What To Do If You Are Injured By a Defective Father’s Day Gift
Thinking about giving Dad a grill, power tool, or an appliance this Father’s Day? While these gifts can be thoughtful, it’s important to consider product safety. Popular Father’s Day gifts like the ones mentioned above are likely to fall under the category of unsafe or defective products. These products can cause injuries with long-lasting consequences. If you or a loved one were injured by a defective Father’s Day gift, a Kansas product liability lawyer can help you seek compensation for your injuries.
In this blog, our Kansas personal injury lawyers explain product liability and explain what to do if you’ve been injured by a defective Father’s Day gift.
What Is Product Liability?
Product liability is a legal term that refers to the responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, and sellers for injuries caused by defective products. Under product liability law, those injured by unsafe products, like a defective Father’s Day gift, can recover damages by filing a personal injury claim with the help of a Kansas product liability lawyer. Defective products can cause catastrophic injuries or even death. These injuries can have a profound impact on your life, both physically and financially.
There are three main types of defective products:
- Manufacturing defects: a type of defect that occurs during the manufacturing or production process of a product.
- Example: a car is manufactured with faulty brakes, causing the car to crash.
- Defective design: defects that occur when a product is designed in a way that makes it unsafe.
- Example: a bicycle with a design flaw that increases the risk of a bicycle accident.
- Defects in warning: this occurs when the manufacturer fails to warn consumers of potential risks or dangers.
- Example: electronics sold without burn or fire warnings.
Kansas Product Liability Laws
If you purchased a defective Father’s Day gift and suffered injuries, you have the legal right to file a personal injury claim. According to Kansas Revised Statute § 60-3302, to establish the liability of a seller, distributor, or manufacturer for your injuries, you must prove the following:
- The product must be deemed unreasonably dangerous.
- The defect in the product must be the direct cause of the injury, occurring while the product was being used as intended.
- The product must not have been modified or altered in its operation from the way it was originally sold.
In Kansas, if you have been injured by a product, you may be able to recover damages under the product liability laws mentioned above or under negligence law. To establish a negligence claim and recover damages, you must prove:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- The defendant breached that duty of care.
- The defendant’s breach of duty caused your injury.
- You suffered damages as a result of your injury.
Steps to Take After a Defective Father’s Day Gift Injury
No one wants to give a defective Father’s Day gift, especially one that causes injuries. If that does happen, here are the steps you need to take in order to gather evidence for a successful personal injury claim:
- Seek medical treatment: If injuries occurred as a result of the defective product, it is essential to seek medical treatment. Document your injuries and keep all records.
- Gather evidence: Keep the product in its current condition and gather any related documents, receipts, packaging, instructions, or photographs that can support your claim.
- Report the incident: To report the incident, first contact the manufacturer. Report the defect, explain the injury, and get a reference number for your complaint. After contacting the manufacturer, report the defective Father’s Day gift to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Reporting helps raise awareness of potential dangers and may lead to a recall of the product.
There is no way to fully avoid purchasing a defective product without prior knowledge. Here are some tips to avoid gift-related accidents in the future:
- Choose reputable brands: Opt for established companies with a history of safety.
- Research: Before purchasing a product, double check for recalls.
- Read reviews: Check online reviews to see if there are any common complaints about the product.
- Think about safety features: If you’re buying exercise equipment or power tools, prioritize features that promote safe usage.
Contact a Kansas Dangerous Products Lawyer After a Defective Father’s Day Gift Injury
We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Father’s Day. In the event that you end up with an injury caused by a defective Father’s Day gift, you deserve compensation and justice for your injuries. You can have peace of mind knowing that our team of personal injury attorneys will be there as your dedicated advocate, fighting for your rights at every stage of the process.
Patterson Legal Group has more than 75 years of combined experience successfully representing injury victims in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. We have a track record of winning superior settlements for our clients. Our firm offers free consultations and works on a “no win, no fee” basis, which means that you do not pay a dime unless money has been recovered on your behalf.
To get started on your free consultation, call us 24/7 at (888) 687-2400. You can also fill out this contact form or reach out via LiveChat.
