Ways to May Hold Manufacturers Responsible for Defective Products
If your incident took place in Washington, you must follow the WPLA regarding how you bring a lawsuit. Washington law gives you four ways in which you can argue another party is liable for your injuries:
- Negligence/Risk-Utility Test (RCW 7.72.030(1)(a)): Under this theory, you allege that the manufacturer was negligent. Your attorney will strive to prove that the possibility of injuries was a greater cost than the company would have expended devising an alternative, safer design for the product. This cause of action primarily focuses on whether an alternative design was practical and feasible.
- Inadequate Warnings or Instructions (RCW 7.72.030(1)(b)-(c)): Your Seattle product liability attorney may be able to prove that the manufacturer or retailer failed to include all the necessary warnings or instructions regarding the product, which caused you to be hurt.
- Breach of Warranty (RCW 7.72.030(2)): Your attorney may be able to hold another party liable under contract law. Warranties are considered promises that businesses implicitly or explicitly make regarding a product. If your lawyer can show that the other party made a certain promise, the product failed to hold up that promise, and the breach caused your injury, then you may receive compensation.
- Consumer Expectations (RCW 7.72.030(3)): Your attorney may show the court that an ordinary consumer would not consider the product sufficiently safe. This does not require your lawyer to prove whether an alternative design would have been cost-efficient for the business.
Statute of Limitations for Product Liability Claims
If a defective product harmed you or a loved one, you should speak with a Seattle product liability lawyer as soon as possible. You have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. Under the WPLA, you have up to three years from the time you discover or reasonably should have discovered that you were injured and the cause of your injuries. However, in various circumstances, you may have longer. The best thing to do is talk with a lawyer right away.
Emerald City Law Group Is Here to Help
Our product liability attorneys at Emerald City Law Group understand how challenging and frustrating these situations can be. A defective product can cause serious injuries to you or a loved one. While you focus on getting better and returning to work, and your normal life, the last thing that you want to do is deal with a lawsuit. We are here to handle the legal process for you.
If you believe a dangerous product caused your injuries, call us to talk about your situation. We will thoroughly investigate how you were injured and actively participate in the legal discovery process to gather as much evidence as possible of the other party’s fault. We will use this evidence to fight for you to receive full and fair compensation.
To discuss a potential product liability claim, call 206-973-0407 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.