Defective Products

Cincinnati Defective Product Attorneys

Our Team Fights for Families Who Have Suffered Injuries Caused by Defective Products

Defective products can cause injuries in various ways, such as through design flaws, manufacturing defects or insufficient warnings or instructions. Some common types of defective products that have been known to cause injuries include:

• Motor vehicles: Defective automotive components, such as faulty airbags, brakes, tires, seat belts or accelerators, can lead to car accidents and serious injuries.
• Children’s products: Toys with small parts that present choking hazards, cribs with unsafe designs, toys made with substandard or flammable materials or car seats with inadequate restraints or breakable components are examples of defective children’s products that can cause injuries.
• Pharmaceuticals and medical devices: Defective drugs with harmful side effects or medical devices like implants, pacemakers or surgical tools that malfunction can result in serious health complications or even death.
• Household appliances and electronics: Faulty wiring, defective smoke detectors, overheating batteries or other defects in appliances or electronics can cause fires, burns or electrocution injuries. Defective safety equipment like smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors can result in families not receiving vital warning when tragedy strikes, potentially resulting in serious injuries or deaths.
• Industrial equipment and machinery: Workers can suffer injuries from defective equipment or machinery that lacks proper safety guards, has design flaws or experiences mechanical failures. These third-party claims would be separate from potential workers’ comp claims of a worker who is injured on a job site.
• Consumer electronics: Devices such as smartphones, laptops, e-cigarettes and hoverboards have occasionally been known to have issues with overheating, exploding batteries or other defects that can cause burns or other injuries.
• Food products: Contaminated or mislabeled food products can lead to foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions or other health issues.
• Cleaning, lawn and garden tools: Defective power tools, ladders or lawn mowers can pose significant injury risks if they malfunction or lack proper safety features. A variety of cleaning chemicals or products can also be hazardous if the packaging is attractive to children, easy to open or lends itself to dangerous use or consumption (like laundry detergent pods).
• Personal protective equipment: Faulty safety gear, such as defective helmets, goggles or respirators, can fail to provide the necessary protection, leading to injuries.
• Beauty and personal care products: Defective cosmetics, hair care products or skincare items can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, burns or other health issues.

What to Do After Being Injured by a Dangerous or Defective Product

• Seek medical attention: Your health and safety should be your top priority. If you’re injured, seek immediate medical attention. A medical professional’s official prognosis and diagnostics testing results will be key in establishing your injuries were a direct result of the defective product and will help justify the damages you eventually seek in a claim.
• Preserve the evidence: Keep the product, packaging and any other relevant materials in their current state. Avoid tampering with or trying to fix the product, as this may jeopardize your case. Take photos or videos of the product, your injuries and the scene of the incident, if possible.
• Report the incident: Notify the manufacturer, retailer or distributor of the product about the incident and your injuries. Reporting your injuries to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), though not legally required, is the socially responsible thing to do. You could play a role in ensuring injuries like yours don’t happen again by informing the proper authorities of the risks.
• Document everything: Keep detailed records of your medical treatments, doctor visits and any expenses you incur as a result of the incident. This includes all your medical expenses, property damage, rehabilitative costs and product replacement costs. Make notes of conversations with the manufacturer, retailer or any other parties involved, and keep copies of correspondence (emails, letters, forms, etc.).
• Consult with a personal injury attorney: Product liability law can be complex, and navigating the legal process on your own can be challenging. Discussing your situation with an experienced product liability attorney can help you understand your options and make an informed decision about what to do next. An attorney can help you understand your rights, gather evidence and negotiate with the responsible parties or their insurance companies.
• File a claim: If necessary, your attorney may advise you to file a product liability claim or join a class-action lawsuit. Ohio has a two-year statute of limitations on injury claims, like product liability claims, so it’s better to act quickly. Delaying your claim may also increase the likelihood of evidence being lost or make it harder to prove injuries were a result of the dangerous product.
• Stay informed and involved: Maintain communication with your attorney and remain involved in the legal process. This will help ensure that you are aware of any developments in your case and can make informed decisions.