We purchase, plug-in, and install products in our homes to make life safer and easier, but what happens when those products end up endangering our families? The government recalls hundreds of dangerous products each year, yet hazardous items still remain on store shelves.
If you or a family member is seriously hurt by something around the house, you can’t assume the manufacturer will be first in line to help in your family’s recovery. At Philadelphia’s Pearce Law Firm P.C., our founder, Edith Pearce, and our defective product attorneys have experience taking on large companies that design and sell products that can cause harm to people. We make sure these companies accept liability for their mistakes and demand that they provide full compensation for anyone in your family put in harm’s way. Contact us for a free consultation if you or a loved one suffered a serious injury.
Defective Product Dangers in Philadelphia Homes
These hazards can take so many forms around the house, and the examples are nearly endless. The threat can come from furniture and electronics made to easily tip over. Dressers, TV stands, and some appliances can present this type of danger.
Bedding, household chemicals, and even defective fireworks can all be products that cause your family harm. Companies that make appliances, extension cords, and home improvement tools are also common offenders.
The National Safety Council found that in 2019, over 13 million people were treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by consumer products. And the problem is that much more of a frightening concern because children and older Americans are most often at risk.
These dangers aren’t just confined to homes. Products used in public places can also injure visitors, including shopping carts in stores and playground equipment.
Defective Product Liability Cases
The term “failure to warn” is a legal concept applied to cases against manufacturers who ignore possible dangers to their customers. It describes the failure of a manufacturer to caution customers that a product carries an increased risk of injury to those who use or operate the device.
If it’s apparent that a company was negligent in warning consumers about a threat, victims can file a defective product liability claim, such as a fiberglass in mattress lawsuit.
You and your attorney can point to problems in three general areas regarding safety:
- Unsafe design – The problem started with the product’s design. No matter how well the product is manufactured, the design always has a dangerous flaw that could put anyone who uses the product in harm’s way.
- Unsafe manufacture – An issue with the manufacturing process created a hazard. It may be a problem that arises as the parts are made or in the process of assembling the parts into a final product. The manufacturer can be made aware of the problem and still not stop production.
- Poorly written instructions or insufficient warnings – The instruction manual may instruct you to install or use the product in a manner that turns out to be unsafe. The instructions may be unclear. Warning labels may have been needed to make consumers aware of a safety hazard, for example, on a prescription bottle, but sadly weren’t included.
An Attorney Who Can Help Your Family Recover After an Accident
You may have purchased a product or it may have come with your home that causes a devastating accident. In the aftermath, families can face the challenges of recovering from injuries, missing work, and all while trying to figure out how to pay hospital and doctor bills.
Trying to deal with insurance companies, handling extensive paperwork, and getting a fair settlement is an overwhelming task for someone already dealing with a serious personal injury. Most individuals are not equipped to deal with these details following a serious accident, and you can easily be taken advantage of. That’s why professional legal help is your best protection. The Pearce Law Firm is here to help you document every detail and deal with every legal issue.
To protect your rights following a serious personal injury or a tragic death due to an accident, you should consult a personal injury law firm with experience in these matters as soon as possible. Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost, and witnesses may become hard to find.
Compensation in a Defective Product Case
Damages that a personal injury victim and the victim’s family are entitled to recover may include: hospital and medical expenses; past and future lost earnings; past and future permanent physical disability, such as a limp, scars, chronic pain syndrome; emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety; emotional suffering caused by the death of a loved one and many more.
A Philadelphia Attorney Who Will Fight for You
Having worked for years for an insurance company and for an accident defense firm, Philadelphia personal injury lawyer Edith Pearce uses her expert knowledge from inside the industry to help you recover expenses, replace income and make sure that your losses, your pain and suffering, your property damage and your injuries are adequately compensated.
Edith Pearce, an experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer, and her team will thoroughly investigate your accident and work diligently to either arrive at a settlement or proceed to trial to obtain full and fair compensation. Our law firm employs a comprehensive approach, utilizing a combination of aggressive discovery, site visits, witness interviews, thorough examination of medical records, the assistance of private investigators, and the expertise of medical and engineering professionals to provide our personal injury victim clients with state-of-the-art legal representation.
Philadelphia Defective Product FAQs
How do I know if I have a good product liability case?
Talking to an experienced products liability attorney is the best way to evaluate the merits of your case and claim, such as a fiberglass mattress lawsuit. The Pearce Law Firm offers a free, no-obligation evaluation of your defective product claim and will tell you whether your case has merit. There is no obligation to you whatsoever for this free product liability consultation.
What if I have a good product liability case but can’t afford legal fees?
We take most product liability cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t owe us any fees up front and only pay if and when we obtain compensation for you. Our fee is then a percentage of what we collect on your behalf.
How much do you think my claim is worth?
It is, of course, impossible to answer this question before investigating your product liability case; however, we may be able to give you a likely range based on the facts and merits of the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Some factors that determine the value of a product liability claim include how serious the accident was, how severe the injuries, whether the injuries are permanent or temporary, whether the injured party was an income earner or supporting others, the cost of medical treatments, whether there was or is pain and suffering, whether negligence was involved, whether lifelong care will be involved, etc. etc. Please feel free to call or e-mail us. We would be happy to give you the benefit of our experience and offer you a free, no obligation product liability consultation and provide a realistic estimate of what your case might be worth.
The insurance company representative says I don’t need a product liability lawyer. Is this true?
Insurance Company representatives are paid to represent the insurance company’s best interests and to minimize their payouts.
Will I have to go to trial to collect what is due to me, or can we settle out of court?
The Pearce Law Firm believes very strongly in our motto, “Working Toward Settlement While Aggressively Preparing For Trial.” While the majority of defective product claims we handle settle without going to court, the more prepared we are for trial, the better your settlement, and the more likely it is that the other side will want to settle.
How soon do I have to file a claim?
Generally, a product liability claim must be filed within two years. However, sometimes notice must be given within six months. Additionally, a claim can sometimes be filed after two years if the injury or negligence was not discovered until later.
Why should I choose The Pearce Law Firm to represent me?
Edith Pearce is a successful and sought-after New Jersey and Pennsylvania accident lawyer with a strong track record and extensive trial experience. Edith Pearce is intelligent (a member of MENSA) and has been recognized as one of the best by her peers, being named a 2005 “Super Lawyer,” reserved for the top 5% of Pennsylvania lawyers, and receiving the highest rating, “AV,” from Martindale-Hubble. In addition, before representing the rights of injured people, Ms. Pearce worked for both a large insurance company and a law firm that defended (rather than filed) claims. As a result, she has a decided advantage in working with insurance companies and defense lawyers, enabling her to secure her clients the maximum compensation and deliver superior results. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys, where many different attorneys may be handling various aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is involved in your entire case from start to finish. She genuinely cares about her clients, and you will not be treated like just another case or file. Put her inside knowledge, intelligence, compassion, and experience to work for you.
If you or a loved one has a defective product or product liability claim in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania, call us today for a FREE PRODUCT LIABILITY CONSULTATION, or send us an instant e-mail.
We are dedicated to protecting your rights and obtaining full and fair compensation for you.
(215) 557-8686:: Contact Us
No Recovery/No Fee/ Contingent Fee Cases Accepted
If you or a loved one has a defective product or product liability claim in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania, call us today for a FREE PRODUCT LIABILITY CONSULTATION, or send us an instant e-mail.
Contact a Philadelphia Defective Product Attorney
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident in Philadelphia or anywhere in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, please contact us today for a FREE PERSONAL INJURY CONSULTATION.
Remember – acting quickly is important as it allows us to fully investigate your personal injury claim and better document conditions as they were at the time of your accident.
