Some people regret some of the purchasing decisions that they make. Impulse purchases are a common source of buyer remorse. People buy something due to a sale or deceptive advertising and then realize that they don’t actually need the product.
Other times, people regret a decision to purchase a product because it actually causes harm. Defective products are a serious consumer safety concern. Some products are defective because of design issues. Manufacturers rush a concept to a production facility and fail to identify issues that could lead to consumer injuries. Other times, a lower-quality batch of materials or oversights by quality control specialists might mean that defective variants of typically safe products reach consumers.
Defective products can cause severe injury
A drill with bad wiring could produce an electrical injury. Defective batteries in electric scooters could cause house fires. Issues with vehicle design or defective components could cause crashes or prevent safety systems from properly functioning when a crash occurs. Consumers affected by unsafe products often have many questions, including who is responsible for their losses. Who helps cover the expenses generated by a defective or unsafe product?
Businesses offset their liability with insurance
Oftentimes, liability for defective products falls directly to manufacturers, although retailers can also sometimes have a degree of risk. Manufacturers are responsible for releasing unsafe products to the public, while retailers could be liable for failing to respond to a recall notice and take unsafe products off the shelves.
Both retail establishments and manufacturing businesses tend to carry product liability insurance and possibly even recall insurance for this exact reason. Those affected by dangerous products might file a lawsuit against a manufacturer or retailer. When successful, those claims can lead to the insurance company compensating the people affected by unsafe products.
Recalls don’t eliminate product danger
Companies that recognize defects in their products may initiate recalls to protect their finances and the public. However, recalls do not eliminate the risk of consumers buying and using unsafe products. The options for those affected by dangerous consumer goods depend on the circumstances including the nature of the product, the damage it caused and the status of any recall implemented by the manufacturer.
Reviewing the details of a product defect situation may benefit those who are uncertain of how to cover medical expenses, lost wages or property damage losses related to poor product design or a sudden drop in quality of an otherwise safe product. Consumers who understand product liability rules may be able to hold the right party accountable for the losses they’ve suffered because of a dangerous product.