Steps You Need to Take After Suffering a Defective Product Injury

Take a moment and think about the general area in which you live. You will probably notice that you have access to at least one marketplace (gas station, medication store, or grocery store)  The marketplace is quite literally everywhere you look; inside here is where you have access to the latest gadgets and products. We witness improvements in efficiency, productivity, and, let’s not forget, aesthetics. But, the drawback to new products, and, in fact, products in general, is that they have a probability of being defective due to the competitive environment under which manufacturers produce for their consumers—and the drive for profits. 

The reason for defective products is due to the push for obtaining efficient output levels at which their profits are maximized. This leads to the manufacturer wanting to mass-produce their goods, which we all hope that they have near-perfect quality control checks. However, this is not the case due to competition and the drive for profits as already mentioned; this can lead to diminishing quality of the product on a grand scale, and, ultimately, outputting defective and unsafe products. 

In reality, this method of production makes factory owners and managers have a blind eye towards quality control—or, in other words, pure negligence by the manufacturer. Keep reading to learn about the steps to take after being injured by a defective consumer product. 

I Purchased a Product from the Store and Was Later Injured By It. What Should I Do? 

By law, manufacturers have a legal obligation to make sure that consumers are not in harm's way with the products they sell to the marketplace. It is illegal to sell defective and dangerous (without warning) products to consumers in the marketplace. Therefore, when injured by a defective product you should,

1. Seek medical attention

The first step to take is to seek medical attention immediately and get your injuries looked at. Additionally, you should check to see the duration of being able to file a claim in your state after learning of your injury. For instance, in the state of New York, a consumer has three years after learning of the injury caused by the defective product to file a claim and potentially receive compensation. To ensure that your right to pursue a claim is protected, following the additional steps below can help you better receive maximum compensation.

2. Preserve the defective product

This is a vital step to take in order to really possess your rights and to use it as evidence in your case. Remember, a defective product does not limit itself to toys and personal items. Defective products can range anywhere from defective drugs and medical devices to toys to defective razors. By having your defective productive in hand, this will be great evidence for you and our team. We will work with industry engineers and experts to examine the defective product and determine the cause and essence of the defect.

3. Document the Product’s Information

Make sure to keep all the defective product’s records; this includes the sales receipt, warranty information, repair documentation, or any medical records associated with the product. This information can also be of great benefit and will provide additional evidence for your case. Furthermore, it can help show the wrongdoings of the manufacturer.

4. Get in contact with an attorney immediately

If you have, in fact, been injured by a defective product, you should get in contact with one of our attorneys now. Product liability cases are time-sensitive, so we encourage you to act fast.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, please contact the Cochran Firm Mid South today for a free initial consultation. You deserve to be compensated for your injuries.