What If I Was Injured by a Defective Product?
Most people do not expect the product they bought in a store or online to injure them, but this happens all the time. Hundreds of products made by professional companies are recalled each year due to consumer injuries. Some people only suffer minor injuries while others survive life-threatening ones. If you suffered harm from a defective product, be sure to ask a Los Angeles personal injury attorney about compensation.
Do I Have Product Liability Claim?
When you are injured or suffer harm from a product, you may have a product liability claim. According to New York product liability laws, you can sue the product manufacturer if you were sold a product that caused injury or death. This could mean injury to you or a product that led to the passing of your loved one.
However, there are certain exceptions that could prevent you from filing a product liability claim. If the product is known to be unsafe under certain use by the manufacturer and consumer, then you may not be able to sue. Common products for personal consumption like sugar or alcohol are also exempt from liability claims.
These products are exempt because otherwise, alcohol companies could face thousands of lawsuits for alcohol overdoses or drunk driving accidents. In incidents like these, the assumption is that the consumer caused harm to themselves by abusing the product. No one can file a lawsuit when their own negligence contributed to the harm they suffered from the product.
Abusing or intentionally misusing a product against the warning labels or instructions of a product generally falls on the consumer. Product manufacturers are usually not held liable for the harm a consumer causes to themselves from product misuse.
How Much Can I Be Compensated for a Defective Product?
If the product you purchased did harm you despite you using the product correctly, you could be eligible for compensation. The compensatory damages you could be eligible for depend on:
- The severity of your injuries
- What types of damages you suffered
- Whether you can prove the damages you are claiming
Economic damages are easily measurable financial losses like medical bills for injuries, lost wages, and property damages. Non-economic damages are harder to measure because they are more subjective and include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
You may also be able to obtain additional compensation by suing for punitive damages. These damages are only awarded as a means to punish the manufacturer for reckless or intended negligence. Try contacting a Los Angeles product liability lawyer to see what evidence you need to prove your damages and lawsuit.
Product Liability Attorney in Los Angeles
You may not have to pay for the damages you suffered from a defective product. All you have to do is call the Law Offices of Jennie Levin by dialing (323) 951-1188 to speak with a California product liability lawyer for a free consultation today. Our team of attorneys can help increase your chances of compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and property damages. We can be found in Los Angeles, California.
