What is Product Liability?

Product liability law is in place to protect customers’ rights against faulty and unsafe products. Sometimes innocent consumers are injured and even killed because of a defective product or design. When this happens, consumers have the right to file a claim for monetary compensation.

Product liability cases generally fall under three categories. They include:

• Manufacturing defect. This refers to a mistake made during the manufacturing of a product. When a piece of furniture is made and a bolt is not fastened tightly enough, this constitutes a defect during manufacturing. If someone buys that piece of furniture and is injured because the bolt breaks, they have the right to sue the manufacturer and retailer under product liability law.
• Design defect. If there is a defect in the design of a product that means every product produced with that design is defective. Problems inherent in the design of a product tend to have farther reaching consequences. A common example of a defective design is when whole lines of cars are recalled because of an issue with the brakes or wheels.
• Marketing defects. This refers to any time a product is falsely marketed or improperly labeled. Dangerous products are required to have visible warning labels. Pharmaceutical drugs must be honest about their functions and their side-effects. When a person is injured because a product is not labeled properly, the company that produces the product can be held liable.

Product liability laws are very important for consumers. They protect us against inadequate and dangerous products. Unfortunately, even with these laws in place companies and manufacturers occasionally release bad products. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a faulty product, contact a product liability lawyer in Massachusetts.  Massachusetts provides multiple damages if a warranty is breached.  That is a great tool in the hands of the right lawyer.