What begins as routine—driving your car, taking medication, playing with a toy, or operating machinery at your construction job—can end with devastating injuries when manufacturers are negligent. The consequences extend far beyond physical pain, creating emotional trauma and financial hardship that affect entire families.
For over 40 years, Hofmann & Schweitzer has fought to help injured New York and New Jersey residents. Our approach combines thorough investigation with personalized attention. Our defective product attorneys don't just seek justice; we help rebuild lives shattered by corporate negligence.
Could You Have a Product Liability Claim?
In New York and New Jersey, our defective product lawyers can pursue compensation for injuries caused by:
Design Defects
The designer and manufacturer may be liable when a product's fundamental design is inherently dangerous, even when manufactured precisely to specifications. We work with industry experts to determine if a design defect caused your defective product injury.
Manufacturing Defects
Sometimes, the design is sound, but errors in the manufacturing process create dangerous products. Our team investigates production methods, quality control protocols, and testing procedures to identify where the manufacturing process went wrong.
Failure to Warn
Manufacturers must provide adequate warnings about non-obvious risks associated with their products. When they fail to include proper instructions or safety warnings, they can be held liable for resulting injuries. We analyze product documentation, industry standards, and federal regulations to establish these claims.
Breach of Warranty
Products come with express warranties (specific promises made by the manufacturer) and implied warranties (legally presumed guarantees about a product's fitness for use). Manufacturers can be held responsible when products fail to perform as warranted and cause injuries.
Types of Defective Product Cases
Our New York and New Jersey defective product lawyers handle many types of dangerous and defective products, including but not limited to the following:
Defective Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals
When medical products designed to heal instead cause harm, the consequences can be life-threatening. We represent clients injured by defective implants, surgical tools, and dangerous medications that manufacturers brought to market without adequate design, safe manufacturing, or sufficient warnings. Our attorneys understand the complex regulatory framework governing medical products and work with medical experts to establish how these devices or drugs caused your injuries.
Dangerous Machinery and Tools
Construction workers, factory employees, and even home DIY enthusiasts face serious risks when power tools, heavy machinery, or industrial equipment malfunction. Missing guards, faulty electrical components, or design flaws can lead to traumatic amputations, crushing injuries, and fatal accidents. Our firm's extensive experience representing construction workers gives us unique insight into these complex cases that often involve workers' compensation and third-party liability claims against manufacturers.
Defective Vehicle Components
Failed airbags, faulty brakes, defective tires, electrical system malfunctions, and other defective auto parts cause dangerous accidents. These cases require thorough investigations to determine whether the crash resulted from a manufacturing defect, design flaw, or failure to warn about known risks, rather than driver negligence.
Dangerous Children's Products and Toys
Products designed for children should meet the highest safety standards. Unfortunately, toys, cribs, car seats, and other children's products too often contain choking hazards, toxic materials, or design flaws that lead to serious injuries. Our defective product lawyers aggressively pursue compensation on behalf of injured children.
Toxic Chemicals and Materials
Exposure to toxic substances in consumer products, building materials, or workplace environments can cause devastating long-term health conditions, including cancer and neurological damage. These complex cases often involve proving causation between exposure and illness, sometimes years later. Our attorneys understand how to build compelling scientific evidence linking your condition to specific product exposures.
Compensation for Defective Product Injuries
Victims of defective products in New York and New Jersey may be entitled to significant compensation. Our attorneys fight aggressively to secure damages for:
- Medical expenses. Your health care costs may include emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and future medical needs related to your injuries.
- Lost income and earning capacity. This includes wages, benefits, and self-employment income lost during recovery and diminished future earning potential if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous occupation.
- Pain and suffering. The physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries may be hard to quantify, but you deserve substantial compensation for them.
- Punitive damages. In cases where manufacturers demonstrated gross negligence or willful disregard for consumer safety, courts may award additional punitive damages specifically designed to punish wrongdoers for willful and wanton conduct and deter similar conduct.
New York and New Jersey have different laws governing product liability claims. Our attorneys understand the nuances of both states' laws and how to maximize your recovery in either jurisdiction.
What to Do After a Defective Product Injury
Your actions immediately following an injury caused by a defective product can significantly impact your ability to receive fair compensation. If a dangerous product has harmed you or a loved one, we encourage you to:
- Seek immediate medical attention. Your health is the top priority. Even if injuries seem minor initially, some conditions worsen over time or have delayed symptoms. Medical records also provide crucial documentation connecting your injuries to the product failure.
- Preserve the defective product. Keep the product exactly as it was when it caused your injury, if possible. Do not attempt to repair, continue using, or discard it. This physical evidence is often an essential element in proving your case.
- Document everything. Take detailed photographs of the product, including model numbers, serial numbers, warning labels, and any visible defects. Also, photograph your injuries, the location where the incident occurred, and any property damage.
- Gather proof of purchase. Locate receipts, credit card statements, warranty information, instruction manuals, and any other documentation related to acquiring the product.
- Keep a daily journal. Document your pain levels, limitations, treatments, medications, and how the injury impacts your daily life. This contemporaneous record helps establish the extent of your suffering and recovery progress.
- Consult with a New Jersey or New York defective product lawyer promptly. Product liability cases involve complex technical and legal issues with strict filing deadlines. An experienced attorney can handle evidence preservation, identify all potentially liable parties, and protect your rights while you focus on recovery.
At Hofmann & Schweitzer, we guide New York and New Jersey residents who have been hurt by defective products through the legal process. We’ve been helping injured people since 1977 and are proud to provide personalized attention to each client.
