6 Handy Steps You Must Take After Purchasing A Defective Product

Most people place enough trust in manufacturers and retailers to assume that the products they sell are safe for usage by consumers. The reality of the matter is that occasionally, a product sold to the masses can be defective, and in some cases even dangerous. The problem here lies in the fact that these defects are often discovered only after a consumer has already been injured by the products.

As a consumer, you have rights. There is a legal process that can be followed in order to ensure that the matter of a defective product can be taken care of fairly. Not only to stand up for your rights as a consumer but to hold those accountable and avoid the displeasure or injury of others.

Here are 6 steps you should take having purchased a defective product:

1.  Seek Immediate Medical Care

Although ensuring you stand up for your rights is important, you or your loved ones’ health comes first. Upon sustaining an injury through the usage of a defective product, seek immediate medical assistance to ensure your wellbeing.

Not only is this to care for your health but it’s also necessary since your injury and treatment must be officially documented. This is to allow for your case to be legally viable when filing your claim against the manufacturer.

2.  Gather & Preserve Evidence

In addition to your medical records, you should make an effort to gather as much evidence and documentation as possible to solidify the foundation of your case’s success and validity. The following points cover the things you should gather:

• The defective product (with photos at the scene as well)
• Any manuals, instructions, or packaging
• Proof of purchase
• Any other additional paperwork or items related to the incident
• A list of witness contact details (if applicable)

The more of these items you can gather and preserve, the more likely you are to have a successful case, as well as decreasing the time it will take for the process to be concluded.

3.  Document The Entire Healing Process

Documenting your healing process in a dedicated journal will aid the process greatly. The information in this journal can prove useful when preparing a pain and suffering claim for the injury you’ve sustained.

Try to make detailed notes about how the injury is healing, the psychological toll of the injury, and how it is affecting your day-to-day life and relations with family, friends, or work. Be sure to include photographs along with your notes of all visible wounds and their progress whilst healing.

4.  Contact A Suitable Attorney

The laws regarding product liability cases are often complicated and involve multiple parties, and even federal law in some cases. Therefore, consulting with a reputable attorney who specializes, or at least has adequate experience in this specific realm of the law is essential for your case.

Your time may be consumed with your healing and recovery because of the incident but this shouldn’t be an excuse not to communicate with a specialized attorney. The professionals over at www.edwardspattersonlaw.com, suggest that you try to contact a product liability lawyer as soon as possible after having addressed your injuries. Since these cases can be limited by time, the sooner you talk to the product liability lawyer the better, in order to increase the likelihood of receiving full compensation for your case, financial, or otherwise.

5.  Try To Avoid Social Media

From the point at which you sustain your injury to the point your case is legally closed, it’s advisable that you stay off social media. Whilst receiving support from your friends and family can be extremely helpful and comforting, discussing the issue online can be detrimental to your case.

Often posts made about incidents like these are accessed by opposing legal parties, photos or words you said can be used and in some cases, manipulated, to be used against you in court. To avoid any manipulation of the truth, it’s best to wait until your case is closed to disclose any information regarding the incident on all social networking sites.

6.  Trust In The Legal Process

Product liability cases can often stretch out for long periods of time, bounce back and forth between courts and present a hefty financial burden as well. This is especially the case when raising a case against large multinationals with loads of capital and legal support. It’s important to remember that as you are abiding by the law and know your rights, that you will get justice.

If you have suffered due to the negligence of a manufacturer’s quality control, whether it be bodily harm, material, or financial damage you can follow these tips. The law provides you with the chance to be rightfully compensated and hold those responsible accountable.