
Product Liability Attorney Tacoma
If you get injured while using a product for its intended purpose, a product liability attorney Tacoma, can help you file a lawsuit to claim compensation for your injuries. This lawsuit may be against the product’s manufacturer, distributor, designer, or any other person in the production chain that’s responsible for the product’s faulty condition.
Product liability cases can be too complicated. For instance, you need to prove that you used the product appropriately and that your injuries occurred afterward. But because faulty products can cause detrimental injuries, it’s only fair that someone be held accountable for their negligence.
What is Product Liability?
Product liability is the legal responsibility that the parties of a product manufacturing chain have for the damages and injuries it causes to its users. It covers most consumer products, including medicines, food items, home appliances, automobiles, etc.
What Are the Causes of Product Liability Cases?
Product liability cases often fall under one of these four bases of liability. They include:
Design Defects
Design defects occur when a product becomes dangerous to a consumer because of its improper design, even when used appropriately. For example, when an airbag refuses to deploy during an accident because of its defective design.
Manufacturing Defects
Manufacturing defects occur in the manufacturing process, causing the product to deviate from its intended design. As a result, the product becomes defective and dangerous to the consumer.
Failure to Warn
A manufacturer is responsible for providing instructions and warnings regarding a product. If the manufacturer fails to do so, they’ll be held accountable for any damages the product causes due to inadequate instructions.
Breach of Warranty
When a product doesn’t work as it should because it didn’t live up to its warranty, the manufacturer may be held legally liable for this failure.
What Damages Can I Recover From a Product Liability Case?
You can recover both economic and non-economic damages from a product liability lawsuit, depending on the damages you incur as a result of your injuries. In extreme cases, the court may also award you punitive damages to punish the liable party and warn other parties against similar mistakes.
Economic damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages due to inability to work
- Cost of future treatments in cases of disabilities
- Loss of wages during the recovery period
- Loss of your financial contributions to your family due to the injuries sustained
Examples of non-economic damages you may claim include:
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Physical disability
And more.
What Evidence Do I Need to Prove Product Liability?
Proving a defective product liability claim may be more challenging than it seems. However, you can increase your chances of having a successful claim with the help of a competent product liability lawyer.
Your lawyer must provide sufficient proof of the critical elements of your claim to stand a fair chance of a successful lawsuit. These elements include:
- The product was defective
- The product defect caused your injuries
- You were using the product correctly
- You suffered losses as a result of the injuries
- The product was readily available in the market despite its defect
- The manufacturer had an obligation to ensure their products met the minimum expectations of its users
Do I Need a Product Liability Lawyer?
Suppose you sustained injuries while using a defective product. In that case, you should consult a product liability lawyer to determine the legal steps to take to recover damages for your injuries and losses. Although working with a product liability lawyer isn’t mandatory, it has numerous advantages.
A competent product liability lawyer can:
- Evaluate your situation to determine whether you have a valid case
- Collect crucial evidence to support your claim if its valid
- Identify the liable party
- File a product liability claim
- Negotiate a fair compensation for the injuries and resulting damages
- Represent you in court should the claim go to trial
Need a Tacoma Product Liability Attorney? We Can Help
Are you looking for a product liability attorney Tacoma? If so, the search ends here.
Attorney Serah Waweru of The Law office of Serah Waweru and her team are passionate about helping victims of product liability get the compensation they deserve. Call her office at (253) 332-9193 or send a message online. She may be of great help.
The Law Office of Serah Waweru serves clients in Tacoma, Lakewood, Kent, Renton, University Place, Burien, Tukwila, Auburn, Federal Way, Olympia and the surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
You have up to three years to file a product liability lawsuit in Washington State. When this period elapses, you may be unable to hold the liable parties accountable for your injuries and damages.
The cost of hiring a product liability attorney Tacoma varies from one lawyer to the other depending on your agreement. Consult the Law Office of Serah Waweru in Tacoma to learn more.
You must provide sufficient proof of your product liability claims to increase your chances of winning the case. However, that may not be easy to accomplish without the help of a competent product liability attorney. The attorney will evaluate your case to determine the evidence you need to support your claims.