If you’ve suffered a personal injury from using a defective product (product liability), you should know you have legal recourse for recovering damages for your injuries. The expertise of a personal injury attorney familiar with defective product lawsuits is an essential resource in recovering substantial damages for paying your medical bills and other expenses and losses associated with your injuries.
Financial Liability for Your Defective Product Injuries
Who hold financial liability for your personal injuries depends on the nature of the defect in the product responsible for your injuries. There are different types of defects that can cause personal injuries. Some occur in the development and design process. Others result from issues in the manufacturing process. There are additionally defective product cases that involve the “failure to warn” consumers of potential hazards associated with using a product. Some personal injury claims can assign financial liability to several parties involved in the development, manufacture and distribution or sales of the defective product.
The Initial Consultation for an Defective Product Claim
The initial consultation with a personal injury attorney is the first step in securing legal representation. During this meeting, the attorney will review the details of your claim with you and will help you determine if you have a winnable case under the personal injury statutes in your jurisdiction. He or she will also inform you of the kinds of compensation you may be able to receive as well as a potential amount of damages that may be awarded in a case such as yours.
The attorney will also disclose an estimated fee schedule and billing arrangement during the initial consultation. Most personal injury attorneys who handle defective product lawsuits work on contingency, meaning no fees are paid to them by their clients unless cases are won and damage are awarded. The attorney would then receive a previously defined percentage of the damages you’re awarded in the case.
The initial consultation meeting is required to assess the validity of your claim. You will also learn the basics of how defective product personal injury claims are processed and will leave the meeting with an idea of the potential timeframe for your lawsuits’ resolution as well.
What Help can a Defective Product Personal Injury Attorney Provide?
A personal injury attorney will help you determine who to name in your defective product case. The named parties may include the product designer, manufacturer, distributor or vendor. An attorney will also help you determine what damages to include in your claim.
A personal injury lawyer can help you obtain the necessary records and other documentation for supporting your claim, and can advise you on the legal course of action most likely to meet your needs. Dependent upon the details of your claim, your attorney may recommend trying to settle out of court or may encourage you to take the case to trial. He or she will attempt to negotiate a settlement or will argue your case in court. Either way, your attorney is your legal advocate and representative. A personal injury attorney in a defective product claim will try to get you the highest level of compensation possible for the damages you’ve suffered.