How a Product Liability Lawsuit Works in San Jose

When people in San Jose sue companies for defective products, they file “product liability” lawsuits. Many people are becoming more familiar with this concept, as there are countless films and documentaries that have shown how massive corporations can be brought down by committed attorneys and victims who are willing to fight for their rights. The problem however is that these corporations do not seem to be learning their lesson.

Time after time, we see companies release defective products to the public, knowing that these products have a high chance of causing injury or even death. Even with the knowledge that these products are dangerous, corporations are seemingly more concerned with their profit margins than the safety of average people in California. Unfortunately, paying out a few million to injured victims can seem like an acceptable loss for companies that make billions of dollars each year. Because of this simple fact, it can seem like we are constantly fighting an uphill battle against corporations who continue to release dangerous products.

However, it is important to understand that there is hope. Get in touch with a personal injury attorney in San Jose, and you can move forward with confidence. With help from our legal professionals, you can hold corporations accountable and pursue justice. It is possible to receive millions of dollars in settlement money as a result of these lawsuits. More importantly, you can deter these corporations from hurting more people in the future.

The Different Types of Product Liability Lawsuits

There are different types of product liability lawsuits, and it is important to approach your own situation in the right manner. You can file a product liability lawsuit for three different reasons, and the right choice depends on the unique circumstances of your accident.

• Design Defects: In this type of lawsuit, you sue the company due to the inherently flawed nature of the product. You would argue that these defects involve the actual design of the product itself. These defects are usually the result of considerable oversights during the research and development phases of the product’s development. For example, a toaster might have a component that electrocutes people when they touch a certain area of the product.
• Manufacturing Defects: In this type of lawsuit, you would argue that something went wrong during the manufacturing process that led to the creation of a dangerous product. The design might be sound, but the factory tasked with creating these products might have made some kind of mistake. For example, a factory that makes candy might have a faulty machine that puts pieces of razor-sharp metal into 1% of all lollipops produced.
• Marketing Defects: In this type of lawsuit, you would argue that a company misled the public with its marketing campaigns, suggesting that a product could be used to do things that are actually quite dangerous. For example, a company that creates self-driving cars might claim that you can safely fall asleep behind the wheel as you drive to work, when in reality this would probably lead to serious accidents.

Examples of Well-Known Product Liability Lawsuits

One of the best-known examples of a product liability lawsuit is the case of DuPont’s Teflon controversy. Teflon was a chemical coating used to coat nonstick pans, and it was also used on a wide range of other products. The problem was that Teflon contained “forever chemicals” that never leave the human body once ingested. These chemicals have been linked with serious, life-threatening medical issues. In 2021, it was reported that DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva Beach had agreed to pay out $4 billion to settle lawsuits involving a range of different “forever chemicals”.

There is also the opioid crisis, which was caused by profit-driven pharmaceutical companies. These companies knew full well that their synthetic opioids were incredibly addictive, and they were aware that prescribing these medications on a widespread scale would lead to entire communities being destroyed. However, they chose to go ahead and sell these drugs. Now they are experiencing considerable legal consequences. Johnson & Johnson’s toxic baby powder is another example of a recent product liability lawsuit. There are countless other examples, and new product liability lawsuits are filed every single day.

Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today

If you have been injured by a defective product in San Jose, reach out to Mary Alexander & Associates at your earliest convenience. Going up against a major corporation can seem like a daunting prospect, but you are not in this battle alone. With our help, you can fight for your rights and take on these companies in a confident, efficient manner. If you have been injured by a product that is legitimately defective and unsafe, there is little hope for the company that manufactured, designed, or marketed that product. Even the best defense attorneys in the world are powerless when the evidence is clearly in your favor. Book your consultation today, and we can start working on an action plan right away.