Design Defects

At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog III, our products liability lawyers can help people on Cape Cod and elsewhere in Massachusetts who have been hurt as a result of unsafe or malfunctioning goods and merchandise. We understand that these types of accidents can cause significant pain and stress for victims and their families, and we fight tirelessly to pursue the compensation that they deserve. Our track record of success includes a number of victories for clients hurt by defective products.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defectively designed product, such as heavy machinery, a car, or an ordinary household device, you may have the right to seek compensation from the company that made the product and the company that sold the item to you. Products liability is a type of personal injury claim, in which the person suing seeks remedies for harm caused by a defective or malfunctioning device. The compensation available in these cases often include money for doctors’ bills, missed wages due to time away from work, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. It may also include money for damages already incurred as well as any future costs and losses related to the accident.

Product manufacturers and sellers are bound by what courts call a “warranty of merchantability.” These businesses are generally required to make and sell goods that work as they are designed and marketed to work for a reasonable period of time. They are likely to be strictly liable for any injuries incurred by a user or bystander as a result of flaws in the product’s design or operation. While manufacturing defects are generally limited to a single item, design defects tend to affect an entire model or group of products. These problems are the product of inherent flaws in the design, rather than individual errors in assembling a specific item. Manufacturers and retailers are also usually on the hook for injuries caused by a failure to properly warn users of safety hazards posed by using the item.

A person injured by an unsafe product may also seek damages from the manufacturer and retailer by suing under a theory of negligence. State law requires these businesses to exercise “reasonable care” in designing, crafting, and selling products. A business that fails to meet this standard – by ignoring safety hazards that it knows about or should know about, for example – is likely to be deemed negligent and held liable for any injuries that result.

At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog III, we have more than 146 years of combined experience representing individuals in products liability and other personal injury cases. Our lawyers are intimately familiar with the law as it applies to strict liability and negligence claims. We are also skilled negotiators who have a history of success at the bargaining table. Previous victories for our clients include a $600,000 settlement for a man who injured his hand while using a defective product.

Our injury attorneys offer free consultations to Cape Cod residents and other Massachusetts accident victims at our offices in Hyannis and Plymouth. We are also happy to travel to you if you cannot make it to us. We do not charge a fee in many cases unless we are successful. Call us at 888-262-6664 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Nós Falamos Português.