When a manufacturer puts its stamp on a product, that manufacturer is liable for the safety of that product. Product liability covers a wide spectrum. Automobile brakes, truck tires, baby strollers, curling irons, lawn fertilizer, windows blinds and surge protectors are all products for which a manufacturer is liable. If a toaster oven makes claim that it will turn off automatically and advertises this “safety feature,” the manufacturer assumes liability for this claim.
When a consumer purchases a product, the product should work as directed. Imagine a consumer taking a medication dose according to the manufacturer’s directions who becomes severely ill from the medication, only to find out later that the medication was improperly labeled. This could cause the consumer to incur thousands in medical bills and even permanent disability.
There are three main types of product liability:
- Manufacturing defects, which occur during the process of manufacturing a product and often involve poor craftsmanship or low-quality materials
- Design defects may involve a product that is dangerous or ineffective when used (seatbelts, for example).
- Failure to warn occurs when a product is designed or produced with known inherent risks to the consumer, but the product does not provide adequate warning to the consumer.
Manufacturers should be held accountable for cutting corners or using sub-par materials. If you have been hurt due to a mislabeled product, failure to warn or another type of product liability, contact the law offices of Crowe, Arnold & Majors today.
