Connecticut Product Liability Lawyers

Suffering a serious injury as the result of using a product as intended can be a shocking and traumatic experience—the last thing that you expect when you turn to a product to aid you in some way. At the office of The Dodd Law Firm LLC, our products liability lawyers have experience representing those who have been injured in accidents involving defective products, including defective machinery, tools, vehicle parts, and more.

If you or a loved one has been injured while using a product, you may have a defective products case. Call our law firm directly today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your rights.

Types of Product Defects

When a product is defective and causes an injury as a result of that defect, it is critical to determine the type of problem that caused the injury. There are three types of product defects that are recognized under product liability common law, including:

• Design defects. A design defect exists when there is a design flaw in the product that renders it inherently defective. For example, a pressure cooker with a lid that is designed to not seal would be an example of a design defect. Another example is a car that is designed to be top-heavy; another is that of a sharp tool that doesn’t have a proper handle to hold to prevent injuries.
• Manufacturing defects. Unlike a design defect, a manufacturing defect refers to a product that was correctly designed but that experienced some sort of error during the manufacturing process that rendered it defective. Take the pressure cooker example: the pressure cooker may have been designed to seal properly, but when being manufactured, an assembly machine improperly placed the rubber seal, resulting in a lid that does not Manufacturing defects are incredibly common.

• Labeling defects. Finally, labeling defects refer to instances where the product is neither defectively designed nor manufactured, but improperly labeled. Manufacturers must list any risks of using the product. For example, a device requiring electricity to operate should include risk of electrocution notification; an e-cigarette should include a warning about the use of nicotine. If a product does not include information about potential risks or use or side effects, as well as for instructions for safe use in some cases, it may be defective.

Commonly Defective Products

The list of potentially defective products is infinite. Common types of defective product claims often involve products such as:

• E-cigarettes
• Vehicle defects, such as defective airbags, seatbelts, and tires
• Construction/large equipment defects, including defective forklifts
• Defective tools, including table saws, ladders, and other power tools
• Manufacturing equipment
• Hover-boards
• Vape pens
• Exercise and recreational equipment
• Furniture
• Swimming pools
• Trampolines
• Clothing

If you have been harmed when using a product as intended and you believe it is because of a labeling, manufacturing, or design defect, reach out to our law firm immediately for a free consultation. The above list is not inclusive.

Strict Liability in Products Liability Claims

While most types of civil personal injury claims require the plaintiff in the claim to prove the negligence of the defendant, this is not true in the majority of products liability claims. Instead, the plaintiff need only prove that the product was defective, the plaintiff was using the product as intended, the defective product was the proximate cause of harm, and that that plaintiff has suffered actual damages. This is known as the theory of strict liability. In some cases, products liability claims can also be brought forth under the theory of negligence or breach of warranty.

The Role of Our Products Liability Law Firm

Working with an attorney when you have been injured as a result of a defective product should be a top priority. Trying to bring a claim against a large company can be intimidating, and without your own skilled attorney, likely unfruitful. When you hire our products liability law firm in Connecticut, we will aggressively represent you and build your case from the ground up. Our services include:

• Investigating your case. We will preserve the product in question and hire product design and manufacturing experts to investigate and identify the defect. We will also search for cases similar to yours, as other people may have had a similar experience as you. We’ll also investigate any history of product recalls.
• Handle all claim documentation. We will be responsible for bringing your case and filing a claim against the appropriate party, whether that be the manufacturer or distributor of the product or both. We’ll organize and manage all claim documentation on your behalf.
• Establishing causation and proving damages. Part of our job is to prove that your injuries would not have occurred but for the product defect; another element of our responsibility is to prove the extent of damages you’ve suffered, including the value of your economic and non-economic damages.
• Negotiating your settlement. We will represent you in mediation and all other out-of-court settlement negotiations. We are skilled negotiators who won’t back down until we strike a deal that’s fair.
• Litigating your case. While most products liability claims settle out of court, sometimes, litigation is necessary. Our lawyers have trial experience, and you can count on us if litigation is an appropriate step.

You Deserve to Be Compensated in Full

When you are injured by a defective product, you deserve to be compensated in full. This means compensation for the full value of your economic and noneconomic losses, such as medical expenses, property damage costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain, suffering, and emotional anguish. In some cases, punitive damages may be available.

Call Our Products Liability Lawyers Today

To learn more about your rights when you’re harmed by a defective product and how our Connecticut products liability lawyers at The Dodd Law Firm LLC can help, please reach out to us directly or send us a message online at your convenience. You can reach us by phone at 203-272-1883. You can also stop by our office in person to request your free consultation.