When a dangerous or defective product causes injuries, Michaels Bersani Kalabanka’s Syracuse product liability lawyers know what to do: First, they need secure the defective product as evidence. If you have been injured by a household object or product, don’t tamper with it. Bring it to your injury lawyer as is so that he can preserve the evidence.
Unfortunately, manufacturers too often produce substandard or unsafe products in an effort to cut costs and increase profits at your expense. If you are or a loved one is injured or killed by a defective product, you can bring a claim against the manufacturer and seller of the product to compensate you for your financial losses and pain and suffering. If the product is found “defective” (unreasonably dangerous), the manufacturer and retailer will be held “strictly liable” for your damages, and further may be held liable for breaching an implied warranty that the product was reasonably safe, or for failure to warn of the danger.
The product liability lawyers of Michaels Bersani Kalabanka has recovered millions of dollars for their Syracuse area clients injured by defective products and for other injuries to cover their medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a defective or unsafe product contact us for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer who can inform you of your legal rights and maximize your compensation. If you want to learn more about products cases, read below.
Products liability law is based on the responsibility of a manufacturer or seller (whether wholesaler or retailer) or other provider of goods or products to compensate users of the goods or products for injuries caused by defective or dangerous products that it places “into the stream of commerce” by selling them to the public or others. Almost anything can be a defective product: air bags, seat belts, tires, car seats, faulty wiring, defective medical devices, food, snow blowers, lawn mowers, power tools, grills, stoves, propane appliances, space heaters, ladders, etc. If you believe you were injured by a defective product or goods, contact our Syracuse product liability attorneys today.
What is “Strict Product Liability”?“Strict liability” for products means that a manufacturer or distributor (including anyone in the “line of distribution”) of a product is responsible for injuries caused by defects in that product. By “defect”, it is meant that the product is unreasonably dangerous. It doesn’t matter whether the manufacturer or distributor knew it was dangerous when they manufactured or distributed it. All that is required to hold them liable is that the product is defective, i.e., unreasonably dangerous. It doesn’t even matter whether the manufacturer and distributors were negligent, careful or not when they manufactured or sold it. For example, a pharmaceutical company might carefully test a new drug and find that it is safe. But after distribution, it turns out that this “product” caused health problems or risks that outweighed any potential benefits. If a jury determines that the drug (the “product”) was unreasonable dangerous, i.e., that it was “defective”, then the manufacturers and distributors of that drug are liable to all those who suffered harm from the product, regardless of whether they were careful before putting the drug on the market.
What is a "Defective Product"?There are essentially three types of product “defects”. At Michaels Bersani Kalabanka, our product liability lawyers in Syracuse have had ample experience proving all three types:
Besides bringing “strict liability” claims, a person injured by a defective product can bring claims based on simple negligence against the manufacturers and distributors of the product. To prove “negligence”, you must prove that the manufacturer or distributor acted unreasonably, was not careful, or made a mistake, either in the way it designed, manufactured or distributed the product. For instance, if a step ladder is manufactured with substandard aluminum, and the manufacturer knew or should have known that it was substandard and increased unecessarily the risk of injury, then the manufacturer was “negligent”. Claims of design defect, however, require balancing the risks associated with the design against its usefulness to the consumer.. For example, a knife that is designed to be very sharp creates the risk of easily causing a consumer to cut him or herself, but the usefulness to the consumer of having a very sharp knife outweighs the risk. Similarly, the instructions and warnings required must be reasonable under the circumstances. Contact our Syracuse product liability attorneys for a free consultation regarding your negligence claim.
What is a "Breach of Warranty" Claim?Certain “warranties” are implied in the sale of a product, including an implied “warranty of fitness for a particular purpose”. Essentially this means that the manufacturer and distributors are deemed to have promised that the product they put on the market is not unreasonably dangerous given its purpose and usefulness. Some sellers also include express warranties with the products they sell. The New York Court of Appeals (the State’s highest Court) has held that even if a product is not “defective” and even if the manufacturer and distributer were not “negligent” in making and selling it, they may be held liable for “breach of warranty” under certain circumstances. Contact us for a free consultation about your breach of warranty claim.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Products Claims?The statute of limitations for product defects and negligence is generally 3 years from the date of the injury, but a breach of warranty claim runs 4 years from the date of sale. However, some “tolls” might apply to make these statutes run longer. For example, a child’s statute of limitations is “tolled” until he or she is 18. For example, a 10-year old who is injured by a defective product will generally have until his 21st birthday to sue a manufacturer or distributor for a product defect. But it is always better to bring the claim sooner, while the evidence is still “hot”, rather than later, when it is stale. It is also essential that the defective product be preserved and analyzed promptly after the accident. In fact, your failure to do so can, in certain circumstances called “spoliation”, result in the dismissal of your case. So don’t delay if you believe you have a product liability claim, especially if you live in the Syracuse region, call our product liability attorneys for a free consultation.
What if I Can’t Afford an Attorney?That’s impossible. A reputable personal injury attorney will not charge you for an initial consultation. Michaels Bersani Kalabanka will give you a free consultation. If we decide to represent you, we will charge you on a contingency fee basis, which is usually 1/3 of the net recovery we obtain for you, whether from a settlement or from a jury. Since the initial consultation is free, why wait? So call or e-mail Michaels Bersani Kalabanka today.
The Syracuse product liability lawyers of Michaels Bersani Kalabanka have recovered millions of dollars for clients injured by defective products and for other injuries to cover their medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a defective or unsafe product contact us for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer who can inform you of your legal rights and maximize your compensation.