Alabama Defective Products Lawyers

If you think about your average day, chances are that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of products that you use. In today’s modern world, access to products is what brings convenience and comfort to our lives. And while products can certainly be wonderful and even life-changing in some cases, they are not always safe for use. Unfortunately, there are millions of products that are defectively designed, manufactured, or labeled each year, leading to consumer injuries and product recalls.

If you have been injured by a defective product, you may be wondering what your rights are and what steps you should take to recover the financial compensation that you need. At  Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough, Howell, Huggins & Bradley, P.A., our Alabama defective products lawyers can help you  navigate the claims and litigation process and improve your chances of obtaining a verdict or recovering a settlement that you deserve. Call our law firm directly today for the support and guidance you need.

Commonly Defective Products

It’s hard to imagine a product that you use on a regular basis, such as your car, being defective, but the truth is that nearly all products have the potential to be defective. Types of products that could be defective include, but are not limited to:

• Children’s toys;
• Household items;
• Appliances;
• Furniture and children’s furniture;
• Automobiles;
• Recreation equipment;
• Electronics;
• Household and industrial cleaning products; and
• More.

If you think that your injuries are the result of a product defect, do not hesitate to call our experienced defective product lawyers for a free consultation and an overview of your legal options. We can help you  hold the responsible party liable for your harm and  achieve a result that compensates you for your injuries. 

Types of Product Defects

While nearly any type of product has the potential to be defective, product defects  generally fall into three different categories. In order to recover damages following injuries caused by a defective product, you’ll generally need to prove that one or more of the following defects existed in the product:

• Labeling defect. Sometimes, a product is both designed and manufactured in the way that’s intended, but the product’s label lacks the proper information to which the consumer is entitled. For example, consider an over-the-counter medication that helps to treat pain, but has drowsiness as a side effect. The medication’s label must warn of the side effect. Other examples of important labels include proper instruction for safe use, warnings about choking hazards if a product contains small parts, etc.

• Design defects. The instructions on a product’s label won’t be of significant consequences if the product is defectively designed and therefore inherently dangerous. Defective design may take form in a medication with side effects that outweigh the benefits of a drug, a vehicle that is designed to be top-heavy and is therefore a rollover-risk, or the use of a highly flammable material in a product that is designed to be used around an open flame.

• Manufacturing defects. The third type of product defect is a manufacturing defect. A manufacturing defect occurs when the product’s design is safe and correct, but something happens during the manufacturing process that renders the product dangerous. For example, perhaps tire adhesive is contaminated with sawdust, undermining the adhesive capabilities of the glue and resulting in tire tread separation. 

Strict Liability in a Products Liability Claim

When a product is defective, the manufacturer of that product can be held strictly liable for the defect. A plaintiff does not need to prove the manufacturer’s negligence. Instead, in order to hold a manufacturer liable for damages, a plaintiff will need to prove that:

• The plaintiff was using the product as intended;
• The product has a design, manufacturing, or label defect;
• The product was defective at the time that it left that manufacturer’s control; and
• The defect was the proximate cause of harm. 

In addition to or instead of bringing  a claim against a product manufacturer, you may have grounds to bring a claim against a product distributor or someone else involved in the distribution chain. For example, if you purchased a car that was defective and the party who sold you the car knew of the defect and did not remedy it or reveal it, they may be held partially liable for your harm.

Statute of Limitations in Products Liability Claims

If you have been injured by using a product that’s defective and you want to file a claim against the product manufacturer for damages, you have a limited time to do so. In most cases, you will have two years from the date that the injury occurred to file your lawsuit. If you wait longer than two years, you can be permanently barred from recovery. Our law firm recommends starting your case sooner rather than later. This allows  time for an investigation, calculation of damages, and the negotiation process to take place well ahead of the two-year time limit.

You Deserve to Be Compensated

If a defective product has caused you harm, you deserve to be compensated in full for your damages. By bringing  a products liability claim, you can seek compensation for, among other damages, the value of your medical expenses, lost wages, and noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering. Bringing  a products liability claim can also raise awareness about the defective product, potentially protecting others from harm.

Contact Our Alabama Defective Products Lawyers Directly Today

Using a product that you assume will add convenience to your life, only to experience a serious injury as a result of a product defect, is a shocking experience. Our defective product attorneys in Alabama understand what you’re going through and are here to help. We have years of experience working on defective products cases and know how to build compelling cases and get results for our clients. To schedule a free consultation, please visit our office in person, send us a message online, or call us at (251) 847-2237. We are here to advocate for you.