Albany Product Liability Lawyer
With all the descriptions, user reviews, and return policies available on products for purchase today, consumers assume a certain amount of safety in the product they are willing to buy. However, when a product purchased by the consumer malfunctions or fails to work at all, and that malfunction causes injury or loss to the consumer, an Albany product liability lawyer can help the consumer hold the manufacturer of the product responsible for those damages. Call a seasoned attorney today for a free case review to see if you could be eligible for compensation.
Holding Manufacturers Responsible
Contrary to public belief, the store or seller a consumer purchases a defective product from is not liable for the product’s defects, even though the consumer paid money to the store or seller of the product.
Georgia law states the seller of a product is not, by law, considered a manufacturer for the purposes of strict liability, according to O.C.G.A. §51-1-11.1. This means that any defect or failure to function is the sole responsibility of the manufacturer of the product.
Locating the Product Manufacturer
When consumers purchase a product, they buy the product for a specific use. If the product fails to meet that specific use and the user suffers as the result, a product liability lawyer in Albany could assist in holding the manufacturer responsible. Finding the manufacturer responsible for a product, however, often requires specialized knowledge of where and how product ownership is registered.
More often than not, this information comes from tracking down the location where the product was made and then shipped from. A good place to start is by trying to locate the following:
- The CPU code on the exterior packaging of the product
- A detailed purchase receipt
- A clear, detailed photograph of the model number or issue number stamped on the product
- The product manual or instruction booklet
If the purchaser has lost the receipt for the product she purchased or no longer has the supplied instruction manual, tracking the product’s origination is key to holding the manufacturer responsible.
Limits on Product Liability Claims
Claims for product liability based on defective products are governed by statute, and the time an injured individual has to present a claim against the manufacturer is specified with limitations.
According to O.C.G.A. §51-1-11, an injured victim of a defective product cannot bring an action for product liability beyond 10 years from the date of the first sale for use or consumption of the product which caused injury. A lawyer with a proven track record who has their own product liability center could assist in bringing a timely claim against the product manufacturer.
How an Albany Product Liability Attorney Could Help
Having a product that you purchased not work or malfunction and cause you injury as the result is not what you paid money for. Locating the manufacturer of the product is one of the first steps in bringing a claim for product liability, as is ensuring that your claim is brought against the manufacturer in a timely fashion. An Albany product liability lawyer could make every effort to ensure your claim is directed against the appropriate party and could facilitate the timely filing of such a claim.
