Faulty products

A faulty or defective product can result in a wide range of injuries. We place our trust in the manufacturers and suppliers of various products and expect them to adhere to a duty of care.

But if this fails then your health and safety is at risk.

Examples of faulty products

This encompasses a wide range of products and includes:

• Damaged or faulty furniture
• Damaged or faulty electrical goods
• Faulty vehicles, e.g. car
• Contaminated food
• Medicines with serious side effects, e.g. thalidomide
• Contaminated blood during a transfusion
• Faulty contraception
• Defective medical devices, e.g. pacemaker

Food is classed as a product and can be the cause of as much if not more misery than a physical device. There have been reported outbreaks of food poisoning due to contaminated food which has affected a large group of people. In most cases, this illness clears up after a couple of days but there are people who suffer complications as a result of this. These complications can be serious even life threatening.

A consequence of this is being left with a chronic disease or condition which requires medical treatment on a regular basis. It leaves the affected person with permanent health problems which then affects their quality of life.

A faulty product can result in physical, psychological or emotional injuries which can be permanent. There is the distress caused by the injury itself but this also extends to the victim’s family and friends.

Four types of defective product claim

It is important to understand that there is more than one type of faulty or defective product claim.

These include:

• Failure to recall a defective product
• Failure to display a warning on the product or make the customer aware of this.
• Damage to the product during manufacture
• Poor design

Think about any of these when considering a claim for product liability.

Impact of an injury caused by a defective product

If you suffer an injury or serious illness due to a defective product then this will impact upon your day to day living. How? There is a good chance that you will have to take time off work as a result of your injury which means a loss of earnings and pension rights. A severe injury can result in a long term disability which may result in you having to change jobs or give up work altogether.

You may have to undergo specialist treatment such as physiotherapy which can be costly. If you require hospital treatment on a regular basis then factor in the cost of these trips. Taxi fares are expensive as are car parking fees.

If you have become ill or injured due to a faulty product then you may be able to claim compensation.

Making a claim for compensation for injuries caused by faulty products

If you have sustained an injury or illness as a result of a faulty product then you may be able to claim compensation for this. This is known as ‘product liability compensation’.

Find a personal injury lawyer, solicitor or claims management firm who have knowledge and expertise in this area. They will be able to advise you about the process of making a claim and the likely outcome.

Product liability claims can be complex affairs so ensure that you find someone who has in-depth knowledge of the law relating to this.

If you suffer an injury or illness as a result of a defective product then the consequences can be drastic. It can impact upon your mental and emotional well being and can even impact upon your family as well.

If your injury causes you to take time away from work then this results in a loss of earnings, your pension rights and a drop in you and your family’s income.

In some cases this may lead to financial hardship.

If your claim is successful then the payout will cover these costs and enable you to put this incident behind you.

The claims process is discussed in detail in this guide. Visit our making a claim for compensation section for further information.

Time limit for claiming compensation for injuries caused by a faulty product

There are strict deadlines in regard to personal injury claims. These are usually set at 3 years from the date of the original accident or illness. But, this varies in claims which involve a faulty product.

Your personal injury lawyer or solicitor will be able to advise you about this.