If you or a loved one suffered an injury from a dangerous product in Scranton, the experienced Scranton product liability lawyers at Munley Law can help you get the justice you deserve.
Our attorneys have extensive experience handling complex product liability claims involving defective auto parts, prescription drugs, heavy machinery, and household consumer products. We have won millions of dollars in Lackawanna County courts for our clients injured by unsafe products, including a $2 million settlement against a foreign medical device manufacturer. Our firm also has specialized product liability experts on staff, with Marion Munley and Daniel Munley both honored as some of Best Lawyers’ Lawyers of the Year for Product Liability Litigation.
When you choose Munley Law as your Scranton injury lawyers, an experienced defective products lawyer will review the details of your case for free and help you determine the next steps.
Fill out our contact form, chat live, or call today for a free consultation with a Scranton product injury lawyer at Munley Law. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Types of Product Liability Claims in Scranton, PA
Companies that design, manufacture, distribute, and sell products are responsible for ensuring their products are safe for consumers. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people are injured by defective and unsafe products each year.
Typically, there are three types of product defects: defective design, manufacturing defects, and failure to warn.
What is Defective Design?
Defective design refers to flaws or inadequacies in a product’s initial design that make it inherently dangerous or unsafe for its intended use. This defect occurs before the product is manufactured and affects all product units.
Examples of defective design include:
- A car with a design flaw that makes it prone to rollovers.
- A children’s toy with small parts that pose a choking hazard.
In defective design cases, the entire product line may be subject to recall, and the manufacturer may be held liable for injuries resulting from the defect.
What Are Manufacturing Defects?
Manufacturing defects occur during the production process and result in individual products that deviate from the intended design, making them unsafe for use.
Unlike defective design, manufacturing defects affect only a portion of the product line and may not be present in every unit.
Examples of manufacturing defects include:
- A batch of medication was contaminated with harmful substances due to a manufacturing process error.
- A car with a faulty brake system due to an assembly error.
What is Failure to Warn?
Failure to warn, also known as marketing defects or inadequate warnings, occurs when a manufacturer fails to provide sufficient warnings or instructions about the potential dangers of using their product.
This defect often arises when a product has inherent risks that are not obvious to the user.
Examples of failure to warn include:
- Prescription medications that do not adequately warn about potential side effects or interactions with other drugs.
- Household cleaning products that do not warn about the dangers of mixing certain chemicals.
Several parties, including the designer, manufacturer, supplier, distributor, and retail merchant, may be held responsible in a defective product case.
What Is the Strict Liability Law in Scranton?
Under Pennsylvania product liability law, the “strict liability” doctrine dictates that a person or company involved in producing or distributing a defective product can be held liable whether they knew about the defect or not. Under strict liability, the victim must prove that a defect exists and caused the injury.
Our product injury lawyers in Scranton have extensive experience with accident claims involving product defects. Whether the problem was in the product’s design, manufacturing, or marketing involved in the Scranton accident, we can help.
We work closely with experts to identify the defect or hazard. In some cases, the defect may lie not in the product itself but in the warnings, or lack thereof, that accompany it. Manufacturers may fail to consider how consumers use their products, resulting in hazardous conditions. In the worst cases, a product injury may be fatal, resulting in a wrongful death suit.
“Since 1959, we have secured over $1 billion in compensation for our clients. When someone is seriously injured, they’re up against insurance companies with unlimited resources. My job is to level that playing field, and fight until they get the justice they deserve.”
Daniel W. Munley
What Are the Key Types of Product Liability Claims in Scranton, PA?
Scranton’s main product liability claims are defective medical devices, dangerous drugs, defective automobile parts, dangerous industrial equipment, defective household appliances, and dangerous toys.
Defective Medical Devices in Scranton
Patients have a right to seek compensation for injuries caused by defective medical devices in Scranton. Many hospitals in Scranton, including Regional Hospital of Scranton, Geisinger Community Medical Center, and Moses Taylor Hospital, perform hundreds of surgeries and medical procedures each day.
Unfortunately, many medical devices contain potentially harmful defects. According to data from the Patient Safety Authority’s latest study, state healthcare facilities reported 1,161 cases of medical device problems in 2024, 16 of which were considered serious events with the potential to harm – or even kill – affected patients.
It can take years for patients’ complaints and complications to result in a product recall. A Scranton product liability attorney can help you understand your options and the best course of legal action if you’ve been injured due to a defective medical device in Scranton. Some dangerous medical devices can include:
- Defective mesh implants
- Metal-on-metal hip replacement implants
- Defective knee replacement parts
- Surgical equipment
- Stents
- IVC blood clot filters
Vehicle Recalls and Auto Parts Defects in Scranton
Recalls in the auto industry have reached an all-time high. While recalls help keep potentially unsafe vehicles off the road, faulty components still cause numerous serious car accidents in Scranton each year.
The Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics Report notes that there were 2,210 vehicle crashes resulting from vehicle defects in 2024, with tire and wheel-related defects causing 775 accidents, brake issues causing 641 crashes, and total steering system failures leading to 367 dangerous incidents on local roads.
In some cases, auto parts manufacturers conceal failed tests and continue to market a product with a reasonable probability of failure. A malfunctioning airbag or a faulty ignition switch can lead to a deadly accident. If you or a loved one suffered an injury caused by a faulty or defective vehicle or auto part, we can help you seek compensation from all liable parties.
