Has Your Ford Been Recalled? The Case For Product Liability
The Ford Motor Company has had a bad go of it over the last few months. In November, they issued recalls for certain Ford Fusions and Mercury Milans. In January, the company recalled about 391,000 Ranger pickups because of the possibility that the air-bag inflators could cause injuries. That particular recall came after a Kershaw, S.C. man was killed because of an exploded inflator.
Ford’s decision to take the initiative in recalling their products and assuming the associated costs is admirable, but the costs of the recall are nothing compared to what the company would have faced if others had lost their lives or been severely injured by their product.
Filing a Product Liability Lawsuit
Whether you are injured by a defective vehicle, power tool, appliance or medical device, it’s imperative that the negligent party be held responsible so that you are compensated properly for the injury and so that the public can be made aware of the danger caused by the product.
If you’re thinking of filing a product liability claim, you will need to prove these things in order to prevail:
- The product is defective
- Your injury was caused by the defect
- You were injured (there are no awards for almost being injured)
- You were using the product exactly as it was intended to be used
Important Things to Remember If You’re Injured By a Product
When you’re injured by using a product, it can be difficult to think clearly. However, here are a few important things to remember to do if you find yourself in such a situation:
- Secure the receipt you were given when the product was purchased
- Keep the product and any packaging and manuals that were included
- Get information from witness – especially their contact information – who may have been present
- Make notes of any identifiable information about the product, such as name of manufacturer, serial number, and place and date of purchase.
Proving product liability can be a difficult process as there are a number of requirements that must be met. However, it is imperative to proceed so that those responsible are held accountable. To give you the best opportunity to prevail, you need the expertise of a skilled personal injury attorney. If you’ve been injured by a faulty product, contact the offices of the Gilleon Law Firm, APC for a free consultation.
