As you stroll down the shops at Dublin Village Center, you have a reasonable expectation that anything you decide to purchase will be safe to use. That’s because designers and manufacturers of products are responsible to consumers.
That responsibility is sometimes breached, however. If you’ve suffered injuries because of a malfunctioning product, you have a right to pursue damages. Our Dublin defective products lawyers at Oliver Law Office can help you understand your rights.
One of the first things to know about product liability claims is that there are various types of defects that a product can have. Most people think of a defect as something that occurs in a product that doesn’t work as it’s meant to, but there’s much more to Ohio’s product liability laws.
Products can have design defects. These defects occur when the product is thought up, so it’s dangerous even if used as directed. An example is a power tool that has a hand guard that’s too large, allowing the hand to slip through while in use.
If the product was designed correctly but had an issue during the manufacturing process, it has a manufacturing defect. A car that’s missing components is an example.
There can also be failure-to-warn defects. These defects involve not alerting consumers about inherent side effects and risks that the product may pose. For example, if the manufacturer of a knee brace doesn’t warn consumers that the knee brace could be ineffective for people over a certain weight, you can file a failure-to-warn claim.
With product liability claims, you don’t need to prove negligence on the defendant’s part. You need to show that the product had a defect that led to injuries, for which you can receive compensation. You also don’t need to show how the effect occurred, only that it did.
When filing a product liability claim, you can hold the designer, manufacturer, retailer, wholesaler, or distributor liable. In some cases, you could hold more than one party responsible.
As with other personal injury claims, you don’t have an unlimited amount of time in which to file a claim. According to the Ohio statute of limitations, most people only have two years. An exception would be if you suffered injuries after being exposed to a toxic chemical or medication over a long time.
If you fail to meet this deadline, you lose all chance of compensation. Filing a claim is complex, so you want to hire a product liability law firm for help.
Defective products can cause many types of injuries, including catastrophic ones. Learn about the most common injuries our Dublin, OH, product liability attorneys have helped clients get compensation for.
When a household appliance, like a toaster, has faulty wiring, the result could be a fire. If an appliance erupts into flames while you’re using it, it could lead to severe burns and scarring.
Choking hazards are a common issue with children’s toys. If parts easily snap off, this defect could lead to fatalities if kids put the parts in their mouths. Toys with choking hazards must be clearly labeled, stating they’re meant for older children.
It’s common for people to experience head injuries from motorcycle and bicycle helmets that aren’t well made or that have design defects. Those who suffer head injuries can experience cognitive issues, difficulty managing their emotions, and a variety of other problems, depending on where the damage occurred.
Consuming unsafe medications, supplements, or other products can lead to organ damage. Organ damage is catastrophic and could lead to a poor quality of life as well as fatalities.
If a child’s high chair unexpectedly breaks because of a design or manufacturing defect, the infant could experience broken bones. The same thing can occur If a stair banister breaks and sends you crashing to the floor. Fractures can take a long time to heal, keeping you from living your life as you used to.
Although you don’t have to prove negligence when filing a defective product claim, you will still need to demonstrate that the product didn’t function as it should have. That’s not always simple to do. It can require turning to engineers, mechanics, and other professionals for help.
By hiring a Dublin, OH, product liability lawyer, you have people with experience and contacts at your disposal. At Oliver Law Office, we can gather the evidence necessary to prove that you deserve compensation for your injuries.
Negotiating with insurance companies is a big part of personal injury claims. Despite what they may say, insurance companies aren’t out to help anyone but themselves. They may try to bully you into accepting a low offer or could try to get you to drop the claim altogether.
To win fair compensation, you need experienced lawyers like ours to negotiate for you.
If you’re not getting a fair deal or some disputes can’t be quickly resolved, we can file a lawsuit and take your case to court. You do not want to tackle litigation without the right level of experience.
If you’ve had to rush to Ohio Health Methodist Hospital’s emergency room because of the injuries a malfunctioning product caused, you can claim compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are economic and non-economic.
Economic damages compensate you for financial losses you suffered because of your injuries. They cover medical expenses like hospital stays, ambulance fees, medication costs, and any future medical expenses you may have. That’s important if you have long-term injuries that will require ongoing care.
Economic damages also cover lost wages. After suffering an injury, you may not be able to go to work, and that means missing out on income you’d otherwise have made. You can also claim future wages if you cannot return to work.
On the other hand, non-economic damages help you get compensation for losses that are not financial. Going through a traumatic experience can leave you in mental and physical distress. Pain and suffering damages seek to compensate you for that.
As part of non-economic damages, loss of enjoyment of life can also be claimed if you’re not able to live as you did before the accident. If there’s been a wrongful death because of the defective product, you can also claim compensation in the form of loss of consortium.
In the most extreme cases, when the defendant’s behavior has been particularly egregious, you may also be able to claim punitive damages. These punish the defendant and disincentivize future wrongdoing.
After suffering injuries because of a defective product, you can seek compensation and get the justice you deserve with the help of a product liability attorney in Dublin, OH.
Oliver Law Office is a women-led firm that offers aggressive representation. Call us to schedule a free injury consultation with a product liability lawyer in Dublin, Ohio.
