New York Product Liability Attorneys
Representing Individuals Injured by Dangerous Products Throughout New York
It's an unfortunate reality that some manufacturers, in a rush to market or in an effort to cut costs, overlook critical safety protocols or neglect to ensure their products meet the necessary safety standards. This negligence can result in faulty products with dangerous defects.
From defective vehicles causing auto accidents to malfunctioning appliances leading to home fires or explosions, defective products have been known to cause a wide range of dangerous scenarios, many of which result in serious injuries.
If you were recently injured by a malfunctioning or unreasonably dangerous product, our New York product liability lawyers are ready to fight for you.
We recognize that you may be dealing with mounting medical expenses and financial strain from missed work. Our experienced legal team at Matthews & Associates can help you seek just compensation for your losses and work to hold all liable parties accountable.
We have recovered significant financial compensation for thousands of clients and understand how to successfully approach these cases. We will be here to provide dedicated, results-driven support from start to finish.
Our defective product attorneys in NY handle cases involving:
- Defective airbags
- Defective earplugs
- Defective tires
- E-cigarette explosions
- Cancer from hair relaxers
- NEC from infant formula
- Cancer from Roundup
- Parkinson's from Paraquat
- Cancer from PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
- Injuries from pesticide exposure
- Water contamination
- Samsung phone battery fires
- Talcum powder cancer
- Toxic baby food
Contact us online or call (888) 923-7001 to schedule a free initial consultation. Our clients owe no legal fees unless they recover!
Types of Commonly Defective Products
A wide range of products can pose serious risks if defective. It may not always be immediately apparent whether a design, manufacturing, or marketing defect was responsible for your injuries, but if you suspect something about a product may be to blame, get in touch with our team right away. Our legal professionals have dealt with many types of common defective products seen throughout New York, and we can carefully investigate what happened to you to ascertain whether you have a strong product liability claim. Some common types of products that have been known to cause harm when defective include:
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Automobiles and Automobile PartsVehicle defects can lead to catastrophic accidents. Common issues include brake failures, steering mechanism faults, tire defects, and airbag malfunctions. In recent years, there have even been cases of electric car batteries catching fire.
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Children’s Toys and ProductsDue to their target audience, children’s toys require the utmost attention to safety standards. However, defects still occur. These can include choking hazards from small parts, the use of lead paint, flammability issues, or even strangulation risks from cords.
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Medical Devices and PharmaceuticalsDefective medical devices or drugs can have serious and even life-threatening consequences. Implants, pacemakers, contraceptive devices, or joint replacements can malfunction. Pharmaceuticals can also cause harm if they contain dangerous substances, induce severe side effects, or lack proper instructions and warnings.
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Electrical AppliancesHousehold appliances can cause harm due to overheating, electrical short circuits, or mechanical malfunctions. Examples include faulty wiring in toasters leading to fires or defective washing machines causing floods.
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Industrial EquipmentIn the industrial sector, defective machinery can result in workplace accidents, often leading to serious injuries or fatalities. Faulty safety equipment can also lead to harm.
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Food and Beverage ProductsContaminated or mislabeled food and beverage products pose serious health risks. This category includes instances of bacterial contamination, foreign objects in food, mislabeled allergens, or false nutritional claims.
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Cosmetics and Personal Care ProductsDefects or lack of proper labeling in cosmetics and personal care products can lead to severe allergic reactions, skin conditions, or other health issues. Examples might include hair products causing hair loss, skin creams leading to severe rashes, or soaps causing chemical burns.
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Fitness EquipmentDefects in fitness equipment can cause injury during use. This could include faulty treadmill belts causing falls, resistance bands snapping, or weights that are not properly secured and causing accidents.
Take Action – Call Our Team Today!
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David P. Matthews Attorney"When the judge read the verdict in Martha Salazar’s case ($73 Million), and we learned the jury ordered [the medical device maker] to pay Martha, (we) knew they believed every word she said. We realized they knew the defendant was truly guilty."
