Product Liability Lawyers in Austin

What Is a Defective Product?

A defective product is any product that poses an unreasonable safety risk when it is used correctly or as-intended or even when misused if the manufacturer knew that use was foreseeable. Whether through some flaw in design or an error made during manufacturing or a failure to provide an adequate warning, any product can be defective. This includes everything from automobiles and car parts to medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs to electronics and everyday household items. When defective products make it onto the consumer market, they can cause devastating injuries and widespread harm.

What Can Our Firm Do For You?

Our firm assists victims of defective products by working to hold the negligent parties accountable. We have nearly 25 years of experience handling all types of complex and difficult personal injury cases, including those involving product liability. We understand how these cases are tried, and we have the courtroom experience to aggressively advocate for you. Our firm achieved the largest, number one jury verdict in the Austin area on behalf of the family of a woman who was hit and run over by a defective, runaway E-Z-GO golf cart/utility vehicle, rendering her quadriplegic. We were able to secure a verdict of $15.8 million— one of the highest verdicts in Austin to date for premise liability cases—for her family. See our results page.

Schedule a free initial consultation with our Austin product liability lawyers. Call (512) 430-4844 or contact us online to get started.

What Is a Defective Product?

A defective product is any item that is inherently unsafe for its intended use due to flaws in its design, manufacturing process, or lack of adequate instructions or warnings. When a product has a defect, it poses a significant risk of harm to consumers, even when used correctly or as intended.

​​​​​ In general, defective products fall into one of three categories:

• Defective Design: A product has a defective design if there is some flaw in the original design or it was designed poorly as a whole. Improper product testing can also be considered defective design in some cases.
• Defective Manufacturing: Defective manufacturing occurs when the product’s design is adequate, but an error is made, or a defect introduced during a stage of the manufacturing process. Generally, only the specific products that have the defect will be dangerous.
• Defective Marketing: Contrary to its name, defective marketing does not have to do with what most people consider marketing but rather means that the product lacks proper safety warnings, instructions, and/or other safety labels.

A vehicle might have a defective design if it rolls over when making turns at a relatively low speed. An airbag may have been defectively manufactured if it fails to inflate upon impact. A pharmaceutical drug might have a marketing defect if all of the possible side effects are not listed. These are just some examples of how products can be defective—contact our firm if you were injured by a defective product and our Austin defective product attorneys can help you understand your legal options.

Common Types of Defective Products

Common types of defective products include:

• Auto Parts: Defects in car components can lead to serious accidents. Examples include faulty airbags, malfunctioning brakes, and defective tires.
• Medical Devices: Products like pacemakers, hip implants, or surgical tools can cause severe harm if they are defective. This category often involves both design and manufacturing defects.
• Medications: Defective or dangerous drugs can have harmful side effects or be improperly labeled, leading to health complications or death.
• Children's Products: Defects in toys, cribs, car seats, or other products designed for children can pose choking hazards, lead to injuries, or even cause death.
• Household Products: Items like kitchen appliances, tools, or furniture can malfunction or be designed unsafely, leading to risks like fires, electrocution, or injuries.
• Sporting Goods: Defective sporting equipment, such as helmets, bicycles, or exercise machines, can result in serious injuries. Inadequate safety features or poor design are common issues in this category.
• Food and Beverages: Contaminated or improperly labeled food products can lead to foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, or poisoning. Defects may include improper handling during processing or contamination with harmful substances.
• Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Beauty products, skincare items, and toiletries can cause adverse reactions, skin damage, or infections if they are defective. This could be due to toxic ingredients, poor formulation, or contamination during production.
• Electronics: Defective electronics such as smartphones, laptops, or home entertainment systems can cause fires, explosions, or electric shocks. Batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, are often the source of defects.