Products Liability

The Northern California Law Offices of Mark A. Doughty pursues products liability claims on behalf of injured plaintiffs. Our personal injury lawyers can meet clients in offices in Sacramento, Lincoln, and Yuba City plus home & hospital visits when needed. When a dangerous product injures or causes the death of a person, the injured person or family of the deceased may pursue a claim of products liability.

Products liability law holds the manufacturer liable for producing a defective product which injures another when used for its intended purpose or a reasonably foreseeable purpose. It is not necessary for the injured plaintiff to prove that the manufacturer was negligent or at fault in producing the product. The fact that a defective product was placed in the stream of commerce and wound up injuring the consumer is enough to hold the manufacturer liable and raises injury litigation in Sacramento. Likewise, other entities in the stream of commerce, such as distributers, wholesalers, and retailers, may also be liable for their part in placing a defective product in the hands of the consumer.

Read further to discover how Products liability can occur as a result of manufacturing defects and negligence.

A problem in the manufacturing process may cause one or more units of a product to be defective. For instance, a component part may be missing or malfunctioning, or there could be a problem in the assembly machinery. Whether this problem causes one product to be defective, or thousands before the problem is detected and resolved, the manufacturer is liable for all injuries caused.

A product may be considered defective when the design itself creates an unreasonable risk of harm, even if the product was manufactured exactly as intended. When a design defect exists, every unit produced may contain the same safety hazard.

Examples of defectively designed products may include:

• Vehicles with a tendency to roll over during normal operation
• Household appliances that overheat or create fire hazards
• Children’s products that create choking or entrapment risks
• Tools or equipment designed without proper safety guards
• Consumer products that present avoidable burn or shock risks



Even when a defective product does not cause injury in every instance, the presence of an unsafe design may expose consumers to unnecessary danger. Manufacturers are expected to evaluate foreseeable risks and implement safer alternative designs when reasonably possible.

Some products involve inherent risks that require proper warnings and instructions in order to be used safely. A product may be considered defective when it lacks clear safety guidance or fails to adequately inform users of potential hazards.

Examples of inadequate warnings or instructions include:

• Failure to warn of flammability or fire risk
• Missing instructions regarding proper ventilation when using chemicals
• Lack of guidance about protective equipment or safe handling procedures
• Insufficient warnings regarding toxic fumes or hazardous exposure
• Unclear instructions regarding safe operation of machinery or power tools

Safety warnings should be visible, understandable, and sufficient to allow consumers to avoid unnecessary risk. When a product fails to provide adequate warnings, the manufacturer may be held responsible for resulting injuries.

Product liability claims may be pursued under several legal theories, depending on the circumstances of the injury. These may include:

Strict liability, where a manufacturer may be responsible even without proof of negligence

Negligence, when a company fails to exercise reasonable care in design or production

Breach of warranty, when a product fails to perform as represented or promised

Because defective products are often distributed widely, multiple consumers may be affected by the same defect. In some situations, claims may be pursued individually or as part of broader litigation involving similarly affected consumers.

Attorney Mark A. Doughty has over 40 years of experience representing individuals injured by unsafe products. The Law Offices of Mark A. Doughty works to hold manufacturers, distributors, and other responsible parties accountable when defective products cause harm.

Our firm helps clients pursue compensation for:

• Medical expenses and ongoing care
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Property damage caused by defective products
  

TESTIMONIALS

If you have been injured in an automobile accident, see our page on Accident Victim Tips. To speak with our Lincoln car accident lawyers regarding a potential claim or Lincoln automobile accident lawsuit, contact the Law Offices of Mark A. Doughty for a free consultation.