Product Liability Claims

Product liability is the area of law that allows injured consumers to file claims against manufacturers of dangerously defective products. It is founded on the principle that businesses should ensure that their products are safe for public use. When a product causes injuries despite being used correctly, the financial burden for treatment and other expenses should lie with its manufacturer.

Product liability claims can be based on three different kinds of negligence: design defect, manufacturing defect, and failure to warn. The responsibility for the defect, and thus the defendant in a legal claim, may vary depending on the kind of negligence involved. For more information, call a Charleston defective product attorney from the Steinberg Law Firm at 843-720-2800.

Three Kinds of Negligence

The three potential bases for South Carolina product liability claims are:

• Design defect: This occurs when a product's design has a flaw that makes it inherently unsafe, no matter how well it is built. One sign of a design defect is that every individual product in a line will have it, as opposed to just a percentage of them.
• Manufacturing defect: Sometimes a product is designed well but is built incorrectly or with defective materials. It can also be damaged during shipping or storage, in which case a shipping company, store, or warehouse may be liable instead of the manufacturer.
• Failure to warn: Some products, like kitchen knives or power tools, carry certain dangers by their nature. Companies that build or sell these products need to warn consumers about these dangers and the best ways to avoid them. This requirement does not apply to obvious dangers, like the risk of being cut by a knife, but to risks that many not be obvious to a reasonable user.

If you have been hurt while using a product in a reasonable fashion, our Charleston product liability lawyers can help you seek justice.

Contact Us

People injured by defective products can be eligible for compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost income. To discuss your case with an experienced Charleston product defect attorney, contact the Steinberg Law Firm at 843-720-2800.