Glendale Defective Product Injury Lawyers

Types of Defective & Dangerous Products

Any consumer product can be defective, causing harm or injury to users, such as:

• Automobiles: Vehicles with faulty brakes, defective airbags, or safety belt malfunctions.
• Toys: Items that contain harmful materials or small parts that pose choking hazards for children.
• Household appliances: Devices that can overheat, catch fire, or malfunction unexpectedly, such as stoves, refrigerators, heaters, or toasters.
• Pharmaceuticals: Medications that have not been adequately tested or have inadequate side effects warnings.
• Food products: Contaminated food items leading to illness or allergic reactions.
• Medical devices: Equipment that fails to perform safely, such as faulty implants, pacemakers, or surgical equipment. 

Types of Product Liability

Product liability generally falls into three categories:

• Design defects: Flaws in the product's design make it inherently unsafe, regardless of how well it was manufactured.
• Manufacturing defects: Issues arising during production that make an otherwise generally safe product dangerous.
• Marketing defects: Inadequate instructions or warnings that fail to inform consumers of potential risks associated with the product.

Some high-profile product liability cases that have been publicized in the media include lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid crisis. These cases alleged deceptive marketing and downplaying the addictive nature of these drugs. 

Others include a massive recall involving millions of vehicles due to defective Takata airbags that could explode and injure or kill occupants. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson talcum powder lawsuits claimed that it contained asbestos and caused cancer. 

“Strict” Liability in Product Liability

Strict liability is a legal doctrine that holds manufacturers and sellers accountable for product defects, regardless of whether negligence was involved in the design, production, or marketing of those products. 

Under California's strict liability, a consumer does not have to prove that the manufacturer acted negligently; they merely need to show that the product was defective and caused harm.