Every day we use products that we trust are safe and they improve our lives when they function properly. However, much goes into the design, manufacture and distribution of every product we use and issues can arise at all levels of the distribution chain that can make a product unsafe for its intended use. When this happens, innocent people can be severely injured by the failure of a product. This can happen with household appliances, our vehicles, our children’s toys, household chemicals, farm equipment and nearly every other type of product imaginable. Sometimes a product’s only function is to keep us safe, like child car seats or fall protection equipment, can not only fail to protect the user when it is needed most but actually cause injury to the user.
The injury attorneys at Maschka, Riedy and Ries have handled products liability cases involving many different types of products including: automobiles, fall protection equipment, washing machines, recreational vehicles, cranes, scissor lifts, forklifts, respirators, medical device implants, boats, power tools, grill brushes, ladders, scaffolding and others. Our Mankato product liability lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for clients injured by defective products.
Injuries can occur when companies make design decisions that compromise user safety in the name of increased profits or a mistake in the manufacturing or distribution of the product can lead to a failure of the product. Another way a product can be considered defective is if it does not have adequate warnings associated with the use of the product.
The designers and manufacturers of products owe a duty of due care to consumers. When that duty is not fulfilled, the maker may be held liable for the injuries caused by the use of the dangerous or defective product.
It is critical that you seek representation immediately after such an injury and ensure that the product at issue is preserved as evidence. Many times if the product is not preserved in the condition it was in at the time of the injury, there is little chance at successfully pursuing a products liability claim. Product liability claims are very complex and it is important to consult with an attorney who is familiar with this specialized area of law.
If you or a loved one have been injured by a product that may have been defectively designed or manufactured or did not have adequate warnings, you may be eligible for compensation from the product manufacturer or seller.
