When you purchase a product, whether it's a new car or phone, you expect that it will work properly. However, some products not only fail to function as promised, but can actually cause you harm. If you use a product in the manner it was intended, and it malfunctions and causes you to become injured, you may need to consult with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. Over the years, you may have heard about companies being sued for releasing poorly designed or unsafe products. Listed below are a few of the most well known product liability cases:
- Liebeck V. McDonald's: In 1992, Stella Liebeck purchased a cup of coffee from a McDonald's restaurant in New Mexico. While holding the hot java in her lap, the elderly woman removed the lid to add sugar and cream, at which point the coffee poured out and severely burned her thighs, buttocks and groin. Liebeck retained counsel and sued McDonald's. Eventually, the case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
- Van Alfen V. Toyota: In this case, a 66-year-old driver slammed into a wall in Utah when his Toyota continued to accelerate despite his pressing down on the brake pedal. The accident killed two people and injured two others. The Van Alfen case is only one of the many lawsuits Toyota faces for automotive defects.
- Firestone tires: In 2000, Firestone, the tire manufacturer, was forced to recall millions of tires. The defective products were linked to 88 deaths, 1,400 complaints and hundreds of injuries.
Defective product claims are rarely as widely covered as these examples, but many items are innately dangerous or flawed. If you need legal advice about pursuing a product liability claim, seek assistance from a knowledgeable attorney in your area.
Lanier Law Group represents clients throughout North Carolina who have been injured by designed poorly, made of hazardous material products, or are inherently dangerous items that fail to warn users of potential injury.