Long Island Product Liability

Consumers should be able to trust that the items they buy are safe when used as intended. Unfortunately, we have found that this is sometimes not reality. Every day consumers are injured after using common products. An air bag may fail to deploy in a car accident or a seat belt may fail to latch correctly in a commercial truck accident. Machinery may fail during a construction accident or support beams may be too weak in a scaffold accident. A ladder can unexpectedly collapse or a toy with lead-based paint could violate federal law and cause a lead paint injury. The potential defective product list is endless. In some cases these products cause serious injury or death. If you have been harmed by using a faulty product it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Long Island product liability lawyer who will explain to you your legal options for pursuing damages from the negligent person or entity.

Defective manufacturing of a product is a common problem. For example, thousands of cars, trucks, minivans and SUVs are recalled each year because of manufacturing defects. In some cases the defect is minor, while in other cases victims had already been seriously injured or even killed in accidents prior to the recall.

Another type of problem that could lead to a product liability claim is a design defect. If a product has a defective design, even if it is manufactured properly the result could be a dangerous, defective product. One of the most tragic design defect problems also involved the automobile industry. In the 1970s a car had a faulty design based on the placement of the fuel tank. As a result there were many instances in which the cars caught fire after rear-end collisions. Over 100 people were killed and many injured before the vehicle was finally recalled. Had the car not been poorly designed, victims would not have been injured.

Product manufacturers have the duty to warn consumers of dangers of using a product. This means that products must contain appropriate labeling and instructions. Many failure to warn product liability cases have been based on medications not having proper warnings. For example, if a medication has a serious side effect manufacturers must warn consumers. Some consumers will still take the drug, while others will not. If a there is no warning and consumer gets seriously ill then the manufacturer would be liable.

If a victim suffers a serious injury in an accident that was caused because of a defective product, the result is often physical impairment, the inability to work, and financial difficulties. As a product liability attorney in Long Island will explain, through a special type of personal injury claim called a product liability lawsuit filed against the manufacturer or distributor of the defective product you can demand compensation for your losses.

• Medical bills: You can demand payment for hospital bills, surgery, specialists, outpatient treatment, medication and physical therapy.
• Loss of income: You may be able to recover compensation for lost wages, lost benefits and loss of future income potential.
• Pain and suffering: You can also demand compensation for the physical pain and mental suffering you experienced.
• Wrongful death: If the defective product led to the loved one's death, thought a wrongful death lawsuit you can demand compensation for the losses suffered include funeral and burial expenses.

If a defective product has resulted in a serious injury to you or to a loved one, you have the right to demand compensation from the manufacturer. The staff at the Law Offices Stephen Bilkis & Associates is experienced in handling product liability cases stemming from defective products or failure to warn cases. Our team will advise you on how to file a claim and start back on the road to regaining your life. Contact at 800.696.9529 an experienced product liability attorney serving Long Island to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.