Assistant Editor
Do I Have a Case?
Accidents happen, even with everyday objects. However, in order to recover compensation through a product liability lawsuit in New York, you generally need to be able to prove you were injured because of a defect, negligence, and/or the carelessness of another person or entity.
Generally, the court will consider the following factors when evaluating your product liability claim:
- Was the product defective? You must be able to demonstrate that the product that injured you has a dangerous design, manufacturing, or marketing defect.
- Were you injured? You must establish that your injuries were caused by your use, proximity to, or contact with the product. Note that in cases like an exploding appliance, you do not necessarily have to have been actively using the product at the time of the injury-causing incident.
- Were you using the product as intended? Using the product in a way that was not intended to be used at the time of injury can considerably weaken your case.
If you answered “yes” to each of these questions, you likely have grounds for a product liability lawsuit in New York. When you contact our team at Matthews & Associates, we can help you understand what comes next.
Types of Product Defects
Product defects generally fall into three primary categories: design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects. Each type of defect requires a different approach in the courtroom, and at Matthews & Associates, our skilled team is adept at handling all three. Whether a faulty design, a manufacturing error, or misleading marketing is to blame for your injury, our New York defective product attorneys are prepared to represent your interests and fight for the compensation you deserve.
- Design defects: Design defects occur when there is an inherent flaw in the design of the product. These defects are present even before the product is manufactured. Regardless of how well the product is produced or assembled, the design flaw makes the product inherently dangerous or ineffective. An example could be a type of car that has a tendency to flip over when turning corners at high speeds due to a flaw in its design.
- Manufacturing defects: Manufacturing defects occur during the production process. In these cases, the original design of the product is safe, but a problem during the manufacturing phase makes the final result unsafe. This could be due to the use of subpar materials, shoddy workmanship, or deviations from the design blueprint. An example might be a batch of tires produced with poor-quality rubber, leading to blowouts.
- Marketing defects: Marketing defects are tied to inadequate warnings, instructions, or safety information. These can also occur when a company makes false claims about what a product can do or fails to disclose potential risks. The product itself may be safe when used correctly, but due to insufficient or misleading information, it can become unreasonably dangerous. An example could be a powerful cleaning chemical sold without the proper safety warnings about inhaling fumes or the necessity of wearing gloves during use.
Compensation for Defective Product Injuries in New York
A product liability claim allows you to seek compensation for damages resulting from a defective product. The specific compensation you can recover will depend on your unique circumstances, but you are generally able to secure compensation for economic (calculable and tangible) and non-economic (less easily calculable and intangible) damages.
In cases involving especially egregious conduct, such as when it can be proven that a manufacturer knew a product was dangerously defective but did not initiate a recall, you could be awarded punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant and discourage similar behavior in the future.
Our New York defective product attorneys will fight to get you compensation for all losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Reduced earning potential
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Statute of Limitations for New York Product Liability Claims
The statute of limitations for product liability cases in New York is typically three years from the date of the injury. This means that if you have been injured by a defective product, you have a three-year window to file a lawsuit against the responsible party or parties.
While three years might seem like ample time, it's essential to discuss your case with our New York product liability lawyers as soon as you can. We are ready to get to work on building a strong claim and ensure you do not miss any filing deadlines.
What If I Didn't Discover the Injury Right Away?
If the injury caused by the defective product was not immediately noticeable or if the injury took time to manifest, the clock on the statute of limitations may start ticking from the date the injury was discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered).
In other words, you would get three years from the date of discovery (or the date you reasonably should have discovered the injury). This is often referred to as the “discovery rule.” The discovery rule can often come into play in scenarios where a product that contains hazardous chemicals later causes serious illnesses.
Do not assume you have run out of time to take legal action, especially if your injury only became apparent months or years after your use of a potentially defective product. We can evaluate the facts of your case and walk you through your legal options.
Explore your legal options today by calling (888) 923-7001 or contacting us online.
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