Springfield Product Liability Lawyer

A product liability claim can arise from a malfunction of a simple household appliance (like a space heater with faulty wiring causing a fire hazard) or complex machinery at a place of employment (e.g., a power press that lacks a safety guard, causing a crush injury). That’s why a Springfield product liability lawyer should be involved in the complete preparation of claims, from the evaluation of Massachusetts law and the facts of the claim, to the hiring of experts, to settlement or, if necessary, trial. Get in touch with our team of personal injury attorneys today.

Common Types of Product Liability

Most legal claims based on injuries happen because a person (or entity) does or fails to do something that causes a direct injury to another person. Consumer products, however, create a different kind of liability because for a person using a product at home or work, it has a different, less obvious cause. 

Rather than a company creating harm directly, a defective product put out into the market can create the same harm for those who use it. For example, a cleaning aerosol product that explodes unexpectedly or causes an ailment through normal use can hurt a consumer or employee even if the company is no longer directly involved. Different defects can involve different participants in the manufacturing and retailing process, including the designer, manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer. 

Design Defect

A product that has a design defect—something inherent in the product that is used rather than a safer alternative—can subject the original designer to liability.

As an example, a lack of an emergency shut-off button on a conveyor belt leads to a severe injury, such as an amputation. 

Manufacturing Defect

A manufacturing defect in the process of making the product can make the assembling party responsible for injuries rather than the original designer. For example, a chair missing a screw, making it unstable and a fall hazard, leads to an injury. 

Marketing Defect

A lack of required warnings on a product, known as a failure to warn or a marketing defect, can also hurt a consumer who otherwise uses a product correctly, exposing the product’s designer to liability. For example, a toy manufacturer fails to warn that small, detachable parts pose a choking hazard to young children. 

Fortunately for those affected by a defective product, proving a claim based on product liability does not require evidence of intent by a company – only that a defect existed when the product entered the market. Of course, proving a defect may require extensive investigation and review of complex documents, as well as expert opinions, which a Springfield product liability attorney could help with.

How an Attorney Could Assist With a Product Liability Claim

Some injuries from defective products are obvious, such as when a product clearly malfunctions when used normally. Other injuries might become apparent over time, such as diseases resulting from faulty or dangerous chemicals. In these cases, only after some time has passed would a person know to make a legal claim against a company.

An attorney could evaluate whether there are legal grounds for a claim and what a person will need to prove to receive compensation. Based on the specific facts of the case, such as the product, the type of defect, and the injuries, a person may need to obtain evidence from one or more companies to support a claim.

Much of the evidence may be found in discovery – a step in the process that takes place after an initial complaint is filed. These claims, in particular, may encounter a strong defense from the companies involved. A Springfield attorney familiar with product liability claims could bring a lawsuit to start the process, assist in the discovery process, and pursue maximum compensation for a person’s injuries.

Speak With a Springfield Attorney About Your Product Liability Claim