Sumter Product Liability Lawyer
In the mad dash to sell as many units as possible, and make as much money as possible, many manufacturers take dangerous shortcuts that place consumers at risk. In other words, they put profits before people. Making matters worse, government watchdogs are often little help. For example, the Food and Drug Administration only issues tainted food and dangerous medical device recalls as a last resort. Additionally, these recalls do nothing to compensate the victims of these defective products.
When companies take advantage of consumers and regulators refuse to protect people, our diligent Sumter product liability lawyer at The Stanley Law Group stand in the gap. However, taking an aggressive stance for victim’s rights is just part of what we do. Obtaining maximum compensation is a process which begins with thorough evidence collection and a clear understanding of the applicable laws and procedures. All along the way, we proactively communicate with our clients, so they are never in the dark.
Types of Defective Products
We mentioned unsafe product shortcuts above. Usually, these shortcuts happen in one of two areas:
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Design Defect: In the early 1970s, the Ford Pinto’s designers put the car’s unprotected gas tank behind the rear axle. As a result, the tank often ruptured and exploded, even in a relatively low-speed rear end collision. A cheap and effective fix was available, but Ford refused to spend the extra money.
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Manufacturing Defect: In the early 2000s, airbag manufacturer Takata replaced a reliable, yet expensive, chemical propellant with ammonium nitrate. That’s basically the same compound that Timothy McVeigh used in his Oklahoma City truck bomb. As a result of this use, Takata’s airbags often exploded. Even after a record fine and record safety recall, millions of vehicles with defective Takata airbags are still on the road.
Frequently, the legal claim in a defective product claim focuses not on the defective product, but on the manufacturer’s reaction to the issue. Our Sumter product liability lawyer often files failure to warn claims. Usually, courts refer these claims to a single Multi-District Litigation location. So, there are some additional complexities.
Damages Available
We touched on the damages available in a defective product claim above. Now, let’s examine these damages in more detail.
The average injury-related hospital bill is over $50,000. Other out-of-pocket losses include missed work and property damage. Since the defective product injury wasn’t their fault, victims shouldn’t have to pay these expenses themselves. Therefore, compensation is available for economic losses.
Out-of-pocket losses are often just the tip of the iceberg. Personal injuries also cause substantial emotional distress. Other noneconomic losses include loss of enjoyment in life, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium (companionship). Compensation is available for these losses as well.
Finally, most defective product claims involve substantial punitive damages. These damages are available if there is clear and convincing evidence that the company intentionally disregarded a known risk. As mentioned, money is the only language that most companies speak. Therefore, only high punitive damages award truly convinces them to change the way they do business and take consumer safety seriously.
Reach Out to a Diligent Sumter County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Sumter defective products lawyer, contact The Stanley Law Group, P.A. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
