Lafayette Product Liability Lawyer

Lafayette Product Liability Attorney

If manufacturers cut corners, people get hurt. In Lafayette, product liability law holds them accountable. If a defective product causes serious harm, there’s a legal way to respond. A Lafayette product liability lawyer can give victims a way to hold manufacturers accountable.

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Blake Jones Law Firm, LLC is a skilled team based in New Orleans. Our firm has provided our clients with substantial results for their injuries. These include a $2.2 million verdict for asbestos exposure and over $1 million in multiple 18-wheeler injury claims. Our clients see us as being easy to work with because we help them gain peace of mind.

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What Is Product Liability?

Product liability is a form of law that covers injuries caused by dangerous products. To bring a claim, the injured person must show that the product had a defect.

They must show that the item caused the harm. The law does not punish every mistake. It only compensates for defects that make a product unreasonably dangerous.

Louisiana does not let people file these claims based on general carelessness. The rules are strict. The claim must fall within one of four types of legal defects. If the facts match, the claim can move forward in a Lafayette court.

Common Types of Product Defects

Products can break. Some break because of wear. Others broke because they were unsafe from the start. Louisiana law focuses on defects that existed when the product left the maker’s hands. The main defect types include:

• Design defect. This means that the entire product line has a flaw. The design itself creates a risk of harm. This type of case looks at whether a safer design existed but was not used. The safer design must have been practical to use at the time.
• Construction defect. Also called a manufacturing defect, this happens when a single product is made incorrectly. The problem happened while it was being built. Maybe the wrong part was used. It’s possible the item didn’t match the design. One bad product can still cause real damage.
• Failure to warn. Products that lack clear warnings can still be dangerous. Even if the design and build were correct, missing safety info can still cause harm. This often applies to potentially hazardous products like tools or chemicals.
• Breach of warranty. Makers or sellers often promise certain things about their products. If the product fails to meet that promise, it is considered a breach of warranty. These promises can come from any part of the product. It can also include advertisements. The person must have relied on the promise when using the item.

Defect types affect how the case gets built. Knowing the right type helps the legal team gather the right proof.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

There are many different people who can be held liable depending on the circumstances. Manufacturers are the companies that make the item. These are some of the most common parties that are held liable.

The law also applies to businesses that label products under their brand. Sometimes, more than one company helped build or sell the product. In those cases, each may share legal blame. The seller can also be named in a claim. This can happen if they change the product before selling it. Some claims include both the maker and the seller.

Determining who is responsible for the harm is important because they are the ones who could pay damages in a personal injury claim. In 2020, the median award for a personal injury claim was $125,366.

Types of Compensation

Product liability cases often result in serious injuries. This is shown in the awards for these types of claims. In 2020, the median jury award for a product liability personal injury claim was $3,908,111.

In a Lafayette product liability case, compensation can cover medical costs. If the injury stops someone from working, they can claim lost income, too. Some claims involve long-term injuries. These can lead to money for pain and future care.

Each case depends on what the injury changed in someone’s life. The law aims to make up for that loss.

FAQs

What Is the Product Liability Law in Louisiana?

The product liability law in Louisiana is called the Louisiana Products Liability Act (LPLA). It governs how product liability claims work. Under this law, a person hurt by a defective product can file a claim against the company that made or sold the item. The person has to show that the product has a defect and caused harm.

What Can You Get in a Product Liability Claim?

What you can get in a product liability claim includes compensation for injuries caused by a defective product. These injuries can come from items that were used anywhere, as long as they were used properly. The most common things people ask for in a claim are medical bills. They can also ask for missed wages if they had to take time off work.

What Qualifies as a Defective Product Under Louisiana Law?

A defective product under Louisiana law has to be dangerous based on the product itself. There are different types of product defects. A design defect means the whole product line is unsafe. A construction defect means a single item was made incorrectly. For any type of defect, the product had to have caused harm while being used as intended.

How Do You Prove a Product Liability Case?

To prove a product liability case, the victim first has to prove that the product was defective. Then, they must link that defect directly to the injury. It’s not enough to show that the product simply broke. The person must prove that the defect made the product unreasonably dangerous. The injury must have happened while using the product in a way the maker expected.

Real Results for Injured Consumers

In 2023, companies paid $4,444,481 in premiums for product liability insurance. There is support if a defective product causes injury. A legal claim can help rebuild what’s been lost. Schedule a consultation with Blake Jones Law Firm, LLC, to let an attorney take charge.