Products Liability

Products that are defectively designed or manufactured cause large numbers injuries and deaths each year.  If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, you can recover both economic and non-economic damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and any pain and suffering you suffered as a result of the injury.  Additionally, products liability cases can benefit the public by resulting in safer products and better warning labels.  Products liability includes both typical commercial products and medical devices. 

There are three main types of product defects. 

• Design defect: A product that has a design defect is defective before it is ever manufactured.  The product's design itself is fundamentally flawed, which means every single product manufactured according to this design will be similarly defective.   
• Manufacturing defect: If something happens during the manufacturing process whereby only one or a few products that have a particular design are defective, the product has a manufacturing defect.  Causes of manufacturing defects include faulty manufacturing equipment, the manufacturer failing to inspect the finished product, or the manufacturer using substandard materials.
• Defective warnings: Products that are safe in both design and manufacture must still adequately and clearly warn users of reasonably foreseeable hazards.  A product's manufacturer can be held liable for any injuries or damages that result from vague or incomplete warnings or instructions.  In some cases, a manager or manufacturer can even be held liable for failing to take steps to correct or add proper warnings to products already in the marketplace.   

Defective Medical Devices

Defective medical devices in particular can cause serious injuries and in some cases death.  These include defective heart defibrillators, hip implants, and inadequate warnings on prescription medication.  These types of products liability cases can be especially complex because of the scientific information and research that must be examined.  The attorneys at Cervantes & Associates have broad experience representing those who have suffered injuries because of defective medical devices and pharmaceutical products. 

Seek Experienced Legal Counsel

Cases involving defective products, especially defective medical products, are highly complex and time-consuming.  Additionally, they often require expert investigation and technical analysis.  In products liability matters, it is important to hire an attorney who has experience litigating these cases and is dedicated to working tirelessly to build your case.  Cervantes & Associates has the experience to litigate all types of products liability cases throughout Missouri and Illinois, no matter how complex. In fact, the firm worked on the first million dollar products liability case in Missouri.  If you or a loved one has suffered an injury because of a defective product, contact Cervantes & Associates today for a free initial consultation.