Westchester Product Liability Lawyers (Defective Product Lawyers)
If you are looking for a Westchester product liability lawyer, Grant & Longworth can help. Our experienced attorneys aggressively represent those who have been injured by defective products in Westchester County and all over the state of New York.
Injured by a Defective Product?
If you are reading this page, there is a good chance that you or someone you care about was injured by a defective product.
We hope that the information provided here will impart you with a basic understanding of the law and how a Westchester product liability lawyer can hold those responsible for your injuries accountable. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Every potential client will get the opportunity to speak with a real Westchester product liability lawyer, not just an an assistant or paralegal.
What is New York Product Liability Law?
In an ideal world, there would be no product liability lawyers. New items would be thoroughly researched and tested, preventing dangerous products from ever reaching the consumer.
Society has come a long way toward accomplishing this goal. Government watchdog agencies like the federal government’s Consumer Product Safety Commission and independent entities such Underwriters Laboratories have taken on an aggressive role in protecting the public from injurious products. Regrettably, dangerous items still manage to slip through the cracks.
Like most states, New York state has laws designed to deal with dangerous products and the harm they cause. New York product liability law is designed to ensure that those who are unjustly injured by a dangerous product are adequately compensated.
In addition to compensating consumers who have been unjustly injured by dangerous products, product liability law also helps to ensure that manufacturers and distributors of poorly designed and manufactured products are held accountable for their actions. Grant & Longworth attorneys get tremendous satisfaction from holding others accountable when they cause injury. When a lawsuit is successful, the manufacturer is often forced to redesign the product or remove it from the market, upholding principles of safety and security in consumer expectations.
Three Types of Product Liability Cases
As in other states, New York product liability lawsuits generally proceed under one of three legal theories:
Design defects (“inherently dangerous” products) involve products that are a danger to the consumer before they are even produced. Manufacturing defects occur during the manufacture, construction or assembly of a product. Finally, marketing defects “failure to warn”) create liability through inappropriate labeling, poorly written or missing directions, or inadequate safety warning labels.
How to Prove a Product Liability Lawsuit in New York
In order to prove a product liability lawsuit in New York, your product liability lawyer will need to establish three things:
- A design defect, manufacturing defect, or marketing defect was present;
- This defect led directly to your injury; and
- You suffered physical, emotional or financial damages.
Who Can a Westchester Product Liability Lawyer Sue in a Defective Product Lawsuit?
If a dangerous or defective product injures a customer it may be possible to file a lawsuit against the designer of a product, the manufacturer of the product itself (or a subcontractor that manufactures a defective component), or the retailer who sold the product. Any one entity or combination of these entities can be sued.
Compensation is Available to a Person Injured by a Dangerous Product in New York
A person injured due to a defective product in New York may seek compensation for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and punitive damages. A person killed by a defective product may seek compensation for wrongful death.
New York Product Liability Statute of Limitations
In general, the statute of limitations for product liability in New York is three years. Note: in cases where the defective product results in death, the statute of limitations is reduced to just two years from the date of appointment of personal representative of an estate.
Examples of Defective Products Responsible for Product Liability Lawsuits in New York
A wide variety of products have been found by New York courts to be defective and/or dangerous. Such items range from everyday household items to rare products used in specialized industries.
In general, defective products fall into three general categories: consumer products, medical items, and industrial products.
- Cars and trucks (including components like tires)
- Appliances (e.g. toasters and garbage compactors)
- Medical devices (e.g pacemakers and surgical screws)
- Drugs
- Heavy machinery (such as punch presses), ladders, motors,
- Building materials (including drywall, plywood, screws, insulation, wires and plumbing pipes)
- Chemicals
Contact a Westchester Product Liability Lawyer
If you or one of your loved ones have been injured due to a defective product, contact Grant & Longworth. We promise that you will have the opportunity to speak with an actual Westchester product liability lawyer.