When you purchase a product, you enter into an agreement with the manufacturers of the product and others involved in its production and marketing. This relationship provides you with the opportunity to pursue compensation if the product should cause you harm.
Defective products injure and kill consumers frequently, and the law allows those consumers or their families to hold liable those responsible for the products. Product liability law can be complicated, but those who seek compensation for their injuries often also do a great good for the public by drawing attention to dangerous products.
Narrowing down the liability
If you or a family member suffers injuries because of a defective or dangerous product, you will likely go through Alabama civil court to prove that the item was unsafe because of a flaw in the design, a defect in its manufacturing or assembly, or some inadequacy or oversight in the marketing of the product, such as not labeling the item as unsafe for children or failing to provide direction for safe use.
Any entity involved with the product may carry some liability for your injuries, including:
- The company that made any defective parts or ingredients that went into the product
- The manufacturer, if the production of the item was faulty
- The marketing company that produced the packaging and labels
- The wholesaler that distributed the product to the stores
- The retailer that sold you the product
- The business or individual that assembled or installed the product for you
Of course, some items may cause risk because of their nature and are, therefore, unavoidably unsafe. This may include knives or certain medications that a manufacturer cannot make safer without reducing their effectiveness.
Don’t fight alone
While the list above may seem overwhelming, your attorney can help you focus on those entities that may carry the greatest responsibility. Fortunately, proving liability often means simply proving that the product was defective or dangerous and that your injury occurred through no fault of your own. You did not alter the item or intentionally disregard the warnings or instructions on the packaging.
Because you may be facing some complex issues and dealing with multiple entities who have much to lose, you would be wise to have a strong and experienced attorney on your side throughout the process of pursuing the compensation you deserve following an injury from a defective or dangerous product.
