Miami Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
There are literally millions of consumer goods available for purchase in stores, online, and through internet marketplaces, and the vast majority of them are safe for their intended use. However, the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that approximately 11.7 million people seek care at hospital emergency rooms every year for injuries resulting from dangerous consumer products. Some of the items you rely on and use frequently could be hazardous because of a flaw, including appliances, electronics, vehicles, children’s toys and clothing, furniture, and many others.
Some of these product defects are the result of a faulty design, meaning that there is an error in developing or creating the item. The blueprint itself is defective, so anything produced from these specifications is also flawed. There are numerous high-profile lawsuits based upon defective design, a type of product liability case. If you or a loved one was injured, a Miami design defects attorney can advise you on the process for seeking compensation. A look at some of the biggest lawsuits involving design defects is also helpful.
Takata Airbag Case
More than 40 million vehicles worldwide were affected by these airbags, which encompassed a faulty inflator switch. The defect caused the bags to rupture and shoot metal fragments throughout the interior of the vehicle. Hundreds of occupants were injured, while the Takata airbags have also been linked to 16 fatalities.
Round-Up Pesticide Litigation
The design defect in the pesticide cases is the formula used to perform the chemical’s primary function: Glyphosate kills pests, but exposure can also cause cancer. Victims allege that the manufacturers produced Round Up and related pesticides according to a design that is carcinogenic. They argue that the companies should have manufactured a product that presents less of a risk to the end user.
J&J Baby Powder
The key ingredient in baby powder is talcum, a substance that just so happens to occur in close proximity to asbestos in the Earth’s crust. When mining talc, companies were also taking trace amounts of asbestos – which made its way into baby powder formulas and the shelves of consumers. Women tended to be affected more than babies, often developing ovarian cancer through prolonged use.
Asbestos Lawsuits
As a construction supply, asbestos was highly effective for its fiber strength and heat-resistant properties. For many years, it was a key ingredient in building materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos came to the attention of the medical profession when construction workers began developing serious respiratory conditions, later determined to be from inhalation of asbestos fibers.
Trust Our Miami Product Liability Lawyers to Assist With Design Defects Cases
This overview should help you understand how design defects work under product liability laws, but there are other theories to pursue. Some items are flawed because of a manufacturing error or failure to warn, and Gerson & Schwartz, PA, can describe the details. To learn more, please call (305) 371-6000 or visit our website to schedule a no-cost consultation at our offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL.
