Wilkes-Barre Product Liability Lawyer

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The Wilkes-Barre product liability lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have won multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for people injured or killed by dangerous and defective products. Product liability cases tend to be highly complex. Not all personal injury firms have the resources or experience to devote to these kinds of cases. Munley Law is different. With 65 years of experience, our Wilkes-Barre personal injury law firm has built a nationwide reputation for taking on difficult cases against big companies, and we have a string of victories to show for it.

Among the settlements and verdicts we’ve won are $1.5 million and $1 million settlements for the estates and surviving family members of workers who died from injuries caused by defective products. Since 1959, we’ve helped victims receive more than $1 billion in compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses.

Our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers and have been board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a designation given only to attorneys who demonstrate high standards in trial advocacy. Defective and unsafe products cause serious injuries and claim lives every day. When big companies release a defective product to consumers, they must be held responsible for the harm it causes. Let us help you get justice. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

What are the Three Different Types of Product Liability Claims in Wilkes-Barre, PA?

When you buy a product, receive medication, or use a machine at your job, you can expect it to be safe when used properly. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Flaws in design, manufacturing, marketing, or instructions associated with the product may result in a dangerous defect. These flaws provide the basis of different types of defective product liability claims.

There are three types of claims:

• Design Defect – A flaw in the original design of a product can present a potential hazard to consumers. The product may function correctly in a design defect claim, but the design makes it unsafe. When a defect is in the design of a product, it will usually affect every product.
• Manufacturing Defect—A dangerous product defect can result from an error in the manufacturing process. This type of defect is usually not found in all products, but in just a certain batch or a small number that becomes harmful to the consumer due to the defect.
• Failure to Warn – Product manufacturers must warn consumers of any potential risks associated with a product. Anyone involved in the product distribution chain may be liable if a proper warning is not provided. Warning labels not only alert consumers to risks but also provide instructions for safe usage. Pharmaceutical companies must disclose known risks or side effects associated with their medications.

As the injured victim of a defective product, you may be eligible for compensation to cover your medical treatment, any time missed from work, pain and suffering, and the lasting effects of your injury or illness. Our product liability lawyers in Wilkes-Barre will listen to your story, investigate the product and your case, speak with medical and other experts, and calculate a fair amount of compensation to pursue on your behalf.

How Do You Prove a Wilkes-Barre Product Liability Claim?

To win a product liability case, you must show injury as a result of using the defective product. You will also need to show that negligence was caused in the design or manufacturing of the product, or a lack of sufficient warning, or misleading marketing, which led to your injuries. This can include:

• Failing to foresee probable uses for the product
• Failing to provide sufficient testing or inspection of the product prior to release
• Failing to warn of the risks of the product

If you have been injured in Wilkes-Barre, PA, due to a dangerous product, the experienced attorneys for defective products at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can review your case and determine who is liable for your injuries.

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What Should You Do After Being Injured by a Defective Product in Wilkes-Barre?

After an injury caused by a faulty product, you may not know what your next steps should be. As with any personal injury case, your next steps are important in protecting your future claim. Our Wilkes-Barre product liability lawyers recommend that you:

• Seek Medical Attention: Even if the injury seems minor, you should get it checked out by a medical professional.
• Save the Product that Injured You, if Possible: If you cannot safely preserve the item, take photos to document the defect.
• Get Evidence: Begin to gather as much information as you can about the events that led to your injuries.
• Keep a Record: Save all receipts and documentation of medical attention relating to your injuries.
• Contact Us: Once you have a chance, contact a Wilkes-Barre personal injury lawyer at Munley Law. We have almost seven decades of experience in product liability claims, and we can help you get the compensation you deserve following an accident.

Do not wait too long to contact our lawyers, as delaying filing a claim could jeopardize your chances of seeking compensation. Under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524, you have two years from the date of injury to file a claim.

“Since 1959, we have secured over $1 billion in
compensation for our clients.”

