What to Do If Your Product Injured a Consumer
First things first: call a personal injury defense lawyer
As told to Amy White | Reviewed by Canaan Suitt, J.D. | Last updated on January 3, 2024 Featuring practical insights from contributing attorney Damian S. JacksonUse these links to jump to different sections:
- 1. Formulate a Legal Strategy
- 2. Preserve Records
- 3. Review Your Insurance Policy
- 4. Remind Employees of Company Policies
- 5. Don’t Make Any Statements
- Get Legal Help on Potential Product Liability Lawsuit
The first thing is: Exhale. The second thing is: Call legal counsel. Preserve all records that might be germane to the case—including any contracts, marketing and promotional materials, sales records, and product warnings.
After the initial shock, you might be in full panic mode. But you will need to answer the following questions:
- Have you ever been involved with litigation regarding this particular product before?
- What do you know about the injured consumer?
- How long has the product been on the market?
- Are there similar products in the marketplace—if yes, how unique is your product, and how do you know it was your product?
1. Formulate a Legal Strategy
Meet with your lawyer to formulate an overall litigation strategy if litigation is necessary.
2. Preserve Records
Additionally, records and contracts pertaining to suppliers of component parts that are part of the final product will also be useful.
3. Review Your Insurance Policy
Take the time to review your company’s insurance policy. Oftentimes, policies dictate that the carrier is to be contacted as soon as the company is made aware of a potential claim, not just an actual claim.
4. Remind Employees of Company Policies
This would be a good time to remind your employees of the general policy that they should not discuss company business with any reporters, and give direction on whom they should contact if anyone reaches out to them.
It is not necessary to give your employees the specifics of this potential claim—the last thing you’ll want is an employee being interviewed or making statements on social media.
5. Don’t Make Any Statements
Last, and most important, don’t make any statements. If the injured party contacts you, be empathetic and gather information, but do not claim or accept liability.
Get Legal Help on Potential Product Liability Lawsuit
There are different types of product liability cases involving defective products. Responsible parties could include manufacturers, distributors, and retailers/wholesalers. There are also different legal theories to prove manufacturing defects or marketing defects, including strict liability and negligence. If your company is facing a product liability claim, consult a product liability lawyer for legal advice. For more information on this area of law, see our overviews of personal injury and product liability law.
Damian Jackson is a product liability attorney with Reilly, McDevitt & Henrich in Philadelphia.
What do I do next?
Enter your location below to get connected with a qualified attorney today.Additional Products Liability articles
- What is Product Liability Law?
- Who Can I Sue for Defective Product Liability?
- How to Prove a Products Liability Claim
- What Homeowners Can Expect in a Product Defect Case
- Can I Sue for Gun Manufacturing Defects?
- Looking for Liability for Opioid Deaths
- An Overview on Medical Devices Law
- What to Do if You’re Injured by a Defective Product
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