Product Liability Claim Solicitors
Though we all buy things in good faith, taking as read that our purchases will be safe and fit for sale, unfortunately this is not always the case. The fact is people from every walk of life are frequently harmed by defective or downright dangerous goods. If you are one of the unlucky ones who has been injured or adversely effected by something you have purchased you may be able to make a product liability compensation claim.
To find out how much you could claim for your liable product injury, visit our compensation calculator page for injuries relating to specific body parts. We provide a free claim assessment and no win, no fee* compensation options for all our clients. Call us on 01418 465 957 to speak to an expert solicitor.
What Can You Claim Product Liability Compensation For?
Typical product liability claims could involve furniture that breaks within days or weeks of purchase, faulty glass bottles that have exploded in your hands or electrical appliances that have caught fire and burnt you. Food not fit for sale can also be subject to a product liability claim and if you have eaten something that has caused you to become ill you may be due compensation as per any other product purchased.
Defective medicine or medical equipment is also a type of product liability. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is a government body which tests and inspects all medicines and medical devices to confirm that they work and are acceptably safe for purpose.
Have You Suffered An Injury From A Product Defect?
If you feel you may have reason to make a product liability claim you should be aware that there is a time bar on taking a case forward. In the UK, there is a standard limit of three years in which a personal injury claim for compensation must be lodged. If legal proceedings are not started in court within this time then the case becomes time-barred, or statute barred as it is also known.
The three year deadline begins either from the date of the accident or from the date that you knew that your injury was linked to the original accident or exposure (whichever is latest). This is called the date of knowledge and it has a very important role to play – especially in the case of say, a medical claim where symptoms or indeed an illness does not show up until a point long after initial exposure to the faulty product.
An illness such as asbestosis or issues relating to a long-term exposure to corrosive chemicals, or dangerous prescription medicines may take many years to be diagnosed by a medical expert, for example. In these cases ‘the date of knowledge’ is of crucial legal assistance, allowing a victim to seek fair and rightful redress despite the passing of time, which often stretches back many years.
According to the UK Government’s Department for Business and Skills, there is a legal obligation to ensure that products sold to consumers must be safe. The main responsibility falls to producers, manufacturers and importers to ensure that products are safe by:
- Warning consumers about potential risks.
- Providing easy to understand information to help consumers understand and evaluate the risks associated with using a particular product.
- Monitoring the safety of products that are being sold to consumers.
- Taking appropriate action if a safety problem is found.
For example toys, fireworks, cosmetic products, food and medicines are examples of high-risk product categories where particular care should be taken in their use and sale. If you are involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of goods, you should be aware of the specific regulations which apply to such products and also of your legal responsibilities.
Those involved in the manufacture and sale of products have a legal obligations to inform you of any reasonable risks associated with their use. If this has not been done either in literature accompanying the harmful product or at point of sale this may greatly aid your chances of making a successful claim.
What To Do If You Have Been Injured By A Faulty Product
In the first instance, you should report the dangerous product accident to the person who sold the product to you as soon as you can. If possible, make a note of your accident in the accident book at their premises if possible or lodge some kind of written proof that you have logged your issue with the retailer (sent with a proof of postage for example or an email where the date and time are clearly on the message).
If there were any witnesses to the accident or injury take their names and addresses so we can contact them to verify your version of events. If you can, try and take some photographs of the faulty product itself, showing any faults, and retain them for your records. If you have it you should also keep the original purchase receipt for the dangerous product safe as it may be required later as a proof of purchase.
If you need to claim additional expenses accruing from your injury such as prescription or medical costs and any travelling expenses incurred as part of your faulty product injury claim, you need to keep all relevant receipts as evidence of your outlay.
Make A Product Liability Claim Today With Our Solicitors
If you have been injured by a faulty product, our trusted no win no fee* lawyers can help you claim compensation. Call us on 01418 465 957. You can also make an online enquiry by completing our claim form.