What are 3 Types of Product Defects?

The last thing anybody expects is that they will be injured by a product that they purchased to use or consume. However, every year, hundreds of products face recall because they could potentially cause harm to consumers. Defective products make it onto store shelves and into our households all the time. Here, we want to discuss three different types of defective products. Specifically, we want to look at the three most common ways that the products we use become defective and lead to potentially devastating injuries or illnesses.

1. Poor Product Designs

Just about every product has to pass through some sort of inspection before it is allowed to reach consumers. This includes appliances, foods, beverages, toys, medications, medical devices, cars, and more. Some products have to undergo more thorough testing than others. For example, The US Food and Drug Administration generally has to approve all medications and medical devices.

However, there are times when defective designs are not discovered during the testing phases. When this occurs, a product can become dangerous to use or consume. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for defective designs to not be realized until many people have been injured already. Usually, defective products will face recalls, but that is not always the situation.

2. Manufacturing Mistakes

Even well-designed products can still become defective if they experience an error during the manufacturing process. It is important to understand that most products we use or consume do go through several manufacturing phases, and often not all with the same company. If there is a problem at any point along the manufacturing process, a product could be altered, rendering it unsafe for consumers.

For example, suppose you want to buy a swing set to put in the backyard for your child. Even a well-designed swing set could end up with a manufacturing error that causes a crack in the frame. This crack could lead to serious injuries for any person who uses the swing.

3. Advertising Issues

Another way that products become defective has to do with advertising or labels. It is crucial for all labels on a product to be accurate and complete. Consumers rely on labels to provide them with various information about a product they want to use or consume. This can include:

• Side effects or hazards
• Ingredients
• Dosages
• Instructions
• Age requirements
• …and more

If there is a problem with a product’s label, this could result in a failure-to-warn claim against the product company or manufacturer.

Working With a Product Liability Attorney in Kentucky

If you or somebody you care about has been injured due to a faulty product, you need to speak to a skilled lawyer as soon as possible. A Kentucky product liability attorney can use their resources to conduct a complete investigation into the case and help determine the best steps moving forward. An attorney will not only gather all evidence needed to prove liability, but they will also work with trusted medical and economic experts to help calculate the total expected losses for their client. Some of the types of compensation available in these cases include the following:

• Medical bills associated with the use or consumption of the product
• Lost income if a victim cannot work while they recover
• General household out-of-pocket expenses arising due to the claim
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of quality of life damages

The total amount of compensation available in these cases will vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding each particular situation.