When you purchase a product, you expect it to work safely. A dangerous design flaw, however, can turn an ordinary product into a source of serious harm. Victims can face medical bills, lost income, pain, and disruptions to daily life. Being injured by a defective product can be especially frustrating when you had no reason to expect a problem.
You can have used the product as intended and still been injured because of a design flaw. If this happens, you don't have to handle your legal options alone. Our product liability attorney at Preston Day Law, PLLC can help clients review what happened and explore potential avenues for compensation.
If you were injured by a dangerously designed product, we can help determine whether the manufacturer or another party can be liable. Located in Alpine, Utah, and serving Utah County and Salt Lake County, Preston Day Law, PLLC is available to discuss your situation and legal options. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your product-related injury.
What Makes a Product Design Defective?
A defective design involves a safety problem built into the product itself. Product liability attorneys can examine several factors when evaluating whether a design contributed to an injury, including:
The product's intended use: How consumers are expected to use the product and whether foreseeable uses create risks.
Available safety features: Whether a safer design could have been used without reducing the product's usefulness.
Known or foreseeable risks: Whether the manufacturer knew or should have known about potential hazards.
Severity of potential injuries: How serious the injuries could be if the design fails.
Alternative designs: Whether another design could have reduced or eliminated the risk.
A design defect doesn't necessarily mean that a company intentionally created a dangerous product. Liability can arise when a product's design creates an unreasonable risk of harm, and someone is injured as a result.
How Design Defects Can Lead to Liability
Product liability claims can arise when a defective design causes injury while someone uses the product in a reasonably foreseeable way. Depending on the circumstances, more than one party could potentially bear responsibility.
Manufacturers are often a central focus because they develop or approve the product's design. Other parties may also be relevant, depending on how the product was developed, distributed, or sold. Product liability attorneys can investigate the product's history to determine which parties and decisions contributed to the injury.
Evidence can be particularly important in these claims. A lawyer can review product specifications, testing records, safety warnings, recalls, engineering information, and other materials that could shed light on the product's design. Medical records and other evidence can also help establish the connection between the defective product and the injuries you suffered.
A liability claim generally requires more than showing that a product caused an injury. The specific facts surrounding the product, its design, your use of it, and the resulting harm can affect whether a claim has merit. Our experienced personal injury attorney can help clients examine these details and identify potentially relevant evidence.
Common Injuries Caused by Defective Designs
Defective products can cause many different types of injuries, depending on the product and the nature of the design flaw. Common consequences of defective product designs can include:
Broken bones: Defective products can cause fractures when features fail or create unexpected hazards.
Burn injuries: Poorly designed products can expose users to dangerous heat or electrical conditions.
Head and brain injuries: Defective safety features can contribute to serious head trauma.
Spinal injuries: Design flaws can cause spinal damage and lasting physical limitations.
Amputations: Machinery with inadequate safety features can cause severe crushing, cutting, or entanglement injuries.
Internal injuries: Defective products can cause serious trauma that isn't immediately apparent.
An injury's effects can extend beyond initial medical treatment. You can need rehabilitation, additional procedures, ongoing care, or time away from work. We consider these consequences when helping clients evaluate the potential impact of a claim.
Evidence That Can Support a Product Liability Claim
Establishing that a defective design contributed to an injury often requires careful examination of both the product and the circumstances surrounding the accident. Potentially useful evidence can include:
The product itself: Keep the product in its post-accident condition for examination.
Photographs and videos: Images can document the product, accident scene, and injuries.
Medical records: Treatment records can show the nature and extent of your injuries.
Purchase information: Receipts and order records can show where and when you bought the product.
Product documentation: Instructions, warnings, and manuals can provide details about intended use and safety.
Witness information: Statements from witnesses can provide additional evidence about the accident.
You should also avoid throwing away or altering the product if it's connected to your injury. Preserving relevant evidence can help our attorney assess the circumstances more thoroughly.
Pursue the Compensation You Deserve
A defective product design can turn an everyday activity into a life-changing accident. When the injury results in medical expenses, lost wages, pain, or lasting limitations, determining whether another party can be responsible can become an important part of protecting your interests.
Preston Day Law, PLLC helps clients examine potential product liability claims and the circumstances surrounding their injuries. Our dedicated attorney can review available evidence, discuss potential sources of liability, and help you consider your legal options based on your case's facts.
If you believe a defective product design contributed to your injury, you should have an opportunity to have your concerns taken seriously. Located in Alpine, Utah, our product liability attorneys serve clients throughout Utah County and Salt Lake County, and we're available to discuss what happened. Schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help.
