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Consumers expect that the products they purchase are safe. They trust that the ordinary use of a product will not needlessly endanger them or their loved ones. This is, in fact, such an important expectation that the law imposes high requirements upon manufacturers of consumer goods. Manufacturers are held to a standard of “strict liability.” This means that the manufacturer is liable for any damage caused by the reasonable use of a consumer product. This applies even if the manufacturer used reasonable safety precautions in its designs and product testing. This law encourages manufacturers to do everything in their power to make safe products for consumer use.
Unfortunately, some manufacturers fail to meet this obligation, and when they do, the results can be devastating. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average products liability jury award in 2016 was significantly higher than other types of personal injuries. The average product liability award was, in fact, about twice as much as the next-highest average jury award (medical malpractice). This demonstrates just how devastating products liability injuries can be to victims and their families.
If you have been injured by a consumer product, you have important legal rights that must be protected. For decades, New Yorkers have trusted the experienced attorneys at Russo Law to protect their right to compensation after a products liability injury. They offer individualized attention and personal service that many other lawyers cannot. They spend the time to get to know you and your story, so that they are fully prepared to defend your legal right to compensation. Call (917) 675-6553 to learn how we can help.
There are thousands of consumer products in almost every New York household and workplace. Defects in any of these everyday items can cause serious injury - even death. Consider how often you come across the following consumer goods:
In a busy city like New York, we are also exposed to the consumer goods of thousands of other New Yorkers we encounter every day. This is why it is so important for manufacturers to produce only safe products for public consumption - and to be held accountable when they fail to do so.
Many products are specifically designed for use by children. When these products are dangerous, they can cause especially serious injuries because children are often unable to recognize and protect themselves from harm. Consider the following harmful products:
All of these products are sold for profit to parents who trust that they are safe for use around the children they want to protect. The injuries a child sustains from such products can cause lifelong consequences.
Of course, it is not just children who suffer injuries from dangerous products. Adults can also be injured - especially from large equipment and heavy machinery. One of the most common (and dangerous) consumer goods is a vehicle. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers own vehicles. Auto manufacturers profit greatly from the sale of these vehicles, and consumers trust that they will be safe for ordinary driving. But many different types of defects can endanger drivers, passengers, and everyone on the road around them. Malfunctioning brakes, defective electrical systems, incorrect error messages, improperly secured tires and wheel assemblies, malfunctioning exhaust systems, or defective steering assemblies can all put users in life-or-death situations.
Vehicles are made up of dozens of systems and thousands of individual parts. There are many opportunities for these parts to be defective and cause their systems to malfunction. Malfunctioning vehicles are a serious hazard to all road users. This is especially true for large vehicles with heavy cargo loads. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can cause much more damage than a smaller, lighter passenger vehicle. Public transit vehicles (subway cars, buses, and taxi cabs) can also cause more damage due to the number of passengers they carry. This is why it is important to hold all auto manufacturers accountable for putting only safe vehicles on the roads of New York.
The law recognizes certain defenses that a manufacturer may invoke to avoid products liability. One of the most common (and therefore, important) defenses for consumers to be aware of is the misuse of the product. If the product is used in a manner for which it was not intended, the manufacturer may be able to avoid liability for damage that results from the misuse. This often occurs when a vehicle is driven off-road, or an electrical appliance is used in an unsafe manner.
The manufacturer might also be able to avoid liability if the injury victim was not a foreseeable user of the product. If, for example, a thief stole a car, he or she would likely be unable to make a products liability claim for damages resulting from a manufacturing defect. There are other unique defenses such as this, and it is important for injury victims to consult with a products liability attorney to determine whether one of them might apply to a specific case and limit a company’s liability.
The personal injury attorneys at Russo Law have decades of experience protecting victims of defective products across New York City. We offer dependable legal advice combined with unparalleled customer service. Unlike other law firms, our attorneys make themselves available for phone calls and in-person meetings with clients. We take the time to answer all your questions and ensure that you are comfortable with the legal process. Give us a call at (917) 675-6553 or contact us to learn how we can help.