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Manufacturing Defects

Delivering Powerful Legal Advocacy for Consumer Safety

Top-Rated Manufacturing Defect Attorneys

Representing Consumers Injured by Defective Products. Over $10 Billion Won.

There are three major reasons why a product may be recalled. There might be a defect in the design of the product, there might have been faulty marketing, and there may have been a manufacturing defect. Defects in the manufacturing occur when the product did not perform as it was intended because of a slip in the assembly process. Many people get confused over manufacturing defects and design defects. The major difference is that with manufacturing defects, there is a flaw in an otherwise safe product. With design defects, there is a defect in the structure of the product itself. Even if these products were to be manufactured correctly, they would still pose a safety threat to consumers.

Once it has been determined that the manufacturing was faulty, the next factor to consider is whether it was planned or unplanned. If a product was found to be defective and the defect originated with the design itself, then this was a planned accident, so to speak. Most cases of manufacturing defects are unplanned. These cases operate then on the basis of strict liability. The product manufacturer is liable in these situations, yes, but they were not negligent. You see, negligence connotes some kind of wrongful intent on behalf of the manufacturer. While a faulty product can mean the manufacturer is at fault, it does not mean that they planned for their product to cause harm.

Manufacturing Defect FAQ

What types of manufacturing defects injure people?

The truth is that any manufacturing defect could cause harm to an unsuspecting consumer. This is true for everything from a child’s toy to a piece of heavy machinery. Product liability actions have arisen from injuries and deaths caused by window coverings, home exercise equipment, toys, electronics, appliances, tires, vehicle ignition switches, power tools, ladders, construction equipment, safety gear, sports equipment, e-cigarettes, and countless other products that we use at home and at work. When people are using these products as directed and they’re injured, they may have grounds for legal action.

Do manufacturing defects affect a single product or an entire line?

Because manufacturing defects occur during the production of a product, they may affect a single item or an entire line or series of items. It will all depend on how the defect occurred and at what point during the manufacturing process. With manufacturing defects, the design of the product may be safe and appropriate, but the product itself is ineffective or dangerous because an error was made during its manufacture.

The following are examples of manufacturing defects:

  • Improperly installing electrical wiring or other electric components
  • Leaving sharp edges when excess plastic is trimmed from a manufacturing mold
  • Using an inferior material to build part of a product
  • Attaching the parts of a product together incorrectly
  • Installing the wrong components of a product
  • Using the wrong type of fastener on a product’s moving parts

In the examples above, using an inferior material would most likely affect an entire series or line of items. Leaving a sharp edge could affect just one or several items. It will be important to investigate the cause of the defect to determine whether numerous products were affected.

How do I know if I have a lawsuit based on a manufacturing defect?

If you were using a product as directed and were injured because it broke or failed in some way, you may have grounds for a lawsuit due to a manufacturing defect. Because each case is different, however, you should involve a lawyer who can advise you and protect your interests moving forward. You could be one of many people who have been harmed by the same product because of a defect in the production process. Or, you could be the only person who’s experienced this. Either way, a competent lawyer can get you on the road to recovery by getting the answers and compensation you need.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the governmental agency that is responsible for recalling defective products. The commission will announce product recalls so that the general public can be warned of them. Recalled products should immediately stop being used so as to avoid injury. The CPSC will have instructions for what consumers should do if they find out they have a defective product in their possession. Anyone can report an unsafe product to the CPSC for investigation. If you or someone you know was injured by a product, even though it was being used properly, then you can file a report. Typically, if there are multiple similar reports, then a product or a certain batch of products will be recalled. Products that have been distorted by manufacturing defects typically get recalled in batches, since only some products were likely affected. Not all claims are investigated by the CPSC, and only some claims will be sent to the product manufacturer for review.

Intended Use of a Product

An important factor to consider before filing a product liability claim is whether or not the product was being used as it was intended to be used. Those who improperly use a product and are injured as a result will not be entitled to a claim, because the injury would have been their fault. You may also not be entitled to a product liability claim if the product was recalled and you continued to use it after it was recalled.

This makes it extremely important to keep track of recent recalls, which you can do on the CPSC website. Buying products second hand, such as from thrift stores and yard sales, can be dangerous because they are not prone to the same regulations as retail stores. Provided that you purchased a product first-hand and used it as intended, if you were injured, then you may have a case on your hands.

To learn more about your legal options, contact Arnold & Itkin today: (888) 493-1629.

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  • $8 Billion Top 3 Largest Jury Verdict in U.S. History Arnold & Itkin tried a case against Johnson & Johnson for failing to warn about a drug’s most damaging side effects: gynecomastia. Our skill, hard work, and dedication resulted in the third-largest jury verdict ever obtained for an individual ...
  • $357 Million Largest Workplace Accident Settlement in Texas history Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a massive nine-figure settlement against a transnational corporation for a workplace incident. The settlement set a Texas record for being the largest personal injury settlement in the state’s history.
  • $222 Million Record-Breaking Verdict for Widow Our firm won $222 million for a woman who lost her husband in an industrial accident caused by a faulty valve. We took the case to trial because the at-fault company refused to take responsibility. The jury saw through the corporate lies and double ...
  • $205 Million Confidential Settlement Obtained for Numerous Clients Arnold & Itkin reached a record $205,000,000 settlement on behalf of clients after several years of hard-fought litigation. The case settled just before trial was set to begin.
  • $193 Million Settlement Won for Victims of Pipeline Explosion Offshore injury lawyers at Arnold & Itkin fought for two workers who were injured in a pipeline explosion at sea, one of whom passed away. Our relentless investigation and advocacy resulted in a nine-figure settlement that will provide for our ...
  • $171 Million One of the Largest Confidential Settlements in History Arnold & Itkin worked over the course of several years to represent clients in a case that many other law firms turned down. In the end, we were able to obtain a record-setting confidential settlement.
  • $139 Million Massive Settlement Achieved for Victims of an Oilfield Incident Arnold & Itkin LLP negotiated a huge $139,000,000 settlement for injured families affected by an oilfield incident in the eastern United States, settling one week before trial.
  • $125 Million Settlement Won for Widow of Dredge Worker Offshore lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP won a nine-figure settlement for a woman who lost her husband in a pipeline explosion. By pushing the case toward trial, our firm pressured the defendant into settling with our client, allowing her to rebuild ...
  • $117 Million Largest Single-Event Personal Injury Verdict in Louisiana History Arnold & Itkin represented a pregnant woman who experienced stomach pain and called Acadian Ambulance. The driver of the ambulance drove the ambulance into the back of a sugar cane truck causing the plaintiff's spine to be severed at T4 and for her ...
  • $116 Million Confidential Settlement Arnold & Itkin LLP negotiated a massive nine figure settlement on behalf of their clients after several years of hard fought litigation.
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