Dangerous Industrial Equipment in Scranton
Workers hurt on the job due to a malfunctioning or unsafe piece of machinery may have the right to collect more than just workers’ compensation benefits. If your injury resulted from a faulty piece of equipment, the manufacturer of the machine may be responsible. Injuries can include loss of sight, loss of hearing, amputation, brain injury, spinal cord injury, crushed body parts, and wrongful death. Dangerous equipment and machinery could include:
- Table saw accidents
- Punch press accidents
- Conveyor line accidents
- Gas field accidents
- Cranes and construction equipment accidents
- Bulldozer accidents
- Farm equipment accidents
- Defective power tools
- Circular saw defects
- Nail gun accidents
- Scaffolding collapse
- Tractor accidents
According to the 2024 edition of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Report, there were 165,985 work-related injuries reported across the state that year, with injuries in the equipment-reliant Education & Health Services and Trade & Transportation sectors accounting for nearly half of the total. There were also 21,453 injuries in the manufacturing sector in 2024, many of which were associated with the use of faulty heavy machinery and industrial equipment.
Defective Toys, Car Seats, and Children’s Products
Seemingly harmless household products like toys, car seats, and electronics can turn deadly. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 250,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained from toys every year. In a 2024 report, the Commission also revealed that it had confiscated nearly 1.6 million unsafe and illegal imported toys throughout the year, with 101,900 of these toy seizures carried out due to dangerously high levels of lead in the offending products.
Companies responsible for manufacturing and selling toys in the U.S. must comply with all federal safety standards and regulations for production, testing, and shipping. However, toy producers in other countries do not follow the same stringent safety regulations.
Defective toys, electronics, and other children’s products can be very dangerous, posing choking, suffocation, fire, and fall hazards. If the product is unsafe or proper warnings and safety instructions are not provided, the consequences can be devastating for a child. The following have all caused injuries resulting in product liability cases:
- Unsafe child safety seats
- Defective baby furniture
- Exploding hoverboards
- Flammable children’s clothing
- Bicycle injuries
- Dangerous toys with small parts
Defective Household Appliances in Scranton
Thousands of Americans visit the emergency room each year for injuries they sustained from harmful products in their own homes. Injuries such as burns, electrocution, choking, crushing injuries, entrapment, and chemical poisoning have resulted from faulty and dangerous household appliances. Faulty furnaces, generators, and defective space heaters can result in carbon monoxide poisoning. Injuries have also occurred from home electronics, such as exploding cellphones or exploding e-cigarettes, as well as outdoor tools, such as lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and various power tools.
According to NSC Injury Facts, as many as 15.1 million people were treated for defective product-related injuries in US emergency departments in 2024: a year-on-year increase of nearly 18%. Everyday products such as household cleaners, televisions, and even beds accounted for a large share of these injuries, with 1.1 million injuries caused by beds and mattresses; over 757,000 injuries caused by sofa beds, sofas, and chairs; 12,530 incidents linked to household cleaning agents; and 9,062 injuries attributed to faulty ovens and cooking ranges.
How Can a Munley Law Product Liability Lawyer Help Me?
The lawyers at Munley Law have the legal acumen needed to thoroughly investigate your product liability case and seek rightful compensation for your injuries, losses, and suffering. We have nearly seven decades of experience in litigation, which is reflected in our membership in the Summit Council, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Litigation Counsel of America.
Marion Munley, Daniel Munley, J. Christopher Munley, and John Mulcahey have all been board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy through the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and are fully qualified to represent product liability cases in courts of law. Our attorneys are all recognized by the American Association for Justice and the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which has certified Caroline Munley as a workers’ compensation law specialist to handle product-related injuries that happen on the job.
Our partners have all been listed as some of the state’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and Marion Munley has been listed to Super Lawyers’ Top 10 Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania directory for the last three years, with seven more of our attorneys honored for their outstanding achievements as well.
Frequently Asked Questions about Product Liability Lawsuits in Scranton
How Long Do I Have to File a Product Liability Lawsuit in Scranton?
The statute of limitations for filing a product liability claim varies by state; in Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. It’s essential to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you meet the deadline for filing your claim.
What to Do If I Was Injured By a Defective Product in Scranton, PA?
If a defective product has injured you, seeking medical attention immediately is important. Preserve the product and any evidence of the incident, such as packaging, receipts, and witness contact information. Then, consult with a product liability attorney to discuss your legal options.
What If the Product Had Been Recalled?
A product recall does not necessarily absolve the manufacturer of liability for injuries caused by the defective product. If a recalled product has injured you, you may still have grounds for a product liability claim and may be entitled to compensation for your damages.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Scranton Product Liability Lawyer?
You will pay nothing upfront when you hire a Munley Law lawyer for your product liability case, and your initial consultation is always free of charge. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you will only need to pay legal fees if you successfully recover compensation.
Contact a Scranton Product Liability Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured or a family member has died as a result of a dangerous or defective product, it’s essential to contact a product liability attorney before the statute of limitations for product liability in Pennsylvania. Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe. When manufacturing defects, design failures, or negligence result in a consumer’s injury or death, our Scranton product injury lawyers will hold the responsible parties accountable.
Contact Munley Law for a FREE consultation. Call, email us, or chat live.
Caroline Munley
Caroline Munley is an experienced and award-winning personal injury lawyer and is a board-certified workers’ compensation specialist. Since 2018, she’s been listed in Best Lawyers in America (Personal Injury Plaintiffs; Workers’ Compensation Claimants, Northeastern PA), Lawdragon, and has been a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2022. A member of the International Society of Barristers, Caroline has won millions of dollars for car accident, commercial truck crash, and workplace injury victims.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on April 1, 2026.
