Blog

When you purchase any type of product, you expect it to have been tested to ensure that it is safe for consumers to use. That’s not always the case, however. Defective products often make it to the market, potentially ending up in your hands and causing significant harm.  

If you have sustained injuries after using a defective product, you may be able to begin a personal injury claim to recover your losses. Because these cases follow strict liability, you don’t typically need to prove negligence. You only have to demonstrate that the product malfunctioned.  

This isn’t easy to do, though, which is why you need an experienced lawyer to guide you through the process. Discover which defective products most often lead to injuries, and why legal counsel makes a difference.  

Motor Vehicles 

With all of the vehicles being made throughout the world each year and the number of people who use them, it’s no surprise that they are among the products that most commonly malfunction and cause injuries in New York.  

Airbags can be particularly problematic and were the focus of the Takata recalls. Defective airbags can deploy with too much force, not deploy at all, or even release shrapnel.  

Some of the most serious malfunctions, however, involve brake systems. These defects compromise the vehicle’s overall safety and its ability to stop, causing car accidents.  

Tire defects could also be an issue. Defective tires can cause blowouts, leading to drivers losing control of the vehicle. In incidents involving high speeds, rollover accidents can occur as well.  

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices 

Pharmaceuticals are common products that cause injuries. Some have design defects, meaning that they contain a dangerous ingredient that makes them unsafe for anyone to take, while others were contaminated during the manufacturing process. Pharmaceuticals can also be defective if they don’t offer warnings of all the side effects they can cause.  

Recently, there was a recall of antiseptic soaps, for example, because they were contaminated with a type of bacteria that causes infections in healthcare settings. Another recent recall involves lubricating eye drops that were contaminated with fungi.  

Medical devices, too, can malfunction and lead to catastrophic injuries. Hip implants made of materials that easily break or insulin pumps that lead to incorrect dosing are issues that could occur during the product’s design or manufacturing process.  

Children’s Toys 

Defective children’s toys can put kids of all ages at risk of significant harm. Typically, these issues involve toys with small parts or those that break easily and present choking hazards.  

Another potential issue involves toys that have batteries. If the batteries don’t function as needed, they can cause burns or even fires. Plush toys have also been recalled in the past for bacterial or fungal contamination.  

Electrical Appliances 

There are likely many electrical appliances in your home. Any one of them can be dangerous if it has faulty wiring because it can lead to electrical fires that are difficult to put out.  

There is also the risk of electrocution injuries. In some instances, defective appliances can also damage your home’s entire electrical system through power surges and overloads.  

Unstable Furniture 

Falls are a frequent cause of injuries throughout New York, and many of them are the result of faulty furniture. Chairs that tip over are a worry, and even beds made from improper materials or that have not been constructed correctly can result in falls.  

Large pieces of furniture, like dressers, can fall on people if they’re not stable. Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities may be at particular risk of being trapped under these if they fall or of suffering severe injuries.  

Power Tools 

Defective power tools can be deadly. These pieces of equipment need to have functional safety features such as switches and shields.  

If those safety switches are damaged or defective, though, they may not switch off as needed. When shields and guards don’t rotate correctly or are not positioned as they should be, the user can be exposed to blades and other sharp or rotating components. 

If You’ve Been Hurt, Ask4Sam 

If any product you purchased and used as intended caused you to suffer injuries, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim to recover your losses. At Silberstein & Miklos, our seasoned team of product liability lawyers can guide you through every step of the claims process to help you secure the compensation you deserve.  

We’ve fought aggressively on behalf of injured people throughout New York for over 30 years. With our help, you can focus on getting treatment for your injuries while we handle the rest. Contact our team to speak with a dedicated attorney about your case today.