A defective product can cause serious injuries in a matter of seconds. These claims may involve unsafe household items, defective tools, medical devices, children’s products, vehicle parts, appliances, electronics, machinery, or products with missing safety warnings. In New Jersey, a product liability lawyer can help determine whether the injury was caused by a defect and who may be legally responsible.
After a Serious Injury
You should consider contacting a lawyer soon after a product causes a significant injury. This is especially important if the injury required emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, missed work, or long-term treatment. Product liability cases often require technical investigation, expert review, and preservation of evidence.
Under the New Jersey Product Liability Act, a manufacturer or seller may be liable if the product was not reasonably fit, suitable, or safe because it had a manufacturing defect, a defective design, or inadequate warnings or instructions.
When the Product May Be Defective
A product may be defective in several ways. A manufacturing defect means something went wrong when the product was made. A design defect means the product’s design was unsafe even if it was manufactured correctly. A warning defect means the product did not include proper instructions or safety warnings.
Examples may include a power tool without proper guards, an appliance that catches fire, a tire that fails, a defective airbag, unsafe packaging, a dangerous medical device, or a product that lacks clear warnings about known risks.
Before You Throw the Product Away
One of the biggest mistakes after a product injury is throwing away the product, packaging, instructions, receipts, or broken parts. The product itself may be the most important evidence in the case. If it is repaired, discarded, returned to the store, or altered, it may become harder to prove what went wrong.
A lawyer can help preserve the product, document its condition, identify the model and serial number, and determine whether an expert should inspect it.
When the Company or Insurer Contacts You
Manufacturers, retailers, or insurance companies may contact an injured person quickly after an incident. They may ask for a statement, request the product back, or offer a small settlement. Before giving detailed statements or surrendering the product, it may be wise to get legal advice.
What seems like a routine request may later affect the claim. A lawyer can help protect the evidence and communicate with the company or insurer.
When Deadlines May Be an Issue
Product liability claims are subject to strict filing deadlines. In New Jersey, personal injury claims are generally governed by a two-year statute of limitations under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Waiting too long can make it harder to file a lawsuit, collect records, locate witnesses, and preserve the defective product.
Final Thoughts
You should contact a New Jersey product liability lawyer as soon as possible after a defective product causes a serious injury. Early legal help can preserve evidence, identify responsible parties, obtain expert review, and protect the claim from common defense arguments. In product cases, the sooner the investigation begins, the stronger the claim may be.