Thousands of people are injured every year by defective consumer products, sometimes severely. Even the most seemingly harmless products have the potential to cause injuries, and manufacturers and others involved in the chain of distribution have a duty to ensure that the products that they sell are safe for use. When they fail to meet this duty, Texas products liability law allows consumers to recover for their injuries and other losses. Anyone who believes that they may have a claim based on an injury caused by a consumer product should discuss their case with an experienced Houston products liability attorney as soon as possible.
Three Categories of Products Liability Claims
Texas products liability cases generally fall into one of three categories. These categories are as follows:
- Claims based on defective design – these claims arise when a product is designed in such a way as to make it inherently dangerous to consumers.
- Claims based on defective manufacture – in these cases, a product is properly designed but some defect in the manufacturing process makes it dangerous to use.
- Claims based on defective marketing – also referred to as “failure to warn” claims, these actions are based on a party’s failure to warn the consumer about a non-obvious danger posed by a product that could be mitigated by a warning.
If you are injured by a consumer product, you should record as much information about the incident as possible. Make note of the name of the product, the manufacturer, the model number, as well as any other identifying characteristics. Preserve the defective product, if possible. At a minimum, try to take photographs. Consumers have the option of reporting unsafe products to the Consumer Product Safety Commission at their website, www.saferproducts.gov. The agency reviews all reports submitted, and may take certain measures when deemed appropriate. In addition, you should make sure to seek medical attention for your injuries as soon as you can, both to ensure that they are properly treated and that there is an official record documenting your injuries.
Contact a Houston products liability lawyer today for a free consultation
Individuals who have been injured by dangerous or defective consumer products may be entitled to substantial compensation. Call Houston products liability attorney Stewart J. Guss, at 800-898-4877. Stewart has been representing residents of Tomball, Cypress, Spring, Katy, The Woodlands, and Houston in products liability for 20 years. Your consultation is free, and there is no charge unless he wins your case.
