Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Product Liability Blog


Product Liability Blog
Product Liability has become an issue within the past two decades. The reason for an increase in product liability cases is because the government is holding companies responsible for their products they produce to the public. Before companies were not held to the standards they are now and therefore product liability is a concept. It is very important that companies produce products that are safe for not only humans-beings but for the environment as well. People have been known to take advantage of product liability in courts. There have been countless court cases that can arguably be a ridiculous claim of people spilling on themselves and people using the product incorrectly and getting hurt. The example I have chosen to write about is a defect dryer that that causes a deadly fire. In 2006 there were 17,700 home fires involving dryers and/or washing machines. (92% Dryers). Everyone knows that when you own a dryer and operate a dryer it is imperative to empty the lint bin. In this case the dryer was collecting lint in a area that the consumer could not see it nor clean it. Studies show that the 1/10 of a gram of lint coming into contact with the heating coils ignited the fire. This is the importance of Product liability. Clearly, this is a defected consumer product effecting thousands of people. There were 15 deaths and 360 injuries. The process of product liability cases enhances safety.
Tort reform is needed still but there is no question that companies will make decisions with their pocket book rather than the consumer in mind. The Ford Pinto in the 1970s was issued a recall because there we incidents of fires starting. The recall would have cost Ford Motors more than to pay the liability suite. Therefore Ford paid the Liability claims and did not recall the Pinto. This is a classic example of why Product liability is imperative to the consumers benefit.
http://www.feldmanshepherd.com/blog/2012/04/defective-dryer-causes-deadly-fire-product-liability-case-handled-by-philadelphia-personal-injury-lawyers/
CKD

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