Did a Recently Recalled Product Injure You?

March 22, 2018 | By Greene Broillet & Wheeler

Each month, dozens of recalled products range from furniture to clothing to computer batteries. A quick glance at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website shows that 18 products were recalled in the United States and Canada in January 2018 alone. If a defective product injured you or a loved one, California law might entitle you to financial compensation.

Proving a Product Is Defective

In California, you can receive financial compensation if a defective product injures you. Generally, you can sue anyone in the stream of commerce, such as the manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer. If you sue all of them, then you may increase your chances of receiving full and fair compensation for your injuries.

If you sue under a strict products liability theory, you can prevail if you show that a defective product injured you. What makes a product defective?

• Design defect. Something about the design renders the product dangerous to use
• Manufacturing defect. A properly designed product was defectively manufactured
• Failure to warn. Insufficient or altogether missing instructions or warnings may have rendered the product defective

A recall serves as some proof of a defective product—although it is usually not enough by itself. In any event, you will need to explain to the jury what made the product dangerous and how the defect injured you—something the attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler know how to do for you.

Save Evidence

After suffering an injury, get prompt medical treatment and focus on your recovery. At the same time, do whatever is possible to preserve the product that injured you. For example, if medicine injured you, don’t flush the rest of the bottle down the toilet. If a crib injured your child, don’t throw the crib in the trash. Instead, your lawyer probably wants to see the product that injured you to identify what was wrong with it.

Compensation for Your Injuries

Dangerous products can cause catastrophic injuries, such as:

• Burns
• Broken bones
• Cuts
• Nerve damage
• Joint and tendon injuries
• Emotional distress
• Physical pain

These injuries might require tens of thousands of dollars in medical treatments or more, especially if you suffered severe injuries. You might also need to miss work to recover, costing you thousands of dollars more in income.

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, we can analyze the surrounding circumstances to identify what financial compensation you can receive, such as:

• Reimbursement of medical expenses, including hospital visits, surgery, prescription drugs, and assistive devices
• Replacement of damaged property
• Compensation for physical pain and suffering
• Damages for emotional distress such as fear, anxiety, grief, and embarrassment

The amount of compensation for which you qualify will depend on your injuries and other factors, so meet with a product liability lawyer today for a case assessment.

Speak With a Los Angeles Product Liability Lawyer Now

Consumers rely on manufacturers to make their products safe. When manufacturers fail, they and others might need to pay injured victims financial compensation. At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, our product liability attorneys work aggressively to represent the best interests of our clients. Contact us by calling (866) 634-4525