Defective Products Under Investigation in 2017

We are all consumers, and we all buy products that we assume are safe to use as directed. It stands to reason that we should feel assured the things we purchase have been tested for safety and held to rigorous standards by the companies that manufacture them. Unfortunately, however, that’s not always the case.

The products you buy can be defective in design, rendering their use unsafe. They can also be defective in manufacturing, meaning that the way they were made is hazardous and potentially dangerous. Marketing defects or insufficient warnings can also lead to serious injuries. Product liability law in Arizona has a two-year statute of limitations. In short, you have time to file a claim – but it is best to retain a dependable and aggressive Phoenix personal injury attorney as soon as you or your loved one has received medical care. Arizona has comparable negligence laws that can complicate your ability to bring a successful case or claim.

Products currently under investigation

2017 has been a banner year for dog food product recalls, as well as medical equipment and other products. Recent investigations into products and class action lawsuits include:

• Wingman35 Crossing Catheters, also under a Class I FDA recall
• Party Animal Canned Dog Food, Cocolicious, after being found to contain pentobarbital, which is used to euthanize animals
• Almost 160,000 Razor RipStick motorized caster boards, for locking wheels that contribute to injuries
• Subaru’s 2017 Impreza vehicle
• Blue Buffalo’s Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain dog food
• Warnings about the sports gadget called a hoverboard, as certain types have exploded upon use
• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 2011-2015
• Restoration Hardware’s zinc-topped dining tables, due to lead poisoning

There are myriad other products being recalled for defective parts, manufacturing, or improper warnings or marketing, but the wide swath of these products should let you know that many different types of consumer goods can be ill-made. While you shouldn’t spend your life wondering and worrying about the safety of the things you buy, it helps to stay up to date on nationwide recalls. Large-scale recalls don’t always make national news. Companies that have suffered several recalls or class action suits might not be your first choice when purchasing consumer goods for your family and home.

At Plattner Verderame, P.C., we represent honest people with honest injuries. Defective product cases at our firm, like all claims, are taken on a contingency-fee basis. You don’t pay us unless you win. Call us at 602-266-2002 or contact us today to learn what our team of Arizona Bar Board Certified Specialists in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation can do to help you understand your rights and options if you’ve been hurt due to a defective product.