When you buy a product at a store or from a manufacturer, you of course expect it to work as intended. Unfortunately, that does not always occur. In fact, many people are seriously injured each year due to defective products. If you happen to be one of the many victims of defective products, you need to get compensation to help pay your medical bills, replace your lost income, and help you overcome the pain and suffering you now deal with on a daily basis. To get the compensation you need and deserve, take these steps at once.
Keep the Product
If you have been injured by a defective product, do not toss it in the trash. Instead, keep the item in question as well as the packaging and any paperwork that came with the product. This can be crucial since it could show the manufacturer failed to include adequate instructions on the product’s use.
Get Medical Treatment
Whatever injuries you received from using a defective product, always get medical treatment as quickly as possible. This may not only limit the severity of your injuries and help you make a quicker recovery, but also allow you to have your injuries documented in your medical records. Doing so, makes it more difficult for the manufacturer and their insurance company to say your injuries were not caused by the product.
Hire an Attorney
Even if you will be in the hospital for an extended stay, always contact a personal injury lawyer soon after your accident to discuss the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer and perhaps the retailer from whom you purchased the defective product. As you consult with an attorney, they can learn the details of your case, tell you if you have a viable case, explain your legal options, and begin the process of gathering evidence to build a strong case on your behalf.
Say Little About Your Accident
Finally, should you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, take your lawyer’s advice and say as little as possible about your accident until your case is completed. Should an insurance company contact you, their goal will be to trick you into incriminating yourself before your case gets started, or perhaps to offer you a quick settlement for far less money than you need to pay medical bills and replace lost wages.
Since you were owed a duty of care by a manufacturer and retailer when buying a product you expected would be safe to use, hold all parties accountable for your injuries by hiring an attorney who will fight hard for the necessary compensation.
Author information: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.
