Every day, millions of households rely on a wide array of products to make life more convenient and enjoyable. However, when a seemingly harmless product turns dangerous, it can lead to severe injuries and life-altering consequences.
If you’ve been injured by a defective or dangerous household product, understanding your legal rights is crucial. A knowledgeable New York product liability lawyer can provide the guidance and support you need to seek justice and compensation.
Product Liability in New York: What You Need to Know
Product liability is the legal obligation of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to ensure their products are safe for use. If a product is defective or poorly designed and causes harm, injured individuals can seek to hold those responsible accountable.
In New York state, product liability claims generally fall under three categories:
- Design defects: Flaws in a product’s design can make it inherently unsafe. For example, a poorly designed space heater that overheats and causes fires, despite being used as intended, could fall under this category. There have been cases where certain types of baby cribs posed a risk of suffocation due to a defective drop-side rail design, as well as cases where items on cribs, such as soft bedding, caused sleep-related suffocation.
- Manufacturing defects: During the production process, errors can result in a defective product that might prove dangerous. A batch of kitchen blenders with improperly secured blades that break during use, causing injury, may constitute a manufacturing defect.
- Marketing defects: These refer to insufficient instructions, warnings, or labels that fail to inform consumers of potential risks. A common example of a marketing defect is a household cleaning product that omits a warning about toxic fumes when mixed with other common cleaning agents. For pharmaceutical products, a lack of proper warning labels can lead to severe side effects for consumers.
Common Household Products That Can Cause Injuries
Dangerous household products can come in many forms. Here are some common examples:
- Electronics and appliances: Malfunctions in everyday devices can pose serious dangers. For instance, a coffee maker with faulty wiring might overheat and start a fire, or a microwave with a defective latch could cause burns from steam or spillage.
- Cleaning products: Mislabeling or missing warnings on chemical cleaners can lead to severe health issues. A drain cleaner without clear safety instructions might result in skin burns or accidental poisoning.
- Furniture: Improperly assembled or inherently unstable furniture, such as a tall bookcase without anti-tip brackets, can easily fall over, causing injury or even death to children or adults.
- Children’s toys: Toys designed with detachable small parts, like a doll with tiny accessories, can lead to choking incidents, especially in younger children. Or, if a toy is made with toxic materials, it might cause chemical burns if mishandled.
Any defects in these products can cause injuries ranging from minor burns to severe trauma.
Children’s Products That Pose Risks
Beyond toys, there are certain children’s products that can also cause significant harm if they are poorly designed or manufactured. Manufacturing defects are particularly alarming since parents and caregivers often trust these products to keep their children safe.
Some examples of defective children’s products that could seriously harm children are:
- Playpens: Defective playpens with unstable frames or faulty locking mechanisms can create significant safety hazards. A playpen that collapses unexpectedly can trap a child, leading to entrapment or suffocation.
- High chairs: High chairs with unstable bases or poorly secured safety straps can tip over, causing serious injuries like head trauma or broken bones.
- Car seats: A defective car seat that fails during a collision or has a faulty latch system can result in severe injuries to a child in the event of an accident.
- Baby walkers: Walkers with insufficient braking mechanisms or unstable designs have led to falls down stairs or collisions with sharp objects.
Do You Need a Product Liability Lawyer in New York?
Handling a product liability claim can feel overwhelming, particularly when dealing with large corporations backed by extensive resources and legal teams. This is why it’s important to hire an experienced New York product liability lawyer who can provide essential support in these cases.
One critical reason to involve a lawyer is to identify all liable parties. From product manufacturers and designers to sellers and distributors, multiple entities could share responsibility for negligence that resulted in harm. A lawyer will conduct a comprehensive investigation of your case to hold all responsible parties accountable.
Additionally, a skilled lawyer brings expertise in litigating complex cases, leveling the playing field. They will gather evidence, handle negotiations, and, if needed, represent your interests in court to secure fair compensation for your injuries.
At Keith D. Silverstein & Associates, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these injuries can take. Our team is dedicated to fighting for the justice and compensation you deserve. With years of experience in product liability cases, our team has built a reputation for excellence and client-focused representation.If you or a loved one has been injured, contact Keith D. Silverstein & Associates today for a free consultation.
