Houston Product Liability Attorneys

Talk to an Experienced Houston Product Liability Lawyer

What is a product liability lawsuit? It’s a legal claim for financial compensation brought by people who have been injured by defective consumer products. As consumers, we buy products for virtually all areas of our lives, from the cars we drive, to the food we eat, to the toys our children play with. In cases involving accidents caused by distracted driving, it’s important to consult a distracted driving accident lawyer to help you navigate the legal complexities and seek the compensation you deserve.

We trust that the things we buy and use are safe, or else they wouldn’t be sold to us. Unfortunately, that assumption isn’t always correct. There are millions of injuries related to defective products in the country every year, and thousands of deaths. If a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer produces or sells a dangerous product and a consumer suffers serious injuries because of that product, the consumer has the right to file a product liability lawsuit.

If you’ve been the victim of a defective product, Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law can help you explore your legal options. Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable Houston product liability lawyer by calling (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000. Our firm has over 35 years of experience helping people in defective product and other injury cases. We will work hard for you, too.

types of defects that lead to product injury lawsuits

From medical devices to goods on store shelves, nearly any product can be susceptible to a defect. Texas law recognizes three kinds of defects:

• Design defects: These defects occur when a flaw in the initial design of a product, such as a missing safety latch or handle, causes injury.
• Manufacturing defects: Poor product construction, due to a factory’s assembly process or a component failure, may lead to injury.
• Improper labeling or inadequate instructions: Manufacturers must provide you with clear warning labels and directions to help ensure safe and proper use of their products.

Because a single product may be designed, produced, and sold by different companies, it may not be clear who is responsible for a product’s defect. Our experienced product liability lawyers in Houston, Texas, have the legal resources to investigate the details of your injury, so the proper parties can be held accountable. Once we identify who is responsible, we will work hard toward getting you fair compensation.

Call us at (713) 973-8888 to arrange a free consultation about your product liability case.

how much compensation could I get in a product liability lawsuit?

How much you could get depends on the seriousness of your injuries, the degree of negligence involved, and other factors. Product liability settlements and awards can range from the thousand into the millions of dollars, depending on all the facts involved. Once one of our product liability lawyers learns all the details of your case, they can advise you about a possible value range for your claim.

damages in product liability injury cases

Compensation in product liability cases is figured out based on damages. Damages are the losses that people suffer when they are injured by a product. Here are some examples of types of damages that may be asked for in product liability cases:

• Medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital stays, physical therapy, prescription drugs, and transportation to and from medical appointments
• Lost income, including future lost earning capacity, if you can no longer work or cannot earn at the same income level
• Pain and suffering for ongoing physical pain, emotional trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and other possible effects of injuries
• Property damage you might have incurred in using the defective product
• The cost of the product itself.

damages in consumer product wrongful death claims

If your spouse, parent, or child died due to a defective product, you may be able to get compensation through a wrongful death claim with the assistance of an experienced wrongful death lawyer. Damages that may be available in a wrongful death lawsuit include:

• Lost wages and earning capacity
• Lost inheritance
• Lost care, support, and counsel
• Lost love and companionship
• Pain and suffering for emotional anguish from the loss
• Medical expenses incurred before death
• Funeral and burial costs.

In both product injury and wrongful death claims, punitive damages may be awarded in cases of gross negligence. These damages are intended to punish negligent parties.

product liability lawyers fight to get the best possible recoveries

At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we know that product liability claims are ultimately about fairness. We fight to ensure that our clients get the best possible recovery under the circumstances. We stand up to manufacturers, distributors/wholesalers, and sellers/retailers of these products. We deal firmly with insurance companies to get our clients the compensation they deserve.

how will your Houston product liability lawyer handle my case?

After meeting with you and learning about your injuries and situation, our workers compensation lawyer will carefully investigate all the evidence involved to prove liability. We’ll file all the paperwork needed to bring a legal claim against the product manufacturer or other at-fault party. We will work to negotiate a fair settlement offer that covers your damages with the at-fault party or parties, if more than one company is found to be liable.

In many cases, companies settle because going to trial is too costly and takes too much time. Our product liability lawyers always prepare as if we are going to trial, which puts at-fault parties on notice that we aren’t afraid to take a case all the way. This preparation can help encourage a settlement offer. However, sometimes at-fault parties deny responsibility and won’t negotiate, or they make low-ball settlement offers. If this happens in your case, we’ll advise you about taking your case to trial to be decided by a judge or jury. When we go to trial, we’ll stand up for your interests throughout every step in the legal proceedings.

what does product liability mean in legal terms?

Product liability describes the burden of responsibility carried by the makers and sellers of goods. It’s important to point out that product liability doesn’t only apply to products that we walk into a store and buy ourselves or order over the internet. Product liability law also concerns medical devices that are implanted by doctors or that are used on people during medical treatments. A couple of specific medical devices that have been the subject of claims in recent years are IVC filters and hernia mesh. These are just two examples among many others.

Product liability claims, whether they are related to items we use in our everyday lives or concern medical devices, are extremely important because they ensure that an injured person doesn’t have to pay the costs resulting from the negligence of the companies putting the product into the marketplace. Equally significant is the fact that product liability lawsuits can help bring awareness to the dangers of products and prevent them from harming others in the future.

Product liability law can be complex. As experienced attorneys who have handled many product injury cases, we understand how to take on companies that manufacture dangerous products. A Houston product liability lawyer from our firm will carefully investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury. We’ll determine the nature of the defect, who can be held liable, and how much you should be entitled to in compensation.

We offer free consultations, and you are under no obligation to move forward with a claim if you don’t wish to do so. Contact our defective product attorneys today to get started by calling (713) 973-8888.

who can be held responsible in a product injury lawsuit?

our attorneys know how to determine liability in these complex cases

Product manufacturers are most often held responsible for injuries. But because a single product (and its components) may be designed, produced, and sold by different companies, it’s not always clear where the defect originated. However, every company involved in making a product has the responsibility of designing and manufacturing them with consumer safety in mind. They should use safe components and make sure that all their products are labeled properly. What they should do and what they actually do can sometimes be two different things.

Proving responsibility for injuries in product liability cases is not always easy. In addition to showing that a product was defective, it must also be proven that the defect in the product caused the injury. There are common defenses that manufacturers and suppliers of products use to try to get out of taking responsibility. They may claim that it was the person’s improper use of the product, in a way the maker could not foresee, or alteration of the product that caused the injuries. Our skilled product liability lawyers understand the defenses companies try to use to get out of taking responsibility. We conduct thorough investigations into cases with the help of experts to determine who was at fault for injuries.

To learn who may be liable in your case, speak to an experienced Houston product liability attorney about the circumstances of your injuries. We offer free consultations and get paid only if you have a successful recovery. Call us now at (713) 973-8888 or 1 (800) 444-5000.

product-related injuries are far too common

There are close to 40 million injuries related to consumer products every year in the United States, and more than 35,000 deaths. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds people that these injuries and deaths are related to and not necessarily caused by consumer goods, and that distinction is important. However, the statistics still reveal that the products we buy can – and do – cause an extraordinary amount of harm.

examples of product liability cases

Any defective product that causes someone harm could be the basis of a product liability claim. There is a long list of examples, but following are some of the most common ways people suffer product-related injuries:

• Defective medical devices – Because patients are dependent on medical devices to sustain or improve their health, it’s no surprise that when these devices fail the consequences can be devastating. Our firm, comprised of experienced defective medical device lawyers, deals extensively with faulty medical devices, including knee and hip replacements, surgical mesh, IVC filters, and pacemakers, to name just a few examples.
• Defective drugs and medicines – Just like defective medical devices, the drugs consumers take can fail or be contaminated. Statistics show that 20% of new drugs sold to consumers will be recalled or will need to be given an additional safety warning. Some of these products might be purchased as prescription drugs, such as Topamax, while others are available to the public as over-the-counter medications.
• Defective automobiles and auto parts – Some of the most highly publicized consumer product hazards center around vehicle parts. Defective airbags, ignitions, and tires have all made headlines for the potential dangers they cause motorists. The number of safety-related recalls in the automobile industry has soared over recent years.
• Defective children’s products – Several of the products we buy for our children could pose a threat to their health. For example, defective child safety seats are frequently subject to recalls. Defective toys can present unexpected choking hazards or be prone to explosion if they are powered by a faulty battery.
• Improper labeling – Though improper labeling might not sound dangerous, it’s actually one of the biggest threats a product can pose to users. If a manufacturer fails to notify consumers of how a product should be used, cared for, and stored, an otherwise safe product could become deadly.

These are just a few of the most common types of faulty products, but the list is incredibly long. Common household products like cleaning agents or herbicides used in our gardens carry the potential to cause cancers and other potentially fatal conditions if they are made with dangerous chemicals or are improperly labeled.

reach out to our experienced attorneys for your product liability case

Do you know why a product caused you harm? Don’t worry… You don’t need to know all the details of product liability law to get started on your legal claim. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we do all the work toward getting you compensation from the at-fault party.

Give us a call at (713) 973-8888, or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation with our experienced product liability lawyers.

types of serious injuries caused by defective products

Defective products can cause a wide variety of serious injuries. There are millions of different products in the world and numerous ways that they can cause harm if they are faulty. Here is a sampling of the types of severe injuries that can be caused by dangerous products:

• Burns and scalding
• Electric shock injuries
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal injuries
• Food poisoning
• Food-borne illnesses
• Soft-tissue damage
• Organ damage.

Sadly, defective products don’t only cause serious injuries — they can also cause fatalities:

• Car parts such as steering systems or brakes can fail, causing accidents that kill vehicle occupants.
• Small parts that break off of defective toys can choke small children who put the pieces in their mouths.
• Pacemaker batteries that fail without warning can cause life-threatening consequences.

These are just a few examples. When products malfunction, there’s always a possibility of injuries or worse. It shouldn’t be that way—manufacturers must be held accountable for the defective products they produce.

recalls and consumer safety

One of the most important safeguards against consumer product-related injuries is the use of recalls. Recalls can be issued by the government (the Food & Drug Administration, commonly referred to as the “FDA”), by the CPSC, or by the company that sold, distributed, or manufactured a product. It is important for consumers to be aware of safety-related recalls, but it is often the case that companies do a poor job of alerting buyers about these recalls.

Unfortunately, it is also true that recalls are sometimes issued only after serious injuries have been suffered and several complaints have been filed. That’s why it’s important for people to seek legal help when they’ve been hurt by a defective product.

If you’ve been hurt by a defective product, you could be entitled to compensation for your damages. Your claim could also help alert other consumers about the dangers posed by a faulty product.

get help from our houston product liability lawyer today

Texas law limits how long you have to file a product injury lawsuit. Generally, you must bring your product liability case no later than two years from the date of your injury or, in most instances, your lawsuit will not be considered. In some cases, you may bring a suit from the date that you discovered an injury that occurred earlier.

***For the specific statute of limitations and other deadlines that apply to your claim, you should speak directly with an attorney.***

If you’ve been injured by a defective product, it’s important to talk to a lawyer about your injuries as soon as possible. Our founder, former Texas judge Terry Bryant, has more than 40 years of experience protecting the rights of injured people. We want to help you, too.

To schedule a consultation with the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant, call us at (713) 973-8888, or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000, or fill out our online form. We provide free consultations and only get paid if you win your case.

Client Testimonial

”My experience with Terry Bryant’s firm has been great! Even during COVID, working from home, they continued working our case. Gregg and Will were good to walk me through all our options. I’m very appreciative of all the work done for my family.” – Jacy Rush (Google Review)