A Reading product liability lawyer at Munley Law can be your strongest advocate when you’ve been injured by a defective or dangerous product in Reading. Product liability claims tend to be complex, and you could be facing a large corporation that is determined not to pay for your injuries. You need an attorney who has the experience and knowledge needed to investigate the claim and hold those who caused you harm accountable.
The Reading personal injury lawyers at Munley Law have the credentials, the track record, and the skills needed to fight for your rights. Whether you’ve been harmed by a faulty appliance, contaminated food, or a malfunctioning vehicle, contact our defective products lawyer in Reading, PA, for a free consultation.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What Compensation is Available in a Reading Product Liability Case?
Like with all personal injury cases in Reading, product liability claims open you up to the possibility of recovering compensation in line with the suffering you’ve experienced.
Millions of Americans are treated for injuries linked to consumer products each year, and defective products represent a persuasive safety risk in the marketplace. National data shows that defective product incidents sent an estimated 15.1 million people to emergency departments in 2024 alone, underscoring how common and serious these injuries can be.
Compensation in a case dealing with product defects falls into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to those that have an inherent monetary value attached, and they are intended to restore the plaintiff to their original economic state. Some forms of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Compensation for lowered earning potential
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are intended to account for the victim’s pain and suffering. As you may imagine, it can be difficult to attach a single number to the emotional trauma of a terrible accident, and this is one reason why working with experienced product liability lawyers is key to winning your case.
This also depends on whether the lawsuit is approached as an individual or a class action case. In some product liability cases, when multiple people are injured by the same defective product, those people will band together and bring about a class action lawsuit. This may be a wise approach when the individual claims are relatively small, but many of them exist.
For instance, if a defective toaster caused minor harm to hundreds of people, none of these cases would be incredibly impactful, and a large company may take no notice of them. But when these people band together, they can show that the product is causing great harm. Conversely, if one individual experiences catastrophic damage from a product, their best path may be to file a particular case.
We know this is a lot of information, but Munley Law knows what it takes to build a strong case and secure you the justice and compensation you deserve. We are here for you. Contact Munley Law today for a free consultation.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Defective Products?
Defective products remain a significant consumer hazard in the United States. In 2024, U.S. regulators announced 305 product recalls, covering tools, electronics, and home goods. Recall-linked injuries were reported in 869 incidents, with 15 deaths tied to faulty items before those products were removed from the market.
In a case involving an unsafe product or a product defect, many parties may potentially be at fault. Understanding the chain of distribution of the defective product is key to determining who may be responsible.
All defective products pass through a series of hands from their initial creation to the point they end up on the shelves, and any part of the defective product’s chain can be at fault.
- The Manufacturer: The manufacturer of a defective product is one of the parties who may be held liable. If the product was improperly manufactured, this party may be at fault. This is true whether the product comes from a major company or an individual person.
- The Retailer: A retailer can also be at fault under product liability law. If a retailer damaged a product, rendering it unreasonably dangerous, and sold it anyway, that’s a major issue.
- The Designer: Of course, if the defective product is unsafe due to a design issue, the party or company responsible for the design may be held responsible.
Other potentially liable parties include wholesalers, distributors, marketers, contractors, and more. In some cases, a product liability case may also be a medical malpractice case if a doctor knowingly used a faulty product. In this case, the doctor could also potentially be liable.
It’s best to talk to your legal team in order to determine who is truly at fault in your case. In some cases, food poisoning can also fall under product liability — the restaurant or purveyor may be held responsible.
The product liability attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can review your case in great detail and successfully identify all parties who may bear some degree of responsibility for your injuries.
“At Munley Law, our mission is simple: to provide all injury victims equal access to justice, even against the most powerful entities. For more than 65 years, we have been the voice for the injured, the forgotten, and those who need someone to stand beside them in their darkest hour.”
Marion Munley
Common Types of Product Liability Cases in Reading, PA
There are several types of defective products and various ways in which a particular product may be harmful. Generally speaking, there are three categories into which a product liability case may fall: design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects. The category to which your case belongs will, in many ways, determine the legal path your Reading product liability lawyers take.
Design defects: One form of product defect that may lead to a liability suit is a design defect. Design defects occur when a product contains an inherent flaw in the design, making it unsafe for use. Design defects might include a power tool that melts when turned onto a high setting, or a bike helmet that cracks upon impact, causing injuries. These kinds of flaws mean the item is a defective product. The design defects may occur because the manufacturer did not properly test the product before putting it on the market. They may also occur if a manufacturer was aware of the design defect, but decided to move forward regardless. A defective product such as this should not be available to consumers and can cause a great deal of harm.
Manufacturing defects: A manufacturing defect occurs when there is an error during the actual manufacturing process, even if the product was properly designed. Examples of manufacturing defects may include a necessary bolt or screw missing, making the product unsafe, or circuitry that is improperly installed. Manufacturing defects such as these can make a product dangerous and can certainly harm the consumer. In a case like this, the manufacturer may well be found responsible for the ensuing injuries.
Marketing defects: The third main category of product liability law includes marketing defects. A marketing defect occurs when the consumer is not properly informed about the safe and correct way to use a product, or is not made aware of the risks of a certain product. Many products feature warning labels that make the user aware of any possible risks that use of the product may entail; if these are absent or incorrectly listed, it’s a problem. Other types of marketing defects include advertisements that show improper use, incorrect instructions that come with a product, and false claims about a product’s abilities or efficacy.
Any of these kinds of defective products can pose a huge risk to the user. In many cases, they may even fall into the category of “unreasonably dangerous”, meaning that the product poses greater risks than an ordinary user would reasonably expect.
If you have been injured due to a defective product such as those listed here, you have rights. Munley Law can supply you with a legal team that will work around the clock in order to obtain justice on your behalf.
Proving Strict Liability in a Reading Product Liability Lawsuit
In a product liability lawsuit, strict liability refers to the notion that the actions of the defendant are essentially not taken into consideration. In other personal injury cases, like those involving car accidents, the defendant’s behavior would be a huge piece of the puzzle. Were they drinking? Were they texting? What behaviors did they exhibit that led to this accident?
However, courts recognize that it would be extremely challenging for a plaintiff to identify the specific point along a product’s journey during which it became defective or dangerous. For this reason, in many cases involving defective products, the defendant can be found legally responsible even in the absence of any fault or criminal intent.
In order to successfully make a strict liability claim, the plaintiff must prove the following:
- A defect that made the product “unreasonably dangerous” emerged at some point in the item’s chain of distribution, whether that be in its design, manufacturing, handling, or marketing.
- That defect caused the plaintiff’s injury, and this occurred while the item was being used as intended.
- The product had not substantially changed from its original condition in any way that impacted the product’s performance.
The plaintiff is not required to prove that the defendant acted maliciously, with ill intent, or even recklessly. As long as the product was meant for the marketplace, and once there, caused an injury while being used as intended, you may well have a strict liability case on your hands.
If you have been injured by a product and have questions about strict liability, please contact our law offices at any time. Munley Law’s attorneys are at the ready, prepared to work with you and guide you through this process. We know it can be scary, particularly if it involves going up against a powerful company, but that’s why we’re here. Injuries caused by ill-functioning products are serious, and the company responsible needs to be held accountable. Feel free to contact our law firm any time for general information purposes.
What Is an Implied Warranty in a Reading Defective Products Case?
In Reading, all goods are covered by something called “implied warranty”. What does this mean? According to Title 13 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, this means that a consumer can legally expect a product to work as advertised and expected, and that it will be of reasonable quality.
It’s important to note that this safety measure for consumers applies only to items purchased in a store — if you buy a TV from your neighbor that doesn’t work, you would not be entitled to a refund or repair.
Why You Need a Reading Product Liability Lawyer Who Gets Results
Product liability claims often involve confronting large manufacturers with deep legal resources. At Munley Law, our Reading product liability attorneys combine almost seven decades of litigation experience with personalized client attention to build effective cases tailored to your injuries and losses. We work with industry specialists, engineers, and medical experts to build comprehensive evidence of defects and harm. We also front all case costs and fight to secure maximum compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain, and suffering.
Munley Law has been recognized nationally in Best Lawyers in America year after year, demonstrating our professional excellence and strong peer reputation. Founded in 1959, our firm is led by attorneys who have been consistently named among Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America. Marion Munley has been named Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation by Best Lawyers, and Daniel Munley was named Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation.
Additionally, we hold the AV Preeminent peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell — the highest possible — and board certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, reflecting elite competence and integrity.
Backed by decades of experience and a track record of multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts, we combine rigorous legal strategy with personalized care to secure maximum compensation for people hurt by defective products.
Frequently Asked Questions About Product Liability Claims in Reading, PA
What Types of Products Can Lead To a Product Liability Claim in Reading, PA?
Any consumer product can potentially be the subject of a claim if it has a design flaw, manufacturing error, or inadequate warnings – from children’s toys to vehicle parts and medical devices.
Can I Sue if I Was Injured by a Product That I Didn’t Buy Myself?
Yes. You don’t need to be the purchaser. Anyone injured by a defective product while it was in use as intended may have a claim.
Will My Case Involve Expert Witnesses?
Yes. Proving a defect often requires testimony from engineers, medical professionals, or industry specialists to establish the nature of the defect and causation.
How Do Recalls Affect My Legal Claim?
A recall can be strong evidence that a product was defective, but you can pursue a claim even if no recall has occurred, depending on the circumstances. Records from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and recall notices are often part of evidence gathering.
Can I Recover Punitive Damages in a Product Liability Case?
In some cases, involving intentional misconduct or gross negligence, Pennsylvania courts may award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.
What Is Strict Liability in Product Defect Claims?
Under strict liability, a defendant can be held responsible for a defective product even without evidence of negligence, provided the product was unreasonably dangerous and caused injury as designed or marketed.
Contact a Reading Product Liability Attorney at Munley Law
If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective product, our attorneys are here to help.
Contact our offices to be connected with a Reading products liability lawyer today.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
