Consumers purchase products with reasonable expectations about safety. Car shoppers would not likely purchase a vehicle knowing the airbags don’t work, but some models come with hidden defects. Recall laws might lead to consumers becoming informed about a hazardous defect. Other product liability laws extend to many other items in the marketplace. Without such regulations, customers might take risks with virtually every purchase.
The importance of product liability laws
A defective product could do more than disappoint people: It might do serious harm. Selling sugar pills that claim the ability to cure terminal diseases would get the manufacturer into trouble, so rules are in place to prevent this kind of false advertising.
Many times, a defective product hits the market without the manufacturer realizing there’s a problem. An electric bike, for example, may have a defective battery. Usually, a product comes with a warranty that covers a defective product’s repair or replacement. Some manufacturers may attempt to avoid honoring a warranty, a decision that could lead to more legal troubles.
Dealing with adverse product liability situations
Consumer protection laws might prompt manufacturers to employ better quality control, but defective products may still reach customers. When a manufacturer or seller delivers a defective product to the market, consumers could follow established steps to deal with the situation. Filing a product liability lawsuit may occur after someone suffers an injury. The plaintiff might be able to sue several parties as a liability could extend to more than the manufacturer.
Sadly, some people find themselves scammed through online or telemarketing ventures involving entities that prove difficult to track down. Taking steps to ascertain who a seller or representative is could be more complicated if the consumer wants to hold them accountable under consumer protection law.
