When Products Cause Harm
Consumers expect the products they buy to be reasonably safe, but defective goods injure Ohioans every year. Defective auto parts, dangerous machinery, faulty medical devices, contaminated food and drugs, unsafe children's products, and flammable or toxic household items can all cause serious harm. Product liability law exists to hold manufacturers, distributors, and sellers responsible when their products injure the people who use them as intended.
Ohio's Product Liability Law
Ohio's Product Liability Act governs most claims involving defective products. A product may be defective in its manufacture (a flaw in how it was made), its design (an unreasonably dangerous design even when made correctly), or its warnings (a failure to warn of non-obvious dangers). Ohio law allows recovery against manufacturers and, in certain circumstances, suppliers. These claims often turn on technical engineering evidence and expert testimony about how the product failed.
Proving a Defect
Product liability cases are document- and expert-intensive. Preserving the product itself is critical — it is often the single most important piece of evidence. Engineering analysis, the manufacturer's design and testing records, evidence of similar incidents, and applicable safety standards all play a role. Manufacturers and their insurers defend these cases vigorously, so building a credible, well-supported claim is essential.
Holding Manufacturers Accountable
Beyond compensating an injured victim, product liability claims can force dangerous products off the market and prevent future harm. Victims may recover medical costs, lost income, and compensation for pain and suffering, and in cases of egregious conduct, punitive damages may apply. Our network attorneys have the resources to take on manufacturers and pursue full accountability for the harm a defective product causes.
Injured in Ohio? Get a free, confidential case review today. There's no obligation, and you pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
Frequently Asked Questions
Preserve it exactly as it is, if you safely can. The product itself is often the most important evidence, and altering or discarding it can seriously harm your claim.
Manufacturing defects (a flaw in production), design defects (an inherently unsafe design), and warning defects (failure to warn of non-obvious dangers). A claim may involve one or more.
Generally two years from the injury, subject to a statute of repose that can bar claims on older products. Prompt review is important to protect your rights.