Product Safety in Today’s World

Colburn Law

Posted in Product Liability,Safety Tips on January 10, 2023

Product safety in today’s world is a complex and time-consuming task. Research, adherence to regulatory guidelines, product testing, and many other tasks are usually involved in the manufacturing process. 

When a manufacturer takes a product to market, this work helps ensure that the item is safe to use. At the very least, these companies should invest in this effort. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If you were injured by a defective product, you have the right to pursue a lawsuit against the manufacturer and, in some cases, the retailer and distributor.

How Do Manufacturers Ensure Product Safety?

Product safety is paramount for manufacturers. Any defects could significantly harm a company’s reputation, open it up to liability, and result in consequences like fines and recall requests. As such, manufacturers engage in several tasks to ensure product safety.

These processes include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Regulatory Compliance: Multiple laws in place are designed to protect consumers from harm. These regulations can vary based on industry and product type. Many companies have compliance departments whose job is to ensure that all manufacturing processes meet these critical standards.
• Product Safety Testing: Manufacturers must test, inspect, and certify their products to ensure that they are in line with safety standards and regulations. These tests can help significantly reduce the risk of injuries or deaths associated with a product.
• Research and Clinical Trials: Manufacturers often perform significant research involving their products to determine their risks and benefits. For products like medications, companies must also perform clinical trials to study the efficacy of the drugs and document any dangers or side effects.
• Clear Warnings and Instructions: To protect consumers from foreseeable injuries, manufacturers are required to include adequate warnings and instructions on their products. For example, toys with small parts must include a label warning that they are not suitable for children under a certain age.

What Happens If a Product Causes Injury?

If a product harms a consumer, the manufacturer is strictly liable if the injury occurred due to a manufacturing, design, or marketing defect. The company may also be liable if it failed to include adequate warnings or instructions that could have prevented the injury. Depending on the situation, the manufacturer may also need to pull the product from the market and issue a public statement to protect its customers.

The victim of a defective product would have the right to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. This legal claim allows the victim to recover financial compensation related to any damages or losses that he or she suffered as a result of the product.

To recover a settlement, the victim will need to prove that the following facts are true:

• The product was defective.
• The victim was injured or suffered losses.
• The product defect caused the victim’s injury.
• The victim was using the product as the manufacturer intended.

Contact a Washington Product Liability Attorney

If you were injured by a defective product, you have the right to pursue a lawsuit against the manufacturer—especially if the company failed to take the steps necessary to ensure product safety. 

In these situations, a Washington product liability lawyer can help you recover the settlement that you deserve. Contact an attorney as soon as possible following your injury to discuss your next steps and initiate the product investigation.