- Business owners rely on products daily, but defective items can lead to costly disruptions, injuries, and workplace safety risks.
Business owners rely on a wide variety of products to keep their companies running smoothly, from office supplies to specialty equipment. Small businesses alone, on average, spend $77 to $92 a month on office supplies alone, showing just how important these products are to everyday operations. But when products do fail, they can bring unintended hazards, resulting in malfunctions, money loss, or even harm. Whether it’s faulty equipment, hazardous office equipment, or shoddily constructed tools, defective products pose a serious risk to business continuity and worker safety.
The threat of defective products extends beyond in-convenience—defective products can pose a direct threat to business longevity and worker health. The CDC has some sobering statistics on this. It reports that two-thirds of new small businesses survive two years, 44% make it to four years, and data show that five-year-old companies have less than half the rate of annual workplace injury of those that are shutting down in two.
Over 12.7 million people were treated in emergency rooms in 2023 for injuries caused by consumer products, many of whom were employees and entrepreneurs of small businesses. Keeping product quality and safety up to standard for products used in business processes is not just a cost concern—it is key to long-term success and worker safety.
We live in a world where convenience is everything.
Every day, we use products without a second thought – our phones, appliances, cars, and even the food we eat. We trust these items to be designed and tested for safety.
But what happens when something goes wrong? When a phone battery overheats and explodes, a child’s toy has toxic chemicals, or a car’s airbags fail during an accident?
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Defective products aren’t just inconvenient. They are also dangerous.
So, what can you do if you or a loved one is injured by a defective product? Let’s find out.
Types of Defective Products and Common Injuries
Injuries from defective products happen more often than you’d think. Take the US, for example, where thousands of product recalls happen every year. These products cover everything from electronics to medications.
Some cases even make headlines—like a major car manufacturer recalling vehicles due to safety concerns—but many go unnoticed.
Unfortunately, when a product fails, it can lead to serious injuries, expensive medical bills, and even long-term disabilities.
Here are some of the most common types of defective products and the dangers they pose:
Consumer Electronics
We rely on electronic devices more than ever. But we don’t realize how many of them come with hidden risks.
Some defects in these devices include:
- Faulty wiring
- Overheating batteries
- Poor design
And the consequences?
- Electrical shocks
- Fires
- Explosions
Remember the wave of smartphone recalls due to batteries catching fire? That’s just one example of how dangerous a poorly made product can be.
Auto Defects
Cars are complex machines, and even the smallest mistake can take a life.
Some dangerous but common defects in cars are:
- Defective brakes
- Malfunctioning airbags
- Faulty seat belts
These flaws can turn a minor accident into a fatal one.
Many auto manufacturers have faced lawsuits over safety failures that led to injuries and even deaths.
Toys and Children’s Products
Children’s products should be held to the highest safety standards, but they have also repeatedly been found to have defects.
Small detachable parts of toys can pose choking hazards. Some toys even contain harmful chemicals like lead.
Parents need to be extra cautious when purchasing toys for their children, even if they are from reputable brands.
Household Products
From cleaning supplies with wrong labels to tools with design flaws, everyday household products can cause burns, poisoning, and other severe injuries.
Even furniture can be dangerous. Toppling dressers, in particular, have resulted in a lot of child fatalities.
Defective Medications
Prescription medications are supposed to help you heal from injuries, but when they’re contaminated or not labeled properly, they can end up causing you more health complications.
The same goes for medical devices like pacemakers, surgical impacts, and insulin pumps. If they fail, the results can be catastrophic.
Who Is Liable for Defective Product Injuries?
If a defective product ends up causing harm, finding out who is responsible isn’t always easy.
Here’s a breakdown of potential liability:
Manufacturers
If the defective product was inherently unsafe due to production errors, the manufacturer is usually at fault.
This includes:
- Contamination in food and medicine.
- Improper assembly of electronics.
- Design failures in vehicles.
Retailers and Distributors
Even if they didn’t make the product themselves, businesses that sell faulty items can also be held responsible.
If a retailer knowingly sold a defective product to you that resulted in an injury, they may be liable for the damages.
Designers and Engineers
Some defects come from flaws in design rather than a production error.
If a product is dangerous even when used correctly, the engineers or designers who approved it might be at fault.
Product liability laws are made to protect customers and to ensure that companies are held accountable when their products cause harm. But filing a claim may require you to seek legal help.
What to Do If You’re Injured by a Defective Product
If a defective product results in an injury to you or someone you know, what you do next is crucial.
Taking the right steps can help you protect your health and your legal rights.
Follow these steps:
- Seek medical help immediately. Even if your injury seems minor, get checked by a doctor. Some injuries, like internal bleeding and chemical exposure, do not show symptoms right away.
- Preserve the product and its packaging. One of the biggest mistakes victims make is throwing away the defective product. Make sure you keep it as evidence, along with any packaging, receipts, and instruction manuals.
- Document everything. Take photos of the product, your injuries, and even the place where it happened. Also, keep a record of your medical records and prescriptions.
- Report the issue. You can file a complaint with consumer safety organizations like the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Your report could help save others from getting hurt.
- Talk to a lawyer. Product liability cases can get complicated, especially if you’re going up against a large corporation. That’s where an experienced attorney comes in.
Before you take any legal action, make sure your lawyer is familiar with the local laws and legal processes. For example, if you’re in Albany, working with Albany personal injury lawyers will help you understand your rights and pursue compensation.
A legal expert will also help you determine if you’re eligible for a settlement or if a lawsuit is necessary.
Compensation for Victims
If your injury case is entitled to compensation, the amount you receive will depend on factors like the severity of your injury, medical costs, and lost income.
Here’s what you may be able to recover:
- Medical expenses like hospital bills, medication, therapy, and long-term care.
- Compensation for the work you missed and for reduced earning capacity.
- Financial help for physical pain, emotional distress, and trauma.
- Payment for punitive damages and additional fines, if the company was grossly negligent.
Some cases involve class action lawsuits, where multiple victims file claims against a company. Others are individual claims, where the victim seeks personal compensation.
Either way, having legal representation is essential.
Stay Informed and Protect Your Rights
We often assume that the products we use daily are safe. However, something as simple as a mislabeled medication or faulty wiring in an appliance can lead to severe consequences.
The good news? Consumers have rights, and companies can be held responsible when they fail to ensure safety. If you or someone you know has been injured by a defective product, don’t ignore it.
Your safety matters. Stay informed, be cautious, and don’t hesitate to take action when something goes wrong.
