You can recover damages if you are injured due to a defective product. To do so, you first need to hire an attorney that specializes in product liability lawsuits. Then, your attorney can help you file a lawsuit and pursue compensation from any at-fault parties.
If you were injured as a result of a defective product, reach out to the Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Once you do, we can connect you with our Greenville personal injury lawyer. From here, we can take the first steps to help you secure damages from anyone responsible for your injury.
How Greenville Product Liability Claims Work
If you purchase a product, you expect the item to work without any safety issues. However, a faulty product may bypass a manufacturer’s or retailer’s management processes. When it does, the product can reach a consumer and lead to an injury.
With a product liability claim, you can request compensation based on any of the following types of product defects:
- Design: A product with a flawed design may prove to be dangerous to anyone that uses it.
- Manufacturing: A product may be put together incorrectly, to the point where it endangers anyone that utilizes it.
- Warning or Labeling: A product may have an inherent danger associated with it, like being flammable or capable of causing an injury. If the product is not labeled or does not include a warning about this danger, the company that provides the product can be held accountable for any injuries that occur as a result.
A Greenville product liability lawyer can help you gather all of the information necessary to file a claim against any at-fault parties. In addition, the attorney will make sure you have sufficient evidence to support your claim. Then, the lawyer will ensure you pursue the maximum amount of damages you can.
What You Need to Argue for Damages in a Greenville Product Liability Case
Evidence plays a key role in the success of a Greenville product liability lawsuit. You must present evidence that illustrates how a product defect has impacted you. On top of that, you must share this evidence in a way that compels a judge or jury to award damages.
There are several pieces of evidence you can use in your product liability case, including:
- Medical records, including any emergency or operating room reports and physical examinations that highlight the extent of your injury and treatments
- Medical bills that show how much you have paid to treat your injury
- Pay stubs that indicate how much money you have lost due to your inability to work due to your injury
A product liability attorney in Greenville will help you gather and review evidence. The lawyer will ensure that any evidence you present in court is relevant and accurate. Also, the attorney may be able to collect an abundance of evidence, to the point where a defendant is willing to offer you a settlement.
How to Decide Whether to Move Forward with a Settlement in a Greenville Product Liability Case
A product liability lawyer in Greenville can help you weigh the pros and cons of a settlement proposal. The lawyer cannot decide on your behalf whether to move forward with a settlement. Conversely, the attorney can give you feedback and insights to help you make a decision that aligns with your best interests.
When you evaluate a settlement offer, consider what will happen if you choose any of the following options:
- Approving the Proposal: An acceptance means you do not have to worry about going to trial. Yet, you may be forced to sacrifice compensation you would otherwise receive if you followed through with a trial.
- Declining the Proposal: If you turn down a proposal, things return to the status quo. You and your lawyer continue your pursuit of the full amount of damages possible, and the defendant still has the option to present another settlement offer down the line.
- Countering the Proposal: By countering a proposal, you give the defendant the option to accept terms that you are comfortable with or reject them altogether.
A Greenville product liability attorney will help you assess a proposal and feel confident in any decision you make. Even if you reject an offer, your case continues. At this point, you can keep working with your attorney to strengthen your argument and prepare for your trial.
How a Greenville Product Liability Trial Works
If your product liability case reaches the trial stage, you and your attorney get the opportunity to present your argument to a judge or jury. During your trial, you should expect:
- An opening statement from each party’s attorney
- Presentation of witnesses and cross-examination
- A closing argument from each party’s attorney
A trial can take hours or days to complete. At the trial’s conclusion, a judge or jury decides if a plaintiff is awarded damages. If the plaintiff has presented a compelling argument, this individual is in a great position to secure the full amount of damages that were requested.
Potential Outcomes in a Greenville Product Liability Trial
A plaintiff should expect any of the following outcomes in a Greenville product liability trial:
- A judge or jury rules in their favor and awards this individual 100% of the damages that were requested.
- A judge or jury finds the plaintiff is partly responsible for their injury and awards this individual partial damages.
- A judge or jury finds the defendant was not responsible for the plaintiff’s injury, and the plaintiff receives no damages.
Your attorney will help you avoid the worst-case product liability trial scenarios. Before your trial, your lawyer will make sure you understand what can happen. That way, you can establish realistic expectations for your trial.
Get in Touch with a Product Liability Lawyer
The Shelly Leeke Law Firm makes it easy to connect with a product liability attorney in Greenville. Our attorney can take a look at your claim and help you file your product liability lawsuit. To learn more or request a free consultation, please contact us today.
