We use and are surrounded by a wide variety of products every day with hardly a second thought. We assume these products are safe and will not cause us harm. While we are often proven right, thousands of people are injured by defective products each year.
One of the worst parts about these injuries is that many could have been prevented. Product designers and manufacturers may be liable for injuries and damages from these incidents.
Galloway Jefcoat’s Lafayette product liability lawyers are available to discuss your potential case in a free consultation. Our firm does not charge upfront fees, as our lawyers do not get paid unless we secure compensation for our clients.
Our lawyers have obtained millions in compensation. Visit our client reviews page to learn what our satisfied clients are saying about working with our firm.
At Galloway Jefcoat, we are dedicated to Turning Wrong Into Right.
Call Galloway Jefcoat today to schedule a free consultation: 337-984-8020.
Am I Eligible to File a Product Liability Lawsuit?
Were you injured while using a product as it was intended to be used? Did the product create an unreasonable danger that you did not expect?
You may be able to file a product liability lawsuit. The only way to get a better idea about your legal options is to discuss the situation with an experienced lawyer. When you call Galloway Jefcoat, we can review your situation to determine if there may be a case.
If we determine you may have a viable claim, you can schedule a free consultation with a licensed Lafayette product liability lawyer to explore the potential next steps.
Types of Defective Products
There are many different types of defective products that can cause serious injuries. Our lawyers are prepared to take on many different types of product liability cases, including those involving:
- Defective car parts (brakes, ignition switches, gear shifts, air bags, etc.)
- Household appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, etc.)
- Electronics, including electronic devices that heat up and explode or start fires
- Power tools
- Foods and beverages
- Industrial machinery, such as machinery on an offshore oil rig
- Household cleaning products
- Lawn care products
- Cosmetics
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Child toys
- Child car seats
- Clothing that easily catches fire
- Drains in swimming pools
- Mattresses
- Medical devices (hernia mesh, joint replacements, c-pap machines, pacemakers, artificial limbs, etc.)
- And much more
If you or your loved one were injured by these or any other products, you may have a case. Consumers are often not sufficiently warned about the danger of using various products. Even if the product contains a warning, using the product as intended may create an unreasonable danger to your safety.
Galloway Jefcoat has the resources to help injured victims seek full compensation. We work with the relevant experts to build strong cases and determine the full value of victims’ damages.
Severe Defective Product Injuries
While some products are inherently dangerous, sometimes people use products as they are meant to be used and still suffer serious injuries, such as:
- Severe burns
- Lost limbs
- Spinal cord damage that leads to paralysis
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Lung injuries
- Severe fractures
- Vision damage, including vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Cancer and other serious medical conditions
- Soft-tissue damage
- Internal injuries, including organ failure
- Infections
- Drowning
- And many more
Louisiana Law on Liability for Defective Product Injuries
The Louisiana Product Liability Act says product manufacturers are liable for damages that were proximately caused by an aspect of the product that made it unreasonably dangerous, assuming damages were caused by the reasonably anticipated use of the product.
The question is: what makes a product unreasonably dangerous?
In Louisiana, there are four reasons a product can be considered unreasonably dangerous:
- There is a defect in the construction or composition of the product that makes the product unreasonably dangerous.
- The design of the product makes it unreasonably unsafe.
- The product lacks an adequate warning about the inherent dangers of using it.
- There is a defect because the product does not conform to the express warranty of the manufacturer.
Essentially, you can file a product liability case because of a design defect, manufacturing defect or a marketing defect. Louisiana allows these cases to be filed under a theory or strict liability, which means you are not required to prove negligence to obtain compensation for your injuries. You only need to provide evidence of a design, manufacturing or marketing defect.
What is a Design Defect?
Some products are inherently dangerous because of the way they were designed. However, courts will consider whether it was economically feasible for the manufacturer to use a different design. Courts will also consider whether the product would still be effective with an alternate design.
What is a Manufacturing Defect?
Some products are dangerous because of a problem during manufacturing or assembly. Sometimes the manufacturing defect affects a few products and sometimes it affects an entire line of products. For example, prescription medications could become contaminated during manufacturing.
What is a Marketing Defect?
Manufacturers should provide adequate safety warnings to product users to help prevent injuries from expected uses of the product. If there are inadequate warnings or instructions, or a lack of warnings or instructions, the product may be unreasonably dangerous.
If you were injured by a defective product, our Lafayette product liability lawyers are ready to help you seek compensation. There are no upfront costs.
Turning Wrong Into Right. Call today to learn more:
337-984-8020.
What is Your Product Liability Case Worth?
This is a question that should be reviewed with a licensed attorney. There are many factors to consider, and you need an attorney who has the legal knowledge and resources to prove the value of your injuries and damages.
The value of a case depends on a whole host of things, such as:
- Severity of the victim’s injuries
- How long those injuries are expected to last
- Mental health challenges caused by your injuries
- Whether you need home modifications to accommodate a disability
- Whether your injury affects your relationship with your spouse
- If you can still work after your injury
- If you need physical therapy and rehabilitation
- The level of danger created by the product defect
- Whether you share any fault for your injuries
- If you need one or more surgical procedures
- And more
Compensation For a Defective Product Injury
Defective product victims may be able to secure compensation for a wide variety of damages, including:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Lost companionship
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Wrongful death compensation
- And more
Galloway Jefcoat is committed to securing compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you suffered in the accident.
How Much Time Do You Have to File a Lawsuit?
Typically, victims of defective products have one year from the date of the injury to file a product liability lawsuit in Louisiana. There may be cases where the one-year clock does not start running until you discover the product was defective. However, it is hard to prove a victim did not know the product was defective right when he or she suffered an injury.
The bottom line is you have limited time to take legal action. That is why it is vital to call a lawyer as soon as possible to discuss whether you can file a lawsuit. Your lawyer needs time to investigate and build a case.
Contact Galloway Jefcoat After a Defective Product Injury
Victims of defective products need to know what to do next. Our Lafayette product liability lawyers are here to help you explore your legal options and guide you through the legal process.
There are no upfront costs with our services. The initial legal consultation is also free. That means there is no financial risk in contacting and working with our firm to pursue the compensation you need.
We are committed to holding negligent parties accountable and securing full compensation to help you through this difficult time in your life.
Call us to discuss your potential product liability case.
337-984-8020
Lafayette Parish