One moment, you are using a product the way you normally would, and the next, you are dealing with unexpected medical bills and treatment. Now, you have to show that someone’s legally responsible for what happened. When establishing liability in Columbia product liability cases, you must prove that a product wasn’t safe, it’s what caused your harm, and the company that made or sold it should be liable. Our seasoned product liability attorneys at WPF Law can help oversee your claim.
Three Paths to Liability
The state provides three primary ways to hold companies responsible for defective products. Strict liability focuses on the product itself rather than the manufacturer’s conduct. Negligence claims require showing the manufacturer failed to act reasonably. Breach of warranty claims address violations of promises regarding safety or performance. Strict liability is often the most direct approach because the injured person only needs to show the product was defective and dangerous, whether due to a manufacturing flaw, design issue, or inadequate warning.
Proving a Defect Existed
To succeed in a Columbia product liability case, you must show the product was defective, and that often requires strong evidence. A manufacturing defect occurs when a single item departs from an otherwise safe design. A design defect affects every product in a line, making the entire product unreasonably dangerous. In design defect cases, courts consider whether a safer alternative design was feasible without significant added cost or reduced function.
Connecting the Defect to Your Injury
Proving causation requires showing that the defect directly caused the injury. A broken ladder rung may be straightforward, but chemical-related illnesses require medical evidence that links the exposure to the harm. Other potential causes must be addressed because defense attorneys often argue misuse, preexisting conditions, or unrelated events to weaken the claim.
Medical records, photographs of the product, and witness statements help establish what occurred. At WPF Law, we guide you through each step, protect your rights, and work to build a strong case on your behalf.
Identifying the Right Defendants
Product liability cases often involve more than the manufacturer. Distributors, wholesalers, and retailers may also be held responsible under the state’s strict liability rules.
Even if a retailer did not create the defect, they introduced the product into the marketplace, and any party in the chain may be held accountable. Component manufacturers may also be liable. For example, a defective airbag may create responsibility for both the vehicle manufacturer and the airbag manufacturer.
Overcoming Common Defenses
Manufacturers often rely on predictable defenses. They may claim the product was misused, altered, or not properly maintained. They may also argue that the injured person assumed the risk or that their own negligence caused the harm.
Sophisticated legal strategies address these defenses. Misuse must be truly unforeseeable, and manufacturers have a duty to design products for reasonably anticipated misuse. At WPF Law, we challenge these defense arguments on a regular basis.
Product alterations do not always prevent recovery. Minor or immaterial changes may not break the causal chain. If the defect remained the substantial cause of the injury despite the alteration, recovery may still be possible.
Why Our Firm Succeeds
We have spent years establishing liability in Columbia product liability cases. We know which experts to consult, what evidence to gather, and how to present complex technical information clearly. Our firm has secured substantial results for individuals injured by defective products, and we apply that experience to every case we handle.
Our investigative approach is thorough. We obtain comparable products for testing and review recall databases and complaint histories. We also identify other consumers injured by the same product, and that evidence strengthens the case significantly.
We understand the state’s specific legal requirements, as product liability law varies by state. Local knowledge plays an important role when establishing liability under South Carolina statutes and case law..
Get Started Establishing Liability Today With Our Columbia Product Liability Lawyers
Time matters when establishing liability in Columbia product liability cases. Memories fade, evidence can vanish, and deadlines pass quickly.
WPF Law will look at your situation carefully, show you the options, and help make sure your case gets the attention it deserves. You won’t owe anything unless we secure a win for you.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