Daniel W. Munley

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Call us at (844) 686-5397

Examples of Product Liability in Wilkes-Barre, PA

While figures for Wilkes-Barre, PA, aren’t available, Consumer Shield data shows the number of product liability cases filed in the U.S. grew from 3,342 in 2013 to approximately 5,830 in 2022. It’s highly likely that Luzerne County and wider Pennsylvania saw their share of the increase in these cases. The most common types of claims our Wilkes-Barre product liability lawyers deal with include:

Defective Vehicles/ Recalled Auto Parts

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation revealed 1,127 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2024, with 18 of these fatal injury accidents occurring in Luzerne County. While the vast majority of car accidents in Wilkes-Barre result from driver error,  some motor vehicle crashes are the result of a malfunction in the vehicle itself.

As product liability lawyers, we have seen just how devastating automotive defects can be, including the GM ignition switch failure and exploding Takata airbags. In 2016, auto recalls hit a record 53.2 million. It was the third straight year that auto recalls set a record and topped 50 million. According to a Recall Masters report, the number of recalls has since decreased, with 2024 seeing around 28 million.

Defects that cause crashes can include:

• Vehicle design flaws
• Airbag defects
• Defective ignition switches
• Brake failure
• Defective tires
• Accelerator defects
• Faulty seat belts
• Steering defects
• Vehicle fires
• Defective fuel tanks/fuel system defects
• Rollovers caused by defective design
• Roof crush caused by defective design
• Transmission defects

If you believe that you were injured or a loved one killed due to a defect in the design or manufacturing of an automobile or auto part, you need a skilled product injury lawyer to help protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Wilkes-Barre personal injury lawyer at Munley Law today.

Defective Medical Devices

Medical devices intended to enhance a patient’s care can sometimes put them at greater risk for harm. The manufacturers of medical devices have a duty to warn doctors of all potential risks associated with the use of their products. This, in turn, will enable doctors to warn patients of potential risks. If a defective or harmful medical device injured you or a loved one, you need an experienced product injury lawyer to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

Defective medical devices can include:

• Hernia mesh implants
• IVC filters, blood clot filters
• Hip (recalled Stryker hip implants) and knee implants
• Defective defibrillators
• Defective pacemakers
• Defective heart valves
• Defective breast implants
• Defective dialysis machines
• Cancer morcellators
• Defective heart monitors
• Defective stents

Bad Drugs and Medications

Pharmaceutical companies sometimes put profit before safety. In some cases, drug companies market a substance before completing the testing necessary to ensure the product is safe and to discover all potential side effects. In other cases, companies may know of the potential risks but fail to warn the public. Drug injury litigation can be extremely complicated, so it is important to choose an experienced product liability lawyer to handle your case.

Exploding Electronics/Defective Batteries

Smartphones, hoverboards, e-cigarettes, and other electronic devices can pose a danger to consumers due to overheating batteries. The lithium batteries in these devices can overheat, melt, and explode, causing serious injuries.

Dangerous products with lithium batteries can include:

• Faulty Samsung Note 7 smartphones
• Hoverboards
• E-cigarettes or vape pens

Lithium-ion battery explosions are not common, but when they do happen, they can cause serious injury. In many cases, these products aren’t regulated properly or lack sufficient warnings and instructions for safe use. Contact our Wilkes-Barre product liability lawyers if you’ve been injured by an electronic device or lithium-ion battery that exploded. We will investigate the incident, build a strong case, and fight for justice on your behalf.

Defective Tools and Machinery

Serious or fatal injuries can occur from the use of defective machinery and tools. Lack of safety devices or guards on sharp or industrial equipment, or failure to provide emergency shut-off switches, can cause deadly injuries. Injuries from defective machines and tools can include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, amputation of limbs, spinal cord injuries, severe lacerations, disfigurement, and wrongful death.

Traumatic injuries can occur as a result of:

• Conveyor belt
• Circular saw, table saw, or power saw
• Blow torch
• Nail gun
• Sandblaster
• Lawnmower
• Wood chipper
• Scaffolding
• Ladder
• Household appliances
• Industrial equipment, balers, forklifts, and bulldozers
• Exercise equipment
• Smoke detectors

Defective Toys and Children’s Products

The serious injury or death of a child is always devastating for a family. If the injury was preventable and due to a defective product, the experienced defective product lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys want to be sure your child and your family get the compensation they deserve through a liability claim.

Common examples of defective toys and children’s products in Wilkes-Barre, PA include:

• Child safety seats
• Baby furniture
• Cribs and mattresses
• Defective or toxic toys
• Flammable children’s clothing
• Bicycles or tricycles
• Scooters and skateboards
• Bicycle helmets
• Playground equipment

Why Shouldn’t You Accept a Settlement Offer Before Talking to a Wilkes-Barre Product Liability Attorney?

Many insurance companies will try to settle quickly and for as low an amount as they can. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, it is our top priority to provide the best representation and get you the compensation you deserve for all your injuries. We can provide peace of mind in knowing you are getting the most qualified representation for your liability claim from a firm that cares. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has a proven record of success in cases involving defective products and other injuries.

We’ve helped clients recover millions of dollars in compensation, and our lawyers have been honored by some of the most prestigious legal institutions and organizations. The National Trial Lawyers named all our partners among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania, Caroline Munley to the Top 25 Women Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania list, J. Christopher Munley to the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers list, and Mackenzie Wilson to the Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorneys in Pennsylvania list.

In addition, all our partners were named to the Irish Legal 100 list and to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff list, while Marion Munley was named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America list. She’s also the current Vice President of the American Association For Justice. We’ve fought for justice for scores of other product liability clients, and we can do the same for you.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at Munley Law

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Call Us At 844-686-5397

Frequently Asked Questions About Product Liability Claims in Wilkes-Barre

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Wilkes-Barre?

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations  allows you two years from the time the accident occurred (42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524) to file a personal injury claim in Wilkes-Barre. That means while you are recovering from your injuries, the clock is already in motion on your case. The sooner you can speak with a Wilkes-Barre injury attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, the more likely your case will be successful.

The Product Was Destroyed. Will This Hurt My Claim?

Not necessarily. Although it’s better to have the product, it is understandable that this is not always possible. It’s always best to get photos and seek medical attention soon after the accident to help support your claim.

Who Is Responsible for the Product Defect in Wilkes-Barre?

This depends on what type of defective product claim you have. For example, if the product had a design flaw that made it dangerous, the designer of the product may be held liable. If it were an issue in the manufacturing process, then the manufacturer could be responsible. In some cases, there may be multiple parties at fault, such as the marketer or retailer.

What Compensation Can You Recover in a Wilkes-Barre Product Liability Lawsuit?

As with all personal injury cases, you may be eligible to receive the following compensation:

• Economic damages: Economic damages refer to compensation for any monetary loss you had because of the faulty product. This includes medical bills, lost wages, and loss of potential earning capacity.
• Non-economic damages: These damages are a little more difficult to calculate. They refer to any non-monetary losses you may have experienced, like loss of enjoyment, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium.
• Punitive damages: In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded. These damages are meant to punish the behavior of those responsible for the defect.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wilkes-Barre Product Liability Attorney?

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t get paid unless you do. We cover all of the upfront costs and only collect a fee if we win your case. If we cannot get you the justice you deserve, you owe us nothing. Chat live, fill out our contact form, or call today for a free consult.

Contact Our Wilkes-Barre Defective Products Attorney

Product liability victims and their families in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and throughout the state trust Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to help them get the justice they deserve. Product manufacturers not only have an obligation to design and produce safe products but also to alert consumers to any potential dangers. We help injured victims stand up to big companies.

During a free initial consultation with an experienced Wilkes-Barre product liability lawyer, we will review the circumstances of your injury and determine whether you have a basis for a product liability lawsuit. A product liability case can arise from the use of any product. Those responsible for your injuries could include the product designer, the manufacturer of the product, parts manufacturers, the retailer who sold the product, the wholesalers, or the assemblers or installers.

If you were injured by a defective product anywhere in the Wyoming Valley, contact a Wilkes-Barre personal injury lawyer at Munley Law to schedule a free consultation. We are available 24/7 through our chat, email, or phone so reach out today.

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Daniel W. Munley

Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning personal-injury attorney and champion of plaintiffs’ rights. For decades he’s won multi-million verdicts and settlements and is recognized as a national leader in truck and rideshare litigation,including a record $26 million truck settlement in Northeastern Pennsylvania and a $20 million recovery in 2024 for life-altering commercial-vehicle injuries.

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Call us at (844) 686-5397

Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on December 30, 2025.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

1170 PA-315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 399-0406
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