Kansas City Dangerous Product Lawyers

Filing a Product Liability Lawsuit in Missouri

When consumer products fail to work properly or pose an unreasonable risk of injury to the user, they are considered “defective.” Manufacturers and other entities can be held legally responsible for injuries, deaths, and financial loss resulting from dangerous or defective products.

At Potts Law Firm, we represent those who have been harmed by unreasonably unsafe consumer products, fighting for the fair compensation they deserve. Our Kansas City dangerous product lawyers strive to hold negligent manufacturers and other liable parties accountable, and we have a long track record of success. To date, our firm has secured over $1 billion in compensation for our clients.

Get in touch with us today at (816) 312-5125 or reach us online using our secure contact form. We offer free initial consultations to all new and prospective clients.

Can You Sue If You Are Injured by a Defective Product?

In short, yes, you can sue the manufacturer or another liable party if you are injured by a defective product. Additionally, if your loved one was killed by an unreasonably dangerous product, you could have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. It is important that you work with an attorney who has experience handling these types of cases, as there are several things you must prove in order to be successful in your defective product lawsuit.

To prove your claim, you must establish each of the following as true:

• You were injured (or your loved one was killed, if filing a wrongful death lawsuit)
• Your injury (or loved one’s death) led to measurable damages for which you can be compensated
• Your injury (or loved one’s death) was caused by a defective or unreasonably dangerous product
• The product in question had not been modified by anyone other than the manufacturer
• You (or your loved one) were not using the product in any other way than intended when the injury (or death) occurred
• The product was defective in some way

Note that you do not necessarily have to prove that the manufacturer (or another party) knew about the defect or that the product had been recalled in order to have a successful case. Many product liability claims are brought on the legal principle of strict liability. Under this principle, manufacturers and others responsible for creating and distributing consumer products are generally considered always liable for injuries, deaths, and financial harm caused by those products when those products are defective.

When Is a Product Considered “Defective?”

Generally speaking, a product is considered “defective” when it meets at least one of the following criteria:

• It does not work as intended
• It poses an unreasonable risk of injury or harm to the user
• It is advertised/marketed for some use for which it has not been adequately tested

A product can be dangerous without necessarily being defective. For example, a motor vehicle is technically “dangerous,” as it has the capacity to cause serious injury or death. However, vehicles are not considered “defective” unless they contain some flaw that makes them unreasonably unsafe.

The Three Types of Product Defects

Although a product can contain any number of defects, there are three main types of product defects.

These include:

• Design defects, in which a product lacks a reasonably safe design, thereby rendering the product inherently unsafe for normal consumer use
• Manufacturing defects, in which the product is properly designed but incorrectly assembled or manufactured, making it unreasonably unsafe
• Labeling or marketing defects, in which a product is properly designed and produced, but incorrectly marketed or advertised (e.g., missing safety instructions, warnings, etc.)

At Potts Law Firm, we conduct exhaustive investigations into our clients’ claims to determine which type of defect a product contained. By identifying the type of defect the product had, we are able to determine who is liable for our client’s damages.

When to Hire a Kansas City Defective Product Attorney

The sooner you act, the better. In Missouri, there is a five-year statute of limitations on most product liability claims. This means that after five years have passed, you are barred from filing a lawsuit. However, it is important that you seek legal counsel right away, as critical evidence can be lost over time.

At Potts Law Firm, we act quickly when it comes to initiating legal action and seeking maximum compensation for our clients. Our Kansas City product liability lawyers work diligently to prepare powerful cases against large product manufacturers and other entities. We are skilled litigators, adept at negotiating favorable settlements on behalf of the injured. However, whenever necessary, we are fully prepared and willing to go to trial.

Call us today at (816) 312-5125 or contact us online for a free consultation. Hablamos español.