When you buy a product, you count on the manufacturer and the people who sold the product to provide something that works and won’t harm you when used correctly. Unfortunately, manufacturers of appliances, medical devices, and products we use every day don’t always manufacture their products to the highest standards or test them properly to make sure they’re safe. Products catch fire, cause electrical shocks, or fail to do what they’re supposed to do every single day.
If you’ve been injured by a defective product in Mansfield, Ohio, you need a lawyer with extensive experience in this type of case.
Oliver Law Office is a defective products law firm serving Mansfield, Ohio, and the surrounding area. Jami S. Oliver was voted the 2024 Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation in Columbus, Ohio. Our firm works on a contingency basis, so you don’t have to worry about whether you can afford our services. We won’t charge you anything unless we secure compensation for you. Contact Oliver Law Office today online or call us at (614) 220-9100 for your free case evaluation.
Defective product cases can involve almost any item you use daily, including:
Water heaters
Beauty products
Electrical devices
Heating pads
Laptops
Scooters
Smoke detectors
Fans
Cell phones
Household chemicals
If a product malfunctions and causes an injury, a product liability lawsuit can result. However, some products are more likely to provoke a product liability claim than others. Household appliances are one example.
Defective appliances involved in product liability cases include:
Refrigerators and freezers, which can cause food poisoning incidents if they don’t stay cold enough
Space heaters, which are a common cause of household fires
Ovens, which can cause fires, burns, or gas leaks
Dryers, which can cause injuries through venting improperly or by starting a fire
Carbon monoxide detectors, which can fail to detect a dangerous gas leak
Any product that heats up can cause a burn or fire if it malfunctions. Any product that uses electricity can cause a burn or an electrical shock. If a household appliance is not manufactured correctly, it can cause injuries.
Some of the most common product liability lawsuits involve defective medical devices, including:
Breast implants
Mesh devices
Monitoring devices
Pacemakers
Defibrillators
Replacement joints
Blood sugar monitors
IVC filters
We also frequently handle cases involving recalled drugs. These are medicines that don’t work as they should, or that can cause dangerous side effects or health problems for the user. If you’ve been using a drug that has since been recalled by the manufacturer, contact us to find out what your options are.
Ohio law defines a product liability claim as a legal claim against a manufacturer or supplier to recover damages after a product causes death, physical injury, emotional distress, or property damage as a result of:
The way the product was designed, formulated, produced, constructed, created, assembled, rebuilt, tested, or marketed
Any inadequacies or errors in the warnings or instructions for the product
Any failure of the product to do what the manufacturer or supplier says it is supposed to do
Manufacturers and suppliers are legally obligated to build and sell safe products that do what they are designed to do and that don’t hurt anyone when used correctly. If you used a product as instructed but were injured, you have solid grounds for a product liability claim.
Ohio allows the plaintiff in a product liability case to claim compensatory damages for any losses arising from the product’s defective nature. In some cases, the plaintiff can also recover punitive damages, but only if they can prove that the defendant behaved with flagrant disregard for the public’s safety.
Compensatory damages are meant to compensate the plaintiff for their losses, while punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for their irresponsible actions. Punitive damages are rare compared to compensatory damages, but they can substantially increase the size of a jury award.
Whatever the nature of your product liability claim, don’t delay in contacting a lawyer. The statute of limitations on product liability claims in Ohio allows an injured person two years in which to file a lawsuit. Generally speaking, the clock starts running when you find out a defective product injured you.
Determining who is liable for a defective product is one of the things a product liability lawyer can do for you. Sometimes, there is more than one responsible party. The most common candidates include:
The product manufacturer, especially if faulty manufacturing processes caused the defect
A component manufacturer, if their component caused the defect
The retailer, if they were aware of the defect but kept selling the product, or if they didn’t provide necessary warnings
The designers, if the product design was flawed in such a way as to make it dangerous even when manufactured properly
The product testing lab, if their tests failed to catch a defect that later proved dangerous
The marketing company, if they presented false or misleading information that contributed to the customer’s injuries
Whichever parties are liable, a skilled product liability lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
If you’ve been hurt by a defective product in Mansfield, Ohio, the first thing you should do is get medical help for your injuries. The second thing you should do is contact a lawyer with product liability experience.
Oliver Law Office is a personal injury law firm with offices in Columbus and Dublin, Ohio. We pride ourselves on our ability to meet all challenges with determination, courage, and confidence. Whatever your situation is, we will listen with compassion and help you find a solution.
Here are some of the things we can do for you when you hire us to handle your product liability case:
We can conduct an investigation to determine why the product was defective and who is liable for your injuries
We can calculate your losses, including your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering
We can negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement
If the insurance company will not offer a reasonable settlement, we can take them to trial and pursue compensation in court
We are located just 62 minutes from Mansfield, and you’re welcome to drive out and see us if you’d like to meet at our offices. However, we’re also happy to come and see you at your home or to meet you over a video call. To set up your free case evaluation, contact Oliver Law Office today at (614) 220-9100.
Here’s how to reach our office.
From the North:
Take I-71 S towards Columbus
Take exit 108A for Main St
Turn right onto E Main St
Turn right onto S 4th St
Turn left onto E Town St
Destination will be on the left
From the South:
Take US-23 N towards Columbus
Turn right onto E Main St
Turn left onto S 4th St
Turn left onto E Town St
Destination will be on the left
From the East:
Take I-70 W towards Columbus
Take exit 102 to Cole St
Turn right onto Kelton Ave
Turn left onto Main St
Turn right onto 4th St
Turn left onto Town St
Destination will be on the right
From the West:
Take I-70 E towards Columbus
Take exit 100 B to W Livingston Ave
Turn left onto S. 4th Street
Turn left onto E Town St
Destination will be on the left
