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  • About Us
  • Meet Our Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Maritime Injuries
      • Boating Accidents
      • Jones Act
      • Maritime Accidents
      • Maritime/Admiralty Injury
      • Offshore Drilling Injury
      • Rig and Barge Accidents
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
      • Car Accident
      • Truck Accident
      • Motorcycle Accident
      • Bus Accident
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
        • Texting and Driving Accidents
      • Left-Hand Turn Accidents
      • Rear-End Collision
      • SUV Rollover Accident
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Personal Injury
        • Types of Injuries
        • Catastrophic Injury
        • Spinal Cord Injury
        • Traumatic Brain Injury
        • Multiple Bone Fractures
        • Loss of Limb
        • Burn Injury
        • Paralysis
        • Neck and Back Injury
      • Product Liability
      • Slip and Fall
      • Wrongful Death
      • Storm and Hurricane Damage
  • Contact
logologo
  • About Us
  • Meet Our Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Maritime Injuries
      • Boating Accidents
      • Jones Act
      • Maritime Accidents
      • Maritime/Admiralty Injury
      • Offshore Drilling Injury
      • Rig and Barge Accidents
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
      • Car Accident
      • Truck Accident
      • Motorcycle Accident
      • Bus Accident
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
        • Texting and Driving Accidents
      • Left-Hand Turn Accidents
      • Rear-End Collision
      • SUV Rollover Accident
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Personal Injury
        • Types of Injuries
        • Catastrophic Injury
        • Spinal Cord Injury
        • Traumatic Brain Injury
        • Multiple Bone Fractures
        • Loss of Limb
        • Burn Injury
        • Paralysis
        • Neck and Back Injury
      • Product Liability
      • Slip and Fall
      • Wrongful Death
      • Storm and Hurricane Damage
  • Contact
logologo
  • About Us
  • Meet Our Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Maritime Injuries
      • Boating Accidents
      • Jones Act
      • Maritime Accidents
      • Maritime/Admiralty Injury
      • Offshore Drilling Injury
      • Rig and Barge Accidents
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
      • Car Accident
      • Truck Accident
      • Motorcycle Accident
      • Bus Accident
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
        • Texting and Driving Accidents
      • Left-Hand Turn Accidents
      • Rear-End Collision
      • SUV Rollover Accident
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Personal Injury
        • Types of Injuries
        • Catastrophic Injury
        • Spinal Cord Injury
        • Traumatic Brain Injury
        • Multiple Bone Fractures
        • Loss of Limb
        • Burn Injury
        • Paralysis
        • Neck and Back Injury
      • Product Liability
      • Slip and Fall
      • Wrongful Death
      • Storm and Hurricane Damage
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Meet Our Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Maritime Injuries
      • Boating Accidents
      • Jones Act
      • Maritime Accidents
      • Maritime/Admiralty Injury
      • Offshore Drilling Injury
      • Rig and Barge Accidents
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
      • Car Accident
      • Truck Accident
      • Motorcycle Accident
      • Bus Accident
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
        • Texting and Driving Accidents
      • Left-Hand Turn Accidents
      • Rear-End Collision
      • SUV Rollover Accident
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Personal Injury
        • Types of Injuries
        • Catastrophic Injury
        • Spinal Cord Injury
        • Traumatic Brain Injury
        • Multiple Bone Fractures
        • Loss of Limb
        • Burn Injury
        • Paralysis
        • Neck and Back Injury
      • Product Liability
      • Slip and Fall
      • Wrongful Death
      • Storm and Hurricane Damage
  • Contact

PRODUCT LIABILITY

When a defective product harms a consumer, it can lead to debilitating and even life-changing injuries.

During a free consultation with a product liability attorney, you can find out what legal options are available to you.

Learn why people in the Lafayette and New Iberia, LA, area turn to the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy.

Product Liability

When a defective product harms a consumer, it can lead to debilitating and even life-changing injuries.

During a free consultation with a product liability attorney, you can find out what legal options are available to you.

Learn why people in the Lafayette and New Iberia, LA, area turn to the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy.

What Is Product Liability?

Product liability means that the designer or manufacturer is held liable for any defects in their products. Product liability law also means that these parties are responsible for providing adequate warnings regarding hazards that can result from improper use. It can also extend to others in the chain of distribution, such as the assembler or retailer.

In most product liability cases, the burden of proof falls on the plaintiff. This means that the injured party must prove that one or more parties in the chain of distribution was negligent, and that the harm was the result of some form of defect in the product.

Examples of Defective Products

  • Dangerous pharmaceuticals
  • Tainted over-the-counter medications
  • Faulty medical devices and implants
  • Hazardous household appliances
  • Deadly motor vehicles
  • Defective auto parts
  • Dangerous electronics and devices
  • Harmful toys and children’s products

The Chain of Distribution

UNDERSTANDING WHERE DEFECTS MAY ARISE

Liability for a defective product may fall on one or more parties within the chain of distribution. This can include:

  • Product manufacturer
  • Manufacturer of specific parts
  • Assembler
  • Wholesaler
  • Marketer
  • Retailer

The type of defect will typically help our product liability lawyers identify the responsible party. For example, if you bought a new car and its faulty tires contributed to an auto accident, both the car manufacturer and the manufacturer of the tires could be held liable. During an investigation, we might discover that the brakes were defective because an assembler missed a key step in the assembly process. In that case, the assembler would also be liable.

Why You Need a Product Liability Lawyer

 Research and Investigation

Our product liability lawyers can gather and assess evidence regarding a defective product. While building your case, we can consult with authorities in different fields that are relevant to the incident.

  Knowledge of Product Liability Law

Our team has worked on a variety of product liability cases in the state of Louisiana over the years. We understand the nuances of consumer protection statutes and how they may apply to your case.

 An Advocate for Your Best Interests

Companies have their own attorneys in their corner. Our product liability attorneys will not be intimidated by high-powered legal teams. We focus on achieving a favorable settlement or verdict on your behalf.

 Keeping You on Task

When you work with our Lafayette law firm, we will help you meet filing deadlines and keep you updated on the progress of your product liability claim. Our lawyers will keep you in the loop.

Our Law Firm Is Here for the People of Louisiana

TYPES OF PRODUCT DEFECTS

There are different types of product defects, all of which can result in catastrophic injury or death. These include defects in design, manufacturing, or marketing.

Defects in Design

A design defect means that the product was faulty from the very beginning. In such situations, the manufacturer usually did not perform sufficient testing to reveal any design defects, or did not modify the product enough after identifying the defect. An example of a design defect is an SUV that is prone to rolling over when making sharp turns.

Manufacturing Defects

These defects can occur at any stage in the manufacturing process. Manufacturing defects can also include the manufacturing of components that are made by another company, such as brake pads. Manufacturing defects may be caused by mistakes on an assembly line, lack of quality assurance (QA), or problems with manufacturing machinery.

Marketing Defects

Marketing defects include insufficient package labeling, lack of safety warnings, and inadequate instructions. Products should include clear information on how the product should and should not be used. There may also be issues with false advertising. Misleading marketing may suggest that a product can be used in a way it wasn’t intended.

Statute of Limitations

The state of Louisiana has a short amount of time to initiate a product liability case. Residents of Louisiana have just one year from the date of injury in which to file a product liability claim. Time is of the essence, which is why it’s important to request a free case review at our Lafayette law firm after you’ve been harmed by a defective product.

Proving a Defective Product Claim

KEY ELEMENTS IN PRODUCT LIABILITY

If you or a family member suffered harm because of a defective product, there are certain elements that have to be established in order to achieve a favorable verdict or settlement:

  • You were injured while using the product
  • You suffered losses as a result of the injury
  • The product was faulty or defective in some way
  • The product defect was what caused your injury
  • You were using the product for its intended purpose

The above seems straightforward, but it’s important to speak with a lawyer about what happened. We can determine if you have a lawsuit worth pursuing, and hold the responsible party accountable for harming you and endangering countless other consumers.

Timesaver Mobile Detail LLC
January 15, 2020.
Great work and honest
Lila Barake
April 13, 2019.
Richard is a fantastic attorney! He and his staff were incredible about keeping me well informed about my case and making sure that I got the absolute best settlement possible.
Mary Dardeau
February 22, 2018.
Excellent experience!
Dwight Johnson
April 27, 2016.
Honest, straight forward attorney that explained everything about the legal process concerning my case. I never felt pressured to accept any offer that was made on my case, I was allowed to decide what I would accept. If I ever needed an attorney again, he would be the one I would choose. I trust him so much I have recommended him to others that I know.
Michelle Rochon
August 20, 2013.
I wasn't sure on how to go about trying to get my life back after an automobile accident. A friend, Jay Wilkinson, recommended I speak with Richard Kennedy at the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy, APLC located in downtown Lafayette, LA. While some wouldn't consider my accident a big one, it derailed my life completely. I was self employed, as a business analyst, with clients all over the county (Dallas and Houston, Texas; Ft. Collins, Colorado; West Sacramento and San Francisco, California; New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Las Vegas, Nevada). My ability to travel was pertinent to accommodate my clients needs and attend conferences to meet potential clients as my business grew. The pain continued to increase, which made travel impossible, as well as, being distracting which effected my ability to focus. Pain medication and muscle relaxers to try and control the pain levels also affected my ability to concentrate and stay focused. I began missing critical deadlines, which was not acceptable as I was brought in to identify the bottlenecks in their process flow, to get them back on track. The pain and medications made it impossible to function. For the first time in my life I lost clients, and my reputation. After speaking with Mr. Kennedy, we formulated a plan to go forward...first, he had me evaluated to make sure the problems I was having were not the result of some other causes. Then, they investigated all aspects. Always keeping me informed along the way. They make sure you fully comprehend everything and take the time to answer questions and concerns. They are also protective of you, not just during depositions but the entire process. You feel like you are family and that they have your best interests in the forefront.
Google rating score: 5 of 5, based on 6 reviews

Have You Been Injured By a Defective Product?

CONTACT OUR LAW FIRM ABOUT YOUR CASE

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury from a defective consumer good, a product liability attorney with the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy can help. Our team will review the details of your case and hold the responsible parties accountable for your injuries and losses.

Our law firm serves the greater Lafayette and New Iberia area, and offers complimentary initial consultations. You can discuss your case for free with a product liability lawyer familiar with federal statutes as well as Louisiana consumer protection laws. This insight can give you a better idea of your various legal options.
To learn more about product liability claims and your legal options, contact our law office online. You can also request a free case evaluation by phone.

(337) 232-1934

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Our Office

309 Polk St
Lafayette, LA 70501

Phone: (337) 232-1934

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*Disclaimer: the information provided by this website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice or a substitute for competent legal counsel.

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