Practice Area
Product Liability
Defective or dangerous products can cause serious injuries, from burns and amputations to organ damage and chronic illness. Product liability law holds manufacturers, designers, and sellers responsible when their products harm consumers.
Helios Law helps injured consumers investigate defects, preserve critical evidence, and pursue claims against responsible companies. Consultations are free so you can understand your options before taking action. Get a free product liability consultation.
What qualifies as a product liability claim?
A product liability claim arises when a defective product causes injury. Fault can stem from design defects, manufacturing errors, or inadequate warnings. Some cases use strict liability, meaning you may not need to prove negligence if the product was defective and caused harm.
Types of harm linked to defective products
Common physical injuries include:
- Burns from explosions, overheating, or electrical faults
- Lacerations, amputations, or crush injuries from machinery
- Organ damage or poisoning from toxic substances
- Fractures or head trauma from collapsing products
- Infections or complications from defective medical devices
Medical devices, household items, vehicles, industrial tools, and children’s products can all create unexpected hazards when defective.
Non-physical effects may also follow a defect:
- Emotional distress and anxiety about product safety
- Sleep disruption or PTSD symptoms after sudden failure
- Loss of trust in medical or safety devices
- Lifestyle changes caused by ongoing medical treatment
- Reputational harm when false claims or data breaches occur
Events that often lead to product claims include:
- Exploding batteries or electronics
- Failed brakes, airbags, or steering components
- Unstable ladders, furniture, or structures
- Defective medical implants or drugs
- Machines lacking proper guards or shutoffs
Misconduct can include design and warning failures:
- Dangerous designs that ignore safer alternatives
- Manufacturing defects or quality-control breakdowns
- Missing or inadequate warnings and instructions
- Selling products despite known safety complaints or recalls
Do I have a product liability case?
You may have a product liability case if you were injured by a defective or unreasonably dangerous product. Consider:
- Was the product being used as intended or in a reasonably foreseeable way?
- Can the product and packaging be preserved for inspection?
- Did you seek medical care and link the injury to the product failure?
- Are there recalls, prior complaints, or similar incidents?
- Who designed, made, distributed, or sold the product—and what insurance coverage exists?
Product cases often depend on expert analysis and careful preservation of evidence, so acting quickly is important. Discuss your defective product claim.
What should I do after a product injury?
After a product-related injury, prioritize safety and preserve the product and proof of what happened. Steps to take:
- Seek medical care
- Stop using and save the product
- Photograph the scene and injuries
- Keep receipts, manuals, and packaging
- Talk with a product liability attorney
Seek medical care
Get emergency or urgent care as needed. Make sure medical providers note how the product caused the injury, and keep all discharge and imaging records.
Preserve the product
Do not repair, return, or discard the item. Store it safely along with any broken pieces, packaging, manuals, and receipts so experts can inspect them.
Document everything
Photograph the product, failure points, warnings (or lack of them), and your injuries. Record dates, model numbers, and any conversations with the seller or manufacturer.
How much is my product liability case worth?
Product liability case value depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, lasting disability, and how the defect changed daily life. Whether a recall exists, the number of similar incidents, and proof of design or manufacturing flaws can influence settlement or verdict amounts.
Will my product liability case go to trial?
Many product cases settle, but some go to trial when companies dispute defect evidence or responsibility. Testing, expert analysis, and internal documents often shape the outcome. Preserving the product is critical to proving the case.