Defective Products and Wrongful Death Claims

Washington, D.C., Maryland, & Virginia

Defective products are often at the heart of wrongful death lawsuits. A products liability wrongful death case may be obvious due to the nature of the accident, or it may only become apparent after extensive investigation. The element of product liability can change the responsible parties in a wrongful death case. The manufacturer of the defective product may be held responsible instead of or in addition to the original party or parties believed to be responsible.

• SUV rollover
• Seat belt and child safety seat injuries
• Fatal police abuse
• Medication injuries
• Lead poisoning
• ATV fatalities
• Fatal trucking accidents
• Fires
• Electrical accidents
• Construction accidents

Defective vehicles

Vehicle defects can result in wrongful death in two ways:

• Defects which cause accidents to occur
• Defects which do not cause accidents, but cause fatal injuries once an accident occurs for another reason

For example, faulty tires are a well-known example of a defective product causing fatal rollovers to occur. An otherwise survivable rollover can turn deadly due to poor roof crush resistance or defective seat belts.

Children are often the victims of deadly products

Defective children’s toys can kill. This can include products which break creating sharp edges or a choking hazard, products which can catch on fire during normal use, and toys contaminated with lead.

Children often die due to a single, preventable defect – inappropriate marketing. Some products are safe for adults to use, and function properly, but are completely inappropriate and unsafe for children. Marketing these products to children is considered a defect in itself, and sadly, it is a defect which often results in death. There are many, many products which harm children by this defect alone. All terrain vehicles are notorious culprits.

Children are also susceptible to the dangers of products such as faulty cribs and defective child restraints.

Defective medications

Medications can be deadly due to a defect in the medication itself, or a defect in the labeling and packaging. Pharmaceutical companies often fail to disclose the known risks associated with a medication, even to doctors. Poor labeling and packaging can lead to the fatal misuse of an otherwise safe medication, causing confusion which leads to administration of the wrong medication or to overdose of the correct medication.

If the death of a loved one in your family was caused by what you believe is a defective product in Maryland, Washington DC, or Virginia, contact our personal injury attorneys at the law offices of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. The wrongful death lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. will examine your case and consult with you to determine what damages may be entitled to recover at no cost to you.

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