When we purchase or use a product, whatever the type of product, we expect certain standards. Most of us are aware that products should meet certain standards before they are allowed to be sold to the public. Indeed businesses making products for consumers must adhere and comply with product safety laws and regulations.
It could be said that the biggest burden or responsibility lies on the producers or manufacturers of a product. Although the product may be sold by a shop it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to comply with product safety laws. If something is wrong with the product and injury is caused as a result, any claim is likely to be directly against the manufacturer. It should be noted that shops and distributors do also have legal responsibilities.
Products sold to consumers must be safe. This may appear obvious but it imposes a burden on a manufacturer. It means that consumers should be made aware of potential risks. In today’s market we see age ratings on products and notes that products contain small parts and are therefore not suitable for children. The most at risk areas include toys, foods and medicines. We have already provided an example in terms of toys. In terms of foods people have nut allergies and of course many other allergies. This means that although the food is safe for most of us, if consumed by a person who has an allergy, it could lead to harm. The packaging must clearly state that it is not suitable for persons who have a nut allergy etc.
A failure to do this could be catastrophic as many people may think that the food is safe for them when in fact it is not. A mistake of this magnitude could lead to many claims for compensation and could cost a manufacturer thousands of pounds. It is easy to see how one simple error or omission could lead to a great number of people sustaining harm. Products are often manufactured and distributed in bulk. If a product is found to be faulty (whether it be the product, the packaging etc) and it is needed to be recalled, this again could cost the manufacturer thousands of pounds.
You may think this does not happen often. However I have seen product recall notices fairly often in shop windows. If you have sustained injury or harm as a result of a defective product, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Here at The Injury Lawyers we can offer 100% compensation for product liability claims in most instances. Due to changes in the way fees are recovered in personal injury claims, it is no longer the case that you will always receive 100% compensation with most other law firms. This is because fees are not entirely recoverable from the other side. Do not hesitate to give us a call to discuss a potential claim.