Every Recalled Product Is A Risk To Your Health
Many products sold in California are recalled on a regular basis. As a result of the efforts of multiple state and federal agencies, products such as auto parts, food items, household products, and toys are constantly being recalled. With an influx on recalls, it can be easy for consumers to become immune to the dangers and alerts. But what are the risks of ignoring product recalls? This article will highlight important factors you should know about the dangers of recalled products.
What is a Recall and How Does it Affect the Products You Use?
A product recall is a request made by the manufacturer of the product to return the merchandise that was found to be potentially hazardous or unsafe. The product itself can contain flaws that could place the safety of consumers in jeopardy or place the product’s maker, manufacturer, or other liable party at risk of litigation or legal actions.
In California, companies can either recall a defective product on their own or once a government agency has asked the company to do so. Agencies that could request the manufacturer to recall a product include the Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, also known as the CPSC, or the United States Department of Agriculture, known as the USDA.
Recalls that result in injury or death are often reported throughout various media sources. However, product recalls that have not yet resulted in reports of injury can be difficult to find. Government agencies work hard to make the public aware of dangerous products that may result in the injury or death of an unsuspecting consumer. Resources from these agencies can be the best source of information on recalls.
Product recalls are important because they alert consumers to unsafe, defective, or dangerous products. In the United States, there are six agencies that help preserve product safety. Consumers can visit Recalls.Gov, a government-run page that helps consumers keep track of the safety of products purchased.
Ignore A Product Recall At Your Own Risk
Depending on why a product was recalled, the risk of injury can be minor to fatal. There are certain recalls that may not even be a risk to the consumer at all. Many manufacturing companies participate in voluntarily recalls of a product even if there is no evidence that the product, like food tainted with deadly bacteria or a malfunctioning gadget, is actually dangerous to consumers. These recalls are done in order to prevent the possibility of people being injured.
However, some recalls are more serious than others. These involuntary recalls are ordered by the appropriate government agencies after a finding that a product presents a danger to the general consumer. These product recalls generally come after the dangerous or defective product has somehow injured the consumer.
In the food industry, food tainted with listeria or E. coli can have serious consequences for those consuming them. The consequences of consuming a tainted food product can include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, high fever, and can require hospitalization. In the most severe cases, a tainted food item can result in death.
Outside of the food industry, common involuntary recalls often involve overheating and fire risks in electronics and malfunctioning auto parts that can kill the consumer instead of saving him or her in the event of an accident.
Other Important Information Involving Recalled Products
A common misconception surrounding product recalls is that consumers tend to believe that a recall will automatically make a manufacturing company liable for an injury. While a court will consider the recall as proof to substantiate the victim’s claim, the plaintiff will still need to demonstrate that the product caused his or her grievance.
Similarly, a recall will not make a manufacturing company immune from all product liability claims brought against it. Companies that have voluntarily or involuntarily made a recall can still be held accountable for the product’s defects. A company found liable for the damages caused by the flawed product will need to compensate the victim for his or her injuries.
A product’s liability claim can be very complex for a consumer, even if a recall has been made. A manufacturing company that can demonstrate that the plaintiff received a notice of the recall, which includes the product’s safety concerns, defects, and probable dangers by product usage, may warrant the company’s successful rebuttal of liability claims. On the contrary, a plaintiff’s claim can involve that the recall was not provided directly to him or her, but was instead given to consumers as a whole.
Consult With A Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino County Personal Injury Attorney If You Have Been Injured By A Defective Product
For the most part, consumers do not expect to be injured by the product they use. Although product recalls have increased in recent years, thanks in part to higher government controls on defective products, consumers continue to be injured every single day as a result of manufacturer’s and designer’s mistakes.
If you have reason to believe that you have suffered injuries as a result of a recalled product, you should know that you might be able to receive monetary compensation for your injuries. Products liability claims involving recalled products could be very complex and stressful; consider seeking the support of a skilled attorney who can champion on your behalf.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Justin King can guide you through the process of recovering for your injuries due to a defective recalled product; which can ultimately be key in helping you get your life back on track. Contact Attorney Just H. King today at (909) 297-5001 for a free confidential case consultation.
Aside from helping victims of serious products liability cases, The Law Offices of Justin King represent victims in a wide array of personal injury cases. Personal injury cases, including those in the matter involving products liability claims, are subject to California’s statute of limitations; obtaining the support of an experienced attorney as soon as possible is of utmost importance.
Categories : Defective Products, Products Liability
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