Defective Products

CASES WE HANDLE

People are seriously injured or killed every day due to improperly designed or manufactured products. When a product enters the marketplace, you have a right to expect that it will not cause harm if used properly. Unfortunately, many products have had little or no safety testing, and those hidden dangers are a threat to consumers. While South Carolina’s product liability law is rapidly changing, our state’s laws provide consumers protection from defective or unreasonably dangerous products and recourse against the designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers who design, build, distribute and sell defective products.

Product liability cases are inherently complex and expensive as they involve engineering, science, design, human factors and manufacturing issues. Our attorneys have successfully litigated products liability cases, involving a wide array of products such as space heaters, exercise equipment, dog collars, ATVs, stocking carts used by employees at big box stores, and many more in state and federal courts throughout South Carolina.

Additional Information

Types of Defects

Defects that give rise to seller, supplier and manufacturer liability are categorized by 3 types of defects: (1) manufacturing defects; (2) design defects; and (3) failure to warn defects.

(1) Manufacturing Defects:

These defects involve errors or contamination that occur during the product’s production. These affect a specific number of units or batches of a product rather than the entire product line.

Examples of manufacturing defects:

- Improperly installing electrical wiring or electrical components.
- Attaching the parts of a product together incorrectly.
- Using the incorrect screws or bolts when assembling the product.

(2) Design Defects:

These defects occur when the actual design of the product is faulty; meaning the defect exists before the product is manufactured. These affect the entire product line rather than a single unit or batch.

Examples of design defects:

- An automobile tire that suffers a tread separation at a certain speed.
- An improperly designed safety guard on a power tool that fails to prevent injuries.
- A vehicle that flips over during sharp turns due to it being too top heavy.

(3) Failure to Warn Defects.

These defects occur when a manufacturer, distributor or retailer fails to provide adequate warnings on a product about known or potential risks.

Examples of failure to warn defects:

- Failing to warn the user or consumer of the caustic nature of wet concrete and the dangers associated with wet concrete coming into contact with skin.
- Failing to warn a small product presents a choking hazard.
- Failing to warn a product is flammable and/or that the products vapors may cause flash fire.

Examples of Defective Products

Drop-Side Cribs. Although drop-side cribs are designed to make it easier for parents to place infants in and out of the cribs, they pose serious risks to infants. The drop-down design feature that allows the crib panels to slide up and down can slip or break, causing a gap to form between the crib mattress and the drop-side of the crib. The infant may become stuck or trapped in this gap, leading to strangulation or suffocation.

GM Ignition Switch. GM installed faulty ignition switches in several of its models over the last decade or so. Affected vehicles often shut off when being operated and have caused countless car accidents.

Metal Hip Replacement Implants. Hip implants are designed to replace the ball-and-socket joint of the hip. Metal implants often leads to metallic debris being released into the body from the friction between the hip’s metal components.

Steamers. Handheld clothing steamers often expel, spray or leak hot water during use, oftentimes resulting in serious burns to the user.

Electric Pressure Cookers.

What are Recalls?

results

$2,804,697.00

Injuries resulting from a fuel container that allowed the container to be subject to flash back fires and/or explode.

$1,500,000.00

The minor plaintiff sustained fatal burns when the mobile home in which the minor plaintiff was living caught fire due to a defective receptacle.

$1,150,000.00

Injury resulting from a defective shelf stocking cart.

$1,000,000.00

The plaintiff sustained severe chemical burns after coming into contact with wet concrete. The seller failed to warn of the caustic nature of wet concrete and the severe injuries that may result from contact.

$1,000,000.00

Blindness resulting from exercise resistance bands.

$850,000.00

Injuries sustained when a tire rim separated with explosive force, striking the plaintiff when he attempted to remove the wheel.

$750,000.00

Injury resulting from a defective hand held steamer.

$750,000.00

A minor suffered burns when a garment steamer overturned, spilling the dangerously hot water onto the minor child.

Disclaimer

The results shown above were obtained by our attorneys. Many were obtained while our attorneys were working with another law firm. These results should not be considered a description or characterization of Parker Law Group, LLP’s representation. Nor should it be interpreted as a guarantee of a specific result or outcome of a particular case. Each and every case is different. Please schedule an appointment to have one of our attorneys discuss your case with you.

CASES WE HANDLE