When you purchase a product, you expect it to work as advertised and do what you purchased it to do. If used properly, the product shouldn’t harm you. Unfortunately, dangerous or defective products injure thousands of consumers every year.
If you’ve been injured by a defective product, you need an experienced product liability lawyer to navigate the complex technical and legal issues that arise in these cases. At Shapiro & Sternlieb, LLC, we have almost 60 years of combined experience protecting the rights of personal injury victims. To schedule a free consultation, please contact us today by completing the form on this page or calling (732) 617-8050. We proudly serve the Jersey City and Newark areas of New Jersey.
What Is Product Liability?
Product liability is the area of law that governs cases involving injuries that result from defective products. Designers, manufacturers and retailers have an obligation to ensure the safety of their products when used as intended, and to sufficiently warn consumers of any potential risks associated with the use of their products.
When theses obligations are not met, and injuries occur, consumers have the right to compensation through a product liability lawsuit.
Proving liability in a defective product case is complex, but essentially, you must establish the following:
- You were injured while using the product
- The product is defective
- Your injury was directly caused by the defective product
- You were using the product as directed when you sustained your injury
Types of Product Liability Cases
Generally, there are three types of product liability claims:
- Strict liability: This means that a defect in the product exists and that an injury was sustained as a result.
- Negligence: To prove negligence, you must establish that carelessness in the product’s design or manufacturing led to your injuries.
- Breach of warranty: When a product is sold, you rely on two warranties. Express warranties consist of any claim or representation made by the manufacturer or retailer about a product or its safety. Implied warranties involve the implied claim by a manufacturer or other liable party that the product will not cause harm if used as intended.
Common Defective Products
There are thousands of products that have the potential to warrant a product liability claim. Some of the most common types of these products include:
- Motor vehicles
- Automotive parts
- Exercise equipment
- Toys and playground equipment
- Guns and rifles
- Construction equipment
- Smoke detectors and other safety equipment
- Household appliances
- Food and drink
Federal agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), regulate consumer product safety. The CPSC issues public warnings to reduce the risk of consumer injuries when products are found to be defective.
Experienced Legal Counsel in Your Product Liability Case
The product liability attorneys at Shapiro & Sternlieb, LLC are not intimidated by national corporations and large legal teams. We have a proven record of success litigating defective product cases and we won’t back down until we obtain the justice and compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been injured by a defective or dangerous product, contact our New Jersey office today online or at (732) 617-8050 to schedule a free consultation. We welcome clients from Newark and Jersey City.
