Guide to Finding Product Liability Lawyer

Product liability lawyers help individuals who have been injured by a product they have purchased or used. While we often think of product liability in terms of products having a defective design (for instance, cribs that are recalled after children are injured), a product liability lawyer can also handle other cases: for instance, if a product failed to work in the manner expected, or a company's customers were improperly warned about the potential dangers of a product.

What kind of product liability lawyer do I look for?

Different product liability lawyers specialize in different types of product liability litigation. If you have suffered an injury due to a defect in your car, there are product liability lawyers who focus exclusively on automobile defects. Other product liability lawyers specialize in advocating for consumers who have been injured by defective medical devices or prescription drugs that caused unexpected side effects.

Not every product liability lawyer is a specialist, however. Some personal injury law firms prefer to take a more general approach and deal with all types of product liability claims. If your claim is particularly large or deals with medical or engineering issues, a specialist product liability lawyer may be your safest bet. Specialists have the kind of in-depth technical knowledge that can make a difference in settlements, verdicts and jury awards. For smaller lawsuits, or cases in which product liability is only one facet, a generalist may be more helpful or come at a lower cost.

How do I know if I need a product liability lawyer?

Product liability occurs when a product doesn't work the way that it reasonably ought to. If you press the brake pedal in your car, but instead the vehicle accelerates, causing an accident, the company that made the car is liable for creating a product that either had a defective design or was manufactured defectively.

If you were injured by a product because it lacked adequate safety labels or safety features, this can also create product liability for which you would need a product liability lawyer. In general, if you have been injured by a product, it may be wise to find product liability lawyers who can advise you regarding your legal options.

Statutes of Limitations

Even though you may still be reeling from the effects of a defective product, it is important to consult a product liability lawyer as soon as you realize that you were injured by a defective product. There is only a limited amount of time for your product liability lawyers to file a lawsuit after the injury occurs or is discovered.

This limited amount of time is called the “statute of limitations,” and is set by state law. For product liability cases, the statute of limitations can sometimes be as little as one year. Given the amount of time that it may take to prepare your case, it is best that you find a product liability lawyer soon after you realize that you have been injured.

Who do I sue?

One of the biggest reasons that it is important to find a good product liability attorney is that they can help you figure out who to sue for the best chance of recovering damages. The product that injured you may have been manufactured by one company with parts subcontracted by other companies, designed by yet another company, and sold by still another. A product liability attorney can sort out the complicated situation so that you can recover damages and rest easy.

Can I afford a product liability lawyer?

If you have been injured by a defective car, medical device, or prescription drug, it may have cost you a lot already. Don't worry – most product liability lawyers will give you a free consultation to determine if you have a case that can be taken on contingency.

A product liability lawyer who takes your case on contingency doesn't ask for money upfront, and if you don't win your case, you won't have to pay your product liability lawyers anything. Instead, they take a percentage of the damages awarded, so that you never need to worry about a bill while your case is still in the court system. Because most product liability lawyers will work on contingency, even if you don't think you have the money to afford a product liability lawyer, it may be worth a consultation.

What to Bring With You

Try to gather any supporting documentation about your injury and the product that caused it. Even something that might not seem important to you may be critical for your product liability lawyer to look at. It is especially important to make sure that you bring all relevant medical records for product liability lawyers to look at, since the extent of your injury is likely to determine how much you are awarded in monetary damages.

You should also bring along a pen and some paper to take notes. Feel free to ask your product liability lawyers any questions that may come to mind – and remember that it is fine to ask any question you need to. Be forthcoming with your product liability lawyer about the full extent of your injury, even embarrassing medical issues. It is important for your lawyer to know all the details of the incident that caused your injury, even if you think those details may hurt your case. Remember, product liability lawyers are experienced in dealing with these issues, and there is no need to feel ashamed.

What questions should I ask?

Talking to a product liability lawyer isn't just a way to find out if you have a case. It's a job interview: you're interviewing the product liability lawyers to see if they have what it takes to win your lawsuit. Because of that, you may want to ask some questions to make sure your product liability lawyer is who you want to hire. Here are some possible questions:

 What percentage of the award will you keep?

 Do you have experience in settling this kind of case? How about experience taking this kind of case to trial?

 Have you ever dealt with this particular defective product before? How did those cases turn out?

 How long will it take your office to respond to questions or concerns?

 Do you collect any fees before damages are awarded?