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Philadelphia Product Liability Lawyer Presents Five Products That Pose Increased Risk of Injuries or Death.

 

Product safety is a paramount concern for consumers, yet every year countless individuals suffer injuries or even fatalities due to defective or hazardous products. Understanding the variety of risks associated with product liability is crucial for both consumers and manufacturers. These risks can stem from malfunctions, manufacturing flaws, faulty components, and hazardous ingredients, each posing a unique threat to user safety. In this article, a seasoned Philadelphia product liability lawyer from the Trapani Law Firm sheds light on five products that present an elevated risk of injuries or death. By identifying these products and understanding the nature of their dangers, we aim to increase awareness, promote safer consumer practices and understanding of law and customers’ rights to seek justice. 

 

There are various types of hazards resulting from using different products and linked to manufacturing and distribution processes. Although, not every injury resulting from using any item can become a basis to pursue legal action against the manufacturer. 

Requirements in Philadelphia product liability claims

 

Is every product-related accident or injury a basis to file PhiladelphiaMost Hazardous product liability lawsuits? What are key elements to establish in Philadelphia product liability claims? Learn about the main requirement to meet before seeking compensation from the manufacturer or distributor. Are you entitled to file a Philly product related injury lawsuit?

 

Not every product-related accident automatically provides a basis for filing a Philadelphia product liability lawsuit. To be entitled to seek justice from a manufacturer or distributor, several legal requirements must be met. These requirements are crucial for establishing a valid product liability claim. Here are the key elements that must be satisfied:

Defective product

The plaintiff must demonstrate that the product in question was defective. There are three main types of defects recognized in product liability cases:

1. Design defects: The product’s design is inherently unsafe, even if manufactured correctly.
2. Manufacturing defects: The product was flawed due to errors during its production, making it different from its intended design.
3. Marketing defects: The product lacked adequate warnings or instructions, leading to unsafe use.

Causation

It must be shown that the defect directly caused the injury or damage. The plaintiff must establish a clear link between the product defect and the harm suffered. This often requires demonstrating that the injury would not have occurred if the product had not been defective.

Injury or damage

The plaintiff must have suffered actual injury or damage as a result of the defective product. This can include physical injuries, property damage, or other losses. Without demonstrable harm, there is no basis for a Philadelphia product liability claim.

Use of product as intended

The plaintiff must have been using the product as it was intended to be used or in a reasonably foreseeable manner at the time of the injury. If the product was being misused in an unforeseeable way, this could undermine the claim.

Statute of limitations

The claim must be filed within the statutory period set by Pennsylvania law. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for product liability cases is generally two years from the date of injury. Failure to file within this period can result in the loss of the right to seek compensation.

Comparative negligence

Pennsylvania follows a comparative negligence rule, which means that if the plaintiff is found to be partially at fault for their injury, their compensation may be reduced by their percentage of fault. However, if the plaintiff is found to be more than 50% at fault, they may be barred from recovering damages altogether.

Meeting these requirements involves gathering substantial evidence, such as medical records, expert testimony, and documentation of the product’s defect and usage. Consulting with a skilled Philadelphia product liability lawyer can help navigate these complexities and build a strong case to seek justice from the responsible manufacturer or distributor.

What types of products are usually responsible for harm and injuries?

A wide variety of products and devices are frequently responsible for injuries or death, spanning multiple categories that impact diverse consumer groups. Common culprits include automobiles and their components, such as defective airbags, brakes, and ignition switches, which can lead to serious accidents. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices are also significant, with faulty implants, contaminated medications, and inadequate warnings about side effects posing severe health risks. Household appliances like malfunctioning heaters, defective kitchen equipment, and faulty electrical devices can cause fires, burns, and electric shocks. Children’s products and toys often feature prominently, especially when small parts, toxic materials, or design flaws lead to choking hazards or poisoning. Industrial equipment and tools, especially those used in construction and manufacturing, can cause severe injuries due to malfunctions or lack of safety features. Lastly, consumer electronics, including smartphones with explosive batteries and e-cigarettes with faulty components, are increasingly responsible for accidents, highlighting the broad scope of product liability risks across various industries.

What are five of the most dangerous or deadly products out of many that pose risk of injuries and fatalities? Some of those products caused numerous fatal accidents!
Beware of these products; they can be life-threatening and hazardous to your health!

We made a comprehensive list of the specific products that have caused the most injuries and fatalities and highlighted some of the most infamous and dangerous items in consumer history. The products listed below caused some of widely-known injuries and disasters and severely injured numerous innocent people around the world. Happily, most of the items were recalled and do not threaten people’s lives and health anymore. 

Here are five such products:

1. Ford Pinto

The Ford Pinto, produced in the 1970s, became notorious for its flawed fuel system design, which made the car highly susceptible to catching fire in rear-end collisions. The placement of the fuel tank behind the rear axle and the absence of adequate reinforcement led to numerous fatalities and severe burn injuries when the cars were involved in even minor rear-end accidents.

2. Dalkon Shield

The Dalkon Shield intrauterine device (IUD), introduced in the 1970s, caused severe injuries, infections, and deaths due to its flawed design. The device’s multifilament string allowed bacteria to travel into the uterus, leading to serious pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent infertility, miscarriages, and even fatalities among users.

3. Takata Airbags

Takata airbags, installed in millions of vehicles worldwide, were found to have defective inflators that could rupture and send metal fragments into the passenger cabin. This defect resulted in at least 27 deaths and hundreds of injuries, leading to the largest automotive recall in history.

4. Fen-Phen

Fen-Phen, a diet drug combination of fenfluramine and phentermine, was widely prescribed in the 1990s before it was linked to serious heart valve damage and pulmonary hypertension. The adverse effects led to numerous fatalities and the eventual withdrawal of the drugs from the market, resulting in massive legal settlements.

5. Thalidomide

Thalidomide, a medication marketed in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a treatment for morning sickness in pregnant women, caused severe birth defects in thousands of babies. The drug led to deformities such as shortened limbs and other severe physical abnormalities, resulting in lifelong disabilities and significant fatalities among affected infants.

The biggest Philadelphia product liability lawsuit – Mitsubishi defective seatbelt 

The biggest product liability case in Philadelphia was brought this year. A Philadelphia jury found Mitsubishi liable for nearly $980 million in damages due to a defective seatbelt that left the plaintiff a quadriplegic after a car accident. The seatbelt in the plaintiff’s 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT failed to restrain him during a 45-mph rollover crash, resulting in spinal cord injuries. This award marks one of Philadelphia’s largest verdicts to date.

These products exemplify the catastrophic consequences that can arise from inadequate testing, poor design, or insufficient warnings, underscoring the critical importance of stringent safety standards and regulatory oversight. 

Those examples underscore the importance of law and attorneys’ services in class action lawsuits and claims pursued against companies and manufacturers. If you have been injured due to any product-related accident, you may be entitled to seek justice from the liable party. Contact our Philadelphia product liability personal injury lawyer to discuss the circumstances surrounding the case. If you have lost your loved one due to a product liability accident resulting in fatality, you may also be able to file a lawsuit. Our Trapani Law Firm wrongful death attorneys work diligently on behalf of our clients and are experienced in handling complex cases.

Last Updated on May 21, 2024