Product Liability (Product Defects) FAQ's

How do I know if I have a good products liability claim?
What will it cost me to have my products liability claim evaluated?
What information do I need before I call a lawyer on the telephone?
Should I talk to the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the product or any insurance adjuster before I call a lawyer?
What kinds of products may be dangers, defective and unsafe?
If I have a products liability claim and call a lawyer, does that mean I will automatically become involved in a lawsuit and a trial?



Q: How do I know if I have a good products liability claim?

A: If you have suffered a serious injury you may have a good products liability claim. But you do not and cannot know if you have a good products liability claim, and there is no way to find out unless your claim is evaluated by a group of people with experience and expertise in products liability claims. That is why you need to call an attorney right away. Your claim needs to be evaluated by people with experience and expertise in products liability claims.


Q: What will it cost me to have my products liability claim evaluated?

A: It will not cost you anything. You call on the telephone to discuss a claim and our team will walk you through the process.


Q: What information do I need before I call a lawyer on the telephone?

A: The only information you need is a very basic understanding of what happened to cause the injury and what type of product was the cause of the injury. Essentially, you need to be able to tell the attorney what happened to you or the loved one. We will do the rest.


Q: Should I talk to the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the product or any insurance adjuster before I call a lawyer?

A: No. You need information and guidance. Premature communications may result in misunderstandings, confusion, the loss of the product or an alteration to the product. Let the lawyer guide you through the process. All of the manufacturers and most of the sellers of the products have people trained to manage the claim in the interest of the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the dangerous and defective and unsafe product. You are not trained to protect your rights and the rights of your loved ones. They are trained to protect the manufacturers, distributors and sellers of the products. So, call a lawyer with experience and expertise in products liability claims and then decide whether it would be best for you to communicate directly with the manufacturer, distributor or seller.


Q: What kinds of products may be dangers, defective and unsafe?

A: The list is almost endless. A summary would be:

• defective tires (tread separations and blow outs);
• cars or SUVs (rollovers, roof crush, seat belts, fuel systems and fires, mechanical failures);
• motorcycles (instability, mechanical);
• farm equipment and machinery (for example, a tractor with a defective transmission that slips into gear or an unguarded power take off);
• industrial equipment and machinery (for example, a punch press that can be operated with someone's hand in the way);
• power tools (for example, a power saw that kicks back without a guard and slices the operator);
• firearms (for example, a handgun with a defective or dangerous safety device);
• hunting and camping equipment (for example, a tree chair without harnesses);
• gas stoves, heaters, fireplaces and grills (fires and explosions);
• household products (often electrical);
• medical devices (artificial joints, valves, equipment, pharmaceuticals);
• trailers and jacks (for example, a trailer that is not properly balanced and the tongue lifts during transport or a jack that collapses);
• playground and school equipment (for example, defective machinery in a shop class or playground equipment that is too hot without a protective surface on the ground);
• products used by or for babies, infants, and toddlers (for example, a dangerous car seat or stroller).

Q: If I have a products liability claim and call a lawyer, does that mean I will automatically become involved in a lawsuit and a trial?

A: No. The vast majority of claims for injury are settled without a trial. If a lawsuit is necessary and the right thing to do to protect your interests, then you can choose to pursue it through your attorney. Even during a lawsuit, you are still making decisions about how you want to proceed. You, the client, are still in charge.