If you get hurt or fall ill while using a defective product, what you do next could make or break a subsequent injury claim. Although your first priority should always be your health, the steps that come after visiting the doctor will vary depending on the product in question and the severity of the damages.
Defective products that can cause serious injury or illness include:
- