Product Liability Claims*

Whether it’s cars, electronics, food, medicines, or even the toys our children play with, all those who manufacturer goods have a duty to their customers to ensure that the products they release to the market are fit for purpose and safe for their intended use. Despite this and despite the fact that products often undergo rigorous testing, all too often, defective and faulty products end up in shop displays and in our homes, causing us and our loved ones serious and often permanent injury.

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When this happens, medical bills can pile up quickly, time off work can affect your income, and the injuries themselves can reduce your quality of life irreparably. If you or your loved ones have been harmed as a result of a faulty product, you may be entitled to compensation, giving you the best chance of recovery from whatever injury you have sustained.
At Crimmins Howard, our team of expert product liability claims solicitors will ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible. We’ll listen to your story, provide you with practical legal advice and draw upon every possible resource we can to make sure that the injuries you’ve suffered aren’t ignored. We’re here to make the experience as straight forward as possible.

Types of Faulty Products

Our experienced product liability claim solicitors have helped those who have suffered injury or illness caused by:

Vehicles: Due to increased competition in the market and the increase in reliance on technology, defective vehicles and product recalls are becoming more and more common. This is exacerbated by the fact that the consequences of a defective vehicle can be extremely serious. If a vehicle you are travelling in is defective (such as a seatbelt failing to work properly) and you suffer an injury as a result or your injury is made worse by that defect, you may be entitled to claim compensation from the manufacturer.

Electronics, Whether you’re vaping the latest e-cigarette or using a standard kitchen appliance, defective electrical equipment has the potential to cause serious injury such as electric shocks and serious burns, and permanent disfigurement or scarring. Manufacturers and retailers of these products have a responsibility to ensure that what they sell has been manufactured to an acceptable level of safety. If it can be proved that they have failed to do this, you may be able to make a claim against them.

Food, As many of us know, food manufacturers can often leave a lot to be desired for. Non-organic materials such as glass, metallic particles and plastics can make their way into the manufacturing process whilst poor safety and sanitary procedures can result in the introduction of harmful bacteria into the foodstuffs we consume. If you’ve experienced illness or injury due to defective food, you may be able to make a claim against the manufacturer or the shop that sold it to you.

Medicine, pharmaceutical and beauty products: Despite being the subject of rigorous testing regimes and strict legal standards, there have been many instances where medicine, pharmaceutical and beauty products haven’t work the way they’re supposed to. If you’ve been injured, become ill, or had a condition get worse, because a drug has had serious unexpected side effects or has failed to work because of a manufacturing defect, then our expert team of product liability claim solicitors may be able to help you claim compensation. We may also be able to help you if you’ve suffered a rash or skin damage while using a beauty product.

Other products: all manner of defective products can result injury or illness, from sharp toys that have caused lacerations and scarring to poorly designed gym equipment that have caused fractures and broken bones. If you have suffered an injury whilst using a product, contact our expert team of product liability claim solicitors so that we can assess whether or not you may be entitled to compensation.

Types of Product Liability Claims We Often Handle

Defective Equipment Claims

Injuries caused by faulty or dangerous equipment can happen in homes, workplaces or public areas. These claims often involve items like ladders, tools, electrical appliances or protective gear. If the equipment was poorly manufactured, badly designed or lacked proper instructions, the supplier or producer may be legally responsible. We help clients trace the defect, gather technical evidence and seek fair compensation for injuries caused by equipment that simply was not fit for purpose.

Defective Machinery Accident Claims

When industrial or agricultural machinery fails due to a manufacturing fault, the consequences can be severe. Defective brakes, faulty guards, electrical faults or software errors may cause crush injuries, amputations or worse. These cases often involve multiple parties, employers, suppliers and manufacturers. We work to identify where the failure occurred, whether the defect was known, and who holds responsibility. Our team ensures your injury is fully documented and your case pursued with the care it deserves.

Steps you can take to help in your product liability claim

We have many years of experience in product liability claims, and are expertly placed to provide all of the help and support you need when making a claim for compensation. However, there are a number of things you can do to make our job easier and your chances of success better:
1. Keep the receipt: It is helpful if you still have the purchase receipt for the product that caused the injury. If you do not have the receipt, the details of where and when you bought the item may suffice.
2. Keep the product: If you are in a position and it is safe to do so, keep hold of the product that caused the injury. This can be used as evidence in your claim. If you are not in a position to keep the product or it is not safe for you to do so, take clear photographs of the defective product from different angles.
3. Get medical attention: Recording your injury is important. If you did not require emergency medical treatment, we advise that you visit a doctor as soon as possible following an incident to ensure that there are no threats to your health that you may not have noticed.

Time limit

It is important to bear in mind that product liability claims should be initiated as soon as possible as there are strict time periods for doing so. Generally speaking, a claim must be made within two years from the date of the incident. If the injured person is a child, this time limit only starts running once the they turn 18.

Get in touch

Although it’s important that you act quickly, it’s just as important for you choose a firm with real experience of product liability cases. We have been acting for injured people in Clare and beyond for over 30 years. With Crimmins Howard, you can be certain your case will get the time and care it needs.

We understand that legal costs can be a worry, particularly if you are no longer able to work or you are caring for a loved one. We set out our costs in writing when you instruct us, so you know where you stand. Contact us today.