Columbus Product Liability Lawyer

Were you or a loved one injured using a dangerous and defective product in Columbus, GA? You should be able to trust that the products you buy are safe. If you were injured due to a product defect, the product manufacturer can be liable for damages. An experienced Columbus product liability lawyer at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm can fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Our lawyer will use over 26 years of legal experience to your advantage. Since we founded our legal practice, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients like you.

You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and trauma. We’re here to help you fight for every available dollar. Contact our law offices in Columbus, Georgia, or call (706) 940-4030 to schedule your free consultation today.

Why Should I Trust Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm for Help With a Product Liability Claim in Columbus?

Why Should I Trust Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm for Help With a Product Liability Claim in Columbus?

Product liability cases can be complex. You may know you were injured by a consumer product. Identifying the exact defect, however, can be a challenge. 

Big manufacturing companies have teams of defense lawyers to protect them. They might claim you were using the product incorrectly. They could say the product was perfectly safe. They could even offer you a settlement that completely undervalues your defective product claim.

Having an experienced Columbus personal injury attorney in your corner can make all the difference to your case. At the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, we’ve been serving Columbus clients for decades. We’ve been recognized for our high-quality legal services with an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell.

You can count on us to:

  • Investigate to determine how the product caused your injury
  • Work with leading experts to prove the product was defective
  • Gather evidence and determine whether others have suffered similar injuries
  • Work with your doctors to determine the true cost of your injuries
  • Negotiate aggressively with the insurance companies for a full settlement

Standing up to a big corporation can be a challenge. Contact our Columbus personal injury lawyer today for the strong legal representation you deserve.

What Is Product Liability in Georgia? 

When you buy a product, you have to be able to trust that it’s safe. You don’t have control over how the product was made or designed. Similarly, there’s no real way for government agencies to inspect every single product that hits the consumer market.

Only product manufacturers have control over the products they put on the market. It’s up to those companies to ensure their products are safely designed, manufactured according to specifications, and contain proper warnings or instructions.

In most personal injury cases, victims must prove the at-fault party was negligent to recover compensation for their injuries. 

Product liability laws are different. In a product liability case, the manufacturing company can be held strictly liable for a victim’s damages if their products are defective.

How Do I Establish My Right to Compensation in a Product Liability Case in Georgia?

Instead of proving negligence, most victims of defective products must prove that the product suffered from a defect.

The three primary types of product defects are:

  • Design defects
  • Manufacturing defects
  • Marketing defects, or failure to warn

If none of these defects exist, however, manufacturers can still be held liable if they were negligent.

Design Defects

As the name suggests, design defects are defects with a product’s design. If manufactured properly, every single product will suffer from the defect. Manufacturers are required to use a safer design if one is available.

To determine whether a reasonable alternative design was available, courts consider:

  • The usefulness of the product as it is designed
  • Whether the alternative is reasonable from a cost perspective
  • If the new design would make the product safer, yet still allow the product to function as intended

If no safer alternative can be identified, however, you may still have a valid case if the manufacturer didn’t adequately warn you about the risks associated with the product.

Manufacturing Defects

Manufacturing defects typically occur because someone made a mistake during the manufacturing process. If manufactured properly, the product would have been safe. It only becomes dangerous because of the error.

Manufacturing defects typically impact only a batch of products or even a single product. To prove liability, you’ll need evidence that the product you used was not manufactured according to its intended design.

Marketing Defects

Companies that sell consumer products must warn consumers about non-obvious dangers. That’s why products come with warning labels and instruction books. These warnings let you take proper safety precautions when a product can’t be made completely safe.

Statistics on Defective Products

Dangerous products are a serious issue in the United States. That’s true even though many products must go through an approval process by the FDA and other federal agencies.

According to some studies, about 40 million injuries and 46,200 deaths happen each year because of consumer products that have been recalled. 

At least one study found that about one in every three FDA-approved prescription drugs has unanticipated side effects for patients. Another study found that defective medical devices caused about 83,000 deaths over nine years.

What Is My Columbus Product Liability Lawsuit Worth?

You only have one chance to recover fair compensation for your injuries. Once you take a settlement, you can’t seek additional compensation in the future. It’s critical to understand how much compensation you actually deserve before accepting an insurance settlement.

Like any car accident victim, your case value will depend on the specific details, including:

  • The severity of your injuries
  • The nature of the product defect
  • The financial costs you’ve incurred, including medical treatment costs
  • Your pain, suffering, and trauma
  • How the injury impacts your work and quality of life
  • Whether you’re eligible to participate in a class action lawsuit or multi-district litigation
  • Whether you will suffer any long-term impairment
  • Whether you were using the product as intended

Product manufacturers often blame victims for using the product incorrectly. However, even if that was true, they can still be liable for damages if the misuse was reasonably foreseeable.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Defective and Dangerous Products in Columbus?

Under Georgia law, compensatory damages are classified as economic or non-economic. Victims can seek compensation for both their financial losses and their personal suffering.

Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to money for:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages and income during recovery
  • Reduced earning potential
  • Rehabilitation 
  • In-home assistance
  • Nursing care
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression 
  • PTSD
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Physical disfigurement and scarring
  • Loss of consortium

Our lawyer in Columbus are here to help you fight for the full compensation you deserve. All you have to do is call to schedule a free case review today. 

What Types of Injuries Are Caused By Defective Products?

The types of injuries victims sustain depend on the nature of the danger created by the product, as well as unique personal characteristics.

Common types of injuries include: 

  • Burns 
  • Internal organ damage
  • Joint injuries
  • Cancer and other diseases
  • Broken bones
  • Nerve injuries
  • Amputations 
  • Neck injuries
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Concussions
  • Back injuries
  • Loss of eyesight or hearing
  • Paralysis
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Wrongful death of a loved one

Regardless of the types of injuries you have suffered, reach out to our lawyer today. We offer free case evaluations, so there’s no risk in learning about your legal options.

We Handle All Types of Product Liability Cases in Columbus, Georgia

At the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, we represent clients in all types of defective product cases, including those involving:

  • Prescription medications 
  • Over-the-counter medicines
  • Medical devices
  • Recreational products 
  • Airbags, seatbelts, and vehicle safety equipment
  • Children’s toys, clothing, and products
  • Household appliances
  • Work equipment
  • Power tools
  • Sporting and fitness equipment
  • Electrical appliances
  • Vehicle parts
  • Household cleaners
  • ATVs and recreational vehicles
  • Batteries and chargers
  • Pesticides
  • Cosmetics and personal care items
  • Sunscreen

Any product that suffers from a defect has the potential to cause an injury.

How Long Do I Have To File a Product Liability Lawsuit if I Was Injured Due to a Defective Product in Georgia?

Under Georgia law, the statute of limitations in most personal injury cases is only two years. The two-year clock starts to run on the date you were injured. In cases involving illnesses or injuries that develop over time, the clock generally starts to run on the date you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the harm.

Exceptions to the rule do exist for some cases. We highly recommend contacting a lawyer who can protect you soon after suffering the injury.

Contact a Columbus Product Liability Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation

If you or a family member were hurt because of a dangerous consumer product, we’re here to help you understand your legal options. Contact the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm today to speak with an experienced Columbus product liability lawyer. Your initial consultation is always free of charge.

Our personal injury law firm in Columbus, GA also provides: