawyers, like those at Munley, will help ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries. Damages may include past, present, and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning power, loss of consortium, emotional suffering, and more.

The compensation you receive depends on factors specific to your unique situation.

To determine the total compensation you are owed, your legal team will evaluate:

• The extent of your injuries
• The costs of your medical care
• Any expected future treatment or ongoing therapy
• Your lost wages and ability to work in the future
• Any permanent scarring or disability

We work with medical and economic experts to thoroughly analyze monetary and non-monetary damages.

What if I was injured by an old product?

No rule prohibits you from filing a personal injury claim if a product is a certain number of years old. However, the law also recognizes that every product has a “useful lifespan.” At a certain point, an item deteriorates, and safety risks become heightened.

If you are an injured consumer harmed by an older product, contact the product liability lawyers at Munley Law today. Our liability lawyers will review your case and advise you on the best path forward.

Why hire a product liability attorney at Munley Law?

When an unsafe consumer product places your life on hold, keeping you from work while medical bills pile up, you need to get back on track as quickly as possible. The experienced team of dangerous product lawyers at Munley Law understands Pennsylvania’s strict liability law and how it may apply to your product liability claim.

Research, investigation, and skilled litigation are crucial to success in any defective product case. We use the latest technology to help those injured by faulty products get the best settlement or jury verdict possible. We have a track record of achieving highly satisfactory defective product settlements for our clients.

Moreover, our board-certified civil trial advocates have over 60 years of experience winning million-dollar verdicts and settlements in product liability cases. Our team of lawyers for defective products consistently ranks among the Best Lawyers in America, including top product liability attorney Daniel Munley, named Product Liability Lawyer of the Year – Plaintiffs, 2020.

When misleading packaging, manufacturer error, or negligence causes you to be injured by a consumer product, you deserve everything necessary to put your life back on track. That’s why, at Munley Law, we won’t charge a fee unless we win your case. And to date, we have won more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts.

Product liability litigation is an incredibly complex field. We can help you and your family receive compensation for everything you need when injured by a defective product, and we will always have your best interest at heart.

Work with a Product Liability Lawyer with Experience

We all expect the products we purchase to be tested for safety and quality control. When a defective product results in severe injury, medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress can be overwhelming. You need a product liability lawyer who can bring you a settlement or verdict that you deserve after your stressful experience with a dangerous or defective product.

For more than 60 years, Munley Law has been the go-to firm for injured workers and their families. The defective product lawyers at Munley Law are recognized nationwide as the best at what they do, winning cases while keeping the focus entirely on you. Chat, email, or call us today to arrange a free consultation with a product liability lawyer.