If a product caused you or your family member to be injured in Lake Charles, LA, you could be entitled to compensation for damages. Contact Hale Injury Lawyers today at (337) 426-1071 for a free consultation with a Lake Charles product liability lawyer. Let us help you get the compensation you deserve.
Dangerous and defective products can cause serious injuries and disabilities. Manufacturers and other parties can be held financially responsible when their products hurt people.
At Hale Injury Lawyers, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers have protected injured victims’ rights since 2008. Our lawyers have more than 61 years of combined legal experience. We know personal injury law and use our resources, expertise, and skills to recover top-dollar verdicts and personal injury settlements for our clients.
Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay any attorneys’ fees until we recover money for your claim. We guarantee it.
How Our Lake Charles Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Injured by a Defective Product
Product liability laws protect consumers if a defective or dangerous product causes them injury. Victims can sue manufacturers and other parties for monetary awards.
However, product liability claims are complicated personal injury cases. The laws can be confusing, and fighting large manufacturers requires resources and experts. You need a Lake Charles personal injury law firm with the experience to handle these types of cases.
Our lawyers at Hale Injury Lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for our clients. The settlements and verdicts have had life-changing consequences for thousands of clients. Our dedication to our clients and our successful track record have resulted in numerous awards for our attorneys.
Attorney Taylor Hale is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum because of the size of the awards recovered for clients. Super Lawyers has recognized him as a Rising Star for several years.
Attorney Steven Hale has an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale Hubbell, its highest rating for lawyers. He has also been named on the list of Louisiana Super Lawyers for twelve consecutive years, including 2023.
When you hire Hale Injury Lawyers to handle your case, we will:
- Investigate your claim to determine the cause of your injury
- Devote the time and resources necessary to pursue your claim
- Work with industry experts to gather evidence that strengthens your claim
- Document your injuries and damages to determine how much your product liability case is worth
- Handle all matters related to insurance claims and product liability lawsuits
- Aggressively pursue settlements and jury verdicts for the total value of your damages
Call now for a free case evaluation with an experienced product liability lawyer in Lake Charles, Louisiana. We’ll aggressively pursue the parties responsible for your injuries and work to get you the maximum compensation available in your case.
What Is Product Liability?
Product liability is the responsibility manufacturers, distributors, sellers, designers, and other parties have when a product causes injury or harm. The parties involved in the distribution of a product have a duty to consumers to design, manufacture, and sell safe products. If they breach their duty of care, people can get hurt.
There are three common types of product liability claims:
- Design Defects – The product has a problem in its design that makes it inherently dangerous to use. Each product made with this design will have the same risk of causing injury.
- Manufacturing Defects – There was a problem in the manufacturing process that caused a product to be dangerous to use. Examples could include using inferior materials, changing the design specs, or contamination.
- Marketing Defects – These defects occur when the company fails to provide adequate warnings of risks associated with the product or adequate instructions for the safe use of the product.
Under Louisiana product liability laws, if a product injures someone, companies can be held legally responsible for the injuries and damages the product causes. Filing a product liability claim or lawsuit is the legal process for obtaining compensation for damages caused by a defective product. Product liability cases can be settled through private negotiations or by taking the case to court.
As a consumer, you have the right to expect a product to be safe to use and free from dangerous defects. If not, you need to explore your legal options with an experienced product liability attorney.
We Handle All Types of Product Liability Claims in Lake Charles, LA
Our experienced Lake Charles personal injury attorneys handle all types of cases involving defective products.
For example, we handle cases involving defective products including, but not limited to:
- Prescription drugs
- Over-the-counter medications
- Medical devices
- Children’s toys and furniture
- Vehicles and auto parts, including airbags, brakes, tires, and seatbelts
- Household appliances and electronics
- Power tools and heavy equipment
- Vape pens and e-cigarettes
- Personal care products
- Fireworks and explosives
- Car seats and child restraint systems
- And many more
Defective products can cause severe injuries. Regardless of whether a product has been recalled or not, the manufacturer can be strictly liable for the damages the product causes. Call now to discuss your case with a Lake Charles product liability attorney.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Lake Charles Product Liability Case?
Victims can receive compensation for their economic damages. These damages represent the monetary losses a person incurs because of an injury. Victims can also recover compensation for their pain and suffering damages, which are called non-economic damages.
Examples of the damages you could receive in a Lake Charles product liability case include the following:
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Past and future lost wages
- Physical pain
- Rehabilitative therapies
- Loss of quality of life and enjoyment of life
- Past and future medical bills
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Disabilities and impairments
- Long-term skilled care
- Diminished earning capacity
The amount you receive for a product liability claim depends on the circumstances of your case. Your injuries and liability for causing the accident impact the value of damages. The parties involved can also affect how much money you might receive.
Our Lake Charles product liability lawyers will carefully analyze each factor that can impact the value of your case. We’ll work to maximize your recovery amount by highlighting the factors that increase how much your case is worth.
Injuries Caused by Defective Products
The type of injury you sustain depends on the product and the circumstances.
However, defective products can cause all types of injuries, including:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Hearing loss
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Vision loss and eye injuries
- Nerve damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Electrocution and burns
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Paralysis
Seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries. Prompt medical care helps prove that the product was responsible for causing your injuries. It also improves your chance of making a full recovery.
What Happens if I’m Partially to Blame for Causing a Defective Product Injury in Louisiana?
The defendant could argue that you are not entitled to compensation under comparative negligence principles. However, Louisiana’s comparative fault laws do not prohibit an injured party from receiving compensation for damages, even if the victim is partly at fault for causing their injuries.
Instead, the law allows the court to reduce the amount of compensation the injured party receives. The reduction is based on the party’s percentage of fault.
Suppose a jury finds that a manufacturer is liable for your damages caused by a product. The jury awards $1 million for damages.
However, jurors also found that you were 20% at fault for what happened. Under comparative fault law, your award would be reduced by your level of responsibility. Therefore, instead of receiving 100% of the $1 million, you would only receive 80 percent.
Insurance companies and defense lawyers use comparative fault to undervalue damages. They try to shift as much of the blame for the accident to the victim as possible. Therefore, we strongly recommend seeking legal advice before you talk with an insurance adjuster or other parties regarding your product liability claim.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Product Liability Claim in Lake Charles, LA?
Louisiana has a one-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. You must file a lawsuit before the end of one year, or the court can dismiss your case.
However, exceptions to the law could change the filing deadline. For that reason, it is always best to talk to a Lake Charles personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an injury or accident. Obtaining prompt legal advice is the best way to protect your right to fair compensation for injuries and damages caused by another party.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Lake Charles Product Liability Lawyers
Our legal team at Hale Injury Lawyers is here to help you whenever you need trusted legal advice about a personal injury case. We’ll handle the legal matters so you can focus on your recovery and return your life to normal. Call now for your free case review with an experienced Lake Charles product liability attorney.
