Products Shouldn't Cause Serious Injuries

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When you’re injured by a product you trusted, the experience can be overwhelming. Medical bills, lost wages, and long recovery periods often follow. In Louisville, product liability law provides a path for injured consumers to seek compensation.

By understanding how these claims work and how an experienced Louisville product liability lawyer can help, you’ll have a significant advantage when you need to protect your rights. Peterson Law Office is here to assist with your claim.

Product Liability in Kentucky

Product liability laws hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable if their product proves defective or dangerous and causes injury to someone.

In Kentucky, you don’t have to prove that a company intended to cause harm. Instead, you must show that the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury. This legal concept, known as strict liability, allows injured consumers to pursue claims without proving negligence, which can simplify the process but still requires detailed evidence.

Common Types of Product Defects

Defects typically fall into three main categories.

  1. Design defects occur when the product is inherently unsafe, even if manufactured correctly.
  2. Manufacturing defects arise during production, creating a flaw in a specific batch or unit.
  3. Marketing defects involve inadequate warnings or instructions that fail to alert users of potential risks.

Each category demands a different legal approach.

While a design defect might require expert testimony to show safer alternatives, a manufacturing defect may involve tracing errors in a specific production run. In one example, in 2024, a Louisville family filed a lawsuit after a home treadmill malfunctioned.

The device’s belt unexpectedly accelerated, throwing the user and causing multiple fractures.

It was discovered that a faulty circuit board overheated, leading to speed changes. The manufacturer had received prior complaints but failed to issue a recall. This case illustrates how local residents can hold large companies accountable when a product’s defect results in serious injury.

Common Product-Related Injuries

Injuries suffered from defective products can vary widely, typically depending on the type of product and the nature of the defect, but some patterns appear frequently across product liability cases. Here are some of the most common categories:

  • Burns and Fire-Related Injuries: Electrical appliances, space heaters, faulty batteries, and kitchen equipment with wiring or design flaws often lead to thermal or chemical burns. Exploding lithium-ion batteries, for example, can cause serious skin damage and respiratory injuries from smoke or fumes.
  • Cuts, Lacerations, and Amputations: Sharp edges on consumer goods, poorly manufactured tools, or defective machinery guards can result in deep cuts or even loss of fingers or limbs. Power tools and industrial equipment are frequent culprits.
  • Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries: Defective ladders, exercise equipment, household furniture, or playground items can collapse or fail, causing falls that break bones, damage joints, and cause spinal trauma. These injuries often require lengthy rehabilitation.
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Faulty helmets, bicycle gear, or automotive safety components like airbags can contribute to head trauma. A malfunctioning airbag that fails to deploy—or deploys too aggressively—can cause concussions or more severe brain injuries.
  • Internal Injuries and Organ Damage: Contaminated food or defective medical devices can lead to internal bleeding, infections, or organ damage. For example, a flawed surgical implant may rupture or migrate, injuring surrounding tissues.
  • Poisoning or Toxic Exposure: Improper labeling of dangerous chemicals, caustic household cleaners, or children’s toys with lead-based paint can result in chemical burns, respiratory distress, or chronic health problems.
  • Eye Injuries and Hearing Loss: Exploding pressure vessels, fireworks, or unsafe power tools can cause loss of vision or hearing. Even small fragments from a product failure can lead to lasting sensory impairment.
  • Repetitive Strain Issues: Defective ergonomic equipment or poorly designed workplace tools may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic back pain, or other repetitive strain injuries over time.

These injuries often overlap; a single defective product might cause burns, fractures, and internal damage in a single incident. In any suspected product-related injury, preserving the product and seeking immediate medical care are critical steps for both health and future legal actions.

Steps to Take After a Product-Related Injury

Acting quickly after an injury preserves your right to compensation. Consider these key actions:

  • Seek out immediate medical attention and follow all treatment plans to the letter.
  • Preserve the product, its packaging, and your receipts as evidence.
  • Document your injuries with photographs and notes.
  • Avoid discussing the incident with the manufacturer or posting details of the incident or your injuries online.

Prompt action helps your lawyer build a stronger case and protects critical evidence from being lost or altered.

The Role of a Louisville Product Liability Lawyer

An experienced lawyer will guide you through every step of the process, as well as investigating the defect, consulting experts, and negotiating with insurance companies or corporate counsel. Your lawyer also ensures that the claim is filed within Kentucky’s statute of limitations (typically one year from the date of injury). Missing this deadline can bar recovery entirely.

Proving a Product Liability Claim

To succeed in a product liability case, your legal team gathers detailed evidence. They collect the defective product, obtain maintenance or purchase records, and interview witnesses.

Engineers or industry experts often analyze the product to pinpoint the defect. Medical records can link your injury directly to the product’s defect. Strong documentation is crucial because manufacturers frequently have legal teams and resources aimed at disputing claims.

Determining Potential Compensation in a Product Liability Claim

Victims of defective products can seek various damages. Compensation often covers medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. Pain and suffering, as well as any emotional distress you’ve experienced, may also be included.

Dealing with Large Corporations

Manufacturers and retailers often have significant resources to fight legal claims. They often try to shift blame to the consumer or argue that your injury was caused by improper use.

A skilled lawyer anticipates these defenses and prepares counterarguments supported by evidence. Their goal is to level the playing field and ensure that you are not intimidated into accepting a low settlement.

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At Peterson Law Office, we understand that a defective product can leave a victim with a lifetime of medical bills, pain, and suffering. If you've suffered from a serious injury, you may be owed compensation for your damages.

Why Local Experience Matters

A Louisville-based attorney is familiar with Kentucky’s specific laws and maintains relationships with local experts, investigators, and courts. They know how Jefferson County juries respond to product liability claims and can tailor strategies accordingly. Local knowledge can shorten the investigation process and strengthen settlement negotiations.

The Litigation Process

If settlement negotiations fail, your case may proceed to court. Litigation encompasses discovery, during which both sides exchange evidence, and depositions, where witnesses provide sworn testimony.

Your lawyer presents expert analysis and medical records to demonstrate the defect and its impact on your life.

While many cases settle before trial, being prepared for court often leads to better settlement offers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Louisville Product Liability Claims

Frequently Asked Questions

Peterson Law Office Can Help

Defective products can cause life-altering injuries and financial strain.

By working with the experienced Louisville product liability lawyers at Peterson Law Office, you gain an advocate who understands the law, the local courts, and the tactics of large manufacturers. Acting quickly, preserving evidence, and choosing the right attorney gives you the best chance to secure the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

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We are here to help.

If you have any questions about a potential personal injury claim, call us or fill out the form below to schedule a free, confidential case consultation.

(859) 559-4160