Most people are not familiar with the phrase “product liability.” This bit of legalese is really just the lawyer’s way of saying that a manufacturer or seller of a product can be held responsible if that product is defective or faulty in some way. If a defective product has injured you, the manufacturer or seller has a responsibility to compensate you for your injuries. This responsibility applies to all kinds of products, including:
- Products for the home: defective appliances, gas stoves, furniture, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, or asbestos products
- Children’s products: dangerous or defective toys, cribs, strollers, car seats, and play pens
- Food and drinks: from the grocery store or a restaurant, including baby food and infant formula, which may contain foreign objects or cause food poisoning
- Cars: defective tires, power windows, brakes, airbags, seat belts, or throttle
- Motorcycles and related products: defective tires or helmets, or design flaws
- Recreational vehicles: defective RVs, motorhomes, campers, trailers, snowmobiles, ATVs, boats, Sea-doos, and Jet-skis
- Recreational equipment: defective playground equipment
- Sports equipment: defective helmets, padding, skis, snowboards, water-skis, and wakeboards
- Heavy machinery: defective industrial machinery, backhoes, bulldozers, front-end loaders, and hydraulic equipment
- Construction equipment and tools: defective table saws, bandsaws, jigsaws, and hand tools
- Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment: defective drugs and medical implants
- Tobacco and substitutes: cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, vaping and vaporizers or e-cigarettes
Many people assume that if they were injured as a result of using a product, it must be because they did something wrong or failed to follow instructions. But just because you suffered an injury when using a product doesn’t mean it was your fault. The product may not have been properly designed, manufactured, or sold. It may not have been properly labeled, or come with the right instructions. Sometimes, products are poorly designed or inherently dangerous, and the manufacturer or seller may have failed to warn people of a product’s dangers, or failed to explain how to properly use it. A piece of candy suitable for an adult might be a choking hazard for a child. Perhaps a product formerly thought safe, such as lead paint or asbestos, is now recognized as dangerous.
Defective Products Lawyers for Calgary and Alberta
If you have been injured by a defective product, here are some important things to remember:
- Keep the product (if possible, in its original state)
- Keep any original receipts or warranties that came with the product
- Take plenty of photographs of the product and your injuries
Our lawyers have extensive experience dealing with defective products and product liability. Since 1976, we have helped people who were injured by dangerous or defective products get the compensation they deserved. Often times, a manufacturer or seller will be based outside of Canada; we have the connections and knowledge to pursue anyone responsible for your injuries, from a local merchant to a multinational corporation. We will get any expert testimony, engineers’ reports, or medical information required to prove and successfully resolve your case. When you hire Litco Law, won’t pay us anything until we win your claim. Let us worry about the legal paperwork and jargon while you get back to your life. Call us or contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation, and speak to one of our lawyers who will answer all of your questions.