What Are the Different Types of Product Liability Claims?

If you’ve ever been injured by a product, you know how frustrating it can be to navigate the aftermath. Injuries from defective products can lead to costly medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. What many don’t realize is that the law protects consumers from these types of harm through product liability claims.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the three main types of product liability claims — design defects, manufacturing defects, and failure to warn — and explain how these claims can help victims of defective products seek justice and compensation.

What Is Product Liability?

Before diving into the specifics, let’s quickly define what product liability is. Product liability refers to the legal responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, or sellers for injuries caused by their defective products. If a product has a flaw that leads to harm, you may have grounds to file a claim and hold the responsible party accountable.

There are three primary grounds for filing a product liability claim, each focusing on different aspects of a product's design, manufacture, or marketing.

1. Design Defects: Problems from the Start

A design defect occurs when a product is designed in a way that makes it inherently dangerous, even if it’s manufactured correctly. In other words, the problem lies in the original blueprint or concept behind the product. This type of defect is not related to mistakes made during production but rather the overall design of the product itself.

Common Examples of Design Defects:

• Cars with faulty airbags that fail to deploy in an accident
• Toys with small parts that pose a choking hazard to children
• Defective electrical appliances that are prone to catching fire

If you can prove that a design defect existed, you may be able to hold the manufacturer accountable for the injury or damage caused by their product.

2. Manufacturing Defects: A Problem in the Production Process

While design defects refer to inherent flaws in a product's design, manufacturing defects occur when a product is made incorrectly. These defects are usually the result of a mistake or oversight during the manufacturing or assembly process. As a result, the product ends up being unsafe or defective, even though the design itself was fine.

Common Examples of Manufacturing Defects:

• A defective tire that explodes due to improper assembly
• A contaminated medication that leads to illness or injury
• A faulty blender that overheats and catches fire due to a production error

If you’re injured by a product with a manufacturing defect, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer or seller. This type of claim focuses on the actual production process, and the harm caused is a direct result of the mistake made during manufacturing.

3. Failure to Warn: When Warnings Are Overlooked

In some cases, a product may be inherently dangerous, but the manufacturer or seller fails to provide adequate warnings about its risks. This is known as a failure to warn claim. Even if the product is designed and manufactured correctly, the lack of proper instructions, safety precautions, or warnings can lead to injuries that could have been avoided if the consumer had been properly informed.

Common Examples of Failure to Warn:

• A cleaning product with dangerous chemicals that lacks proper warning labels
• Prescription medications that fail to warn about severe side effects
• Power tools that lack safety instructions about proper usage

If you’ve been injured because a manufacturer didn’t warn you about potential dangers or how to properly use a product, you may be able to file a claim for failure to warn.

How to Prove a Product Liability Claim

Regardless of the type of defect — design, manufacturing, or failure to warn — you’ll need to prove that the product was defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed and that it directly caused your injury or damages. To build a strong case, your lawyer will typically need to prove the following:

• The product was defectively designed, manufactured, or lacked adequate warnings.
• The defect caused your injury or damages.
• You were using the product as intended (or in a reasonable manner).

Having solid evidence, such as expert testimony, product testing, or eyewitness accounts, can greatly strengthen your claim.

How Can a Product Liability Lawyer Help You?

Navigating a product liability claim can be complicated, especially when dealing with large corporations and complex product designs. Our skilled product liability lawyers can help by:

• Investigating the cause of the injury
• Identifying the responsible parties, whether it's the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer
• Collecting evidence and expert testimony
• Negotiating a settlement or pursuing litigation on your behalf

If you’ve been injured by a defective product, it’s crucial to consult with an experienced lawyer who can help you understand your rights and take the necessary steps to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Why You Should Take Action Right Away

If you think you may have a product liability claim, it’s important to take action quickly. Florida has a statute of limitations that limits how long you can file a claim after your injury. The sooner you get in touch with a lawyer, the better chance you have of collecting critical evidence and preserving your right to compensation.

Need Help with a Product Liability Claim?

At Ayala Law, we understand how overwhelming it can be to deal with the aftermath of a defective product injury. Our team is dedicated to helping victims of design defects, manufacturing defects, and failure-to-warn claims get the compensation they deserve.

If you need help with product liability claims, contact one of our attorneys at 305-570-2208. You can also email our attorney Eduardo A. Maura directly at [email protected].

We at Ayala Law PA are passionate about helping those in legal need, so please don’t hesitate to schedule a case evaluation with us online here.

[The opinions in this blog are not intended to be legal advice. You should consult with an attorney about the particulars of your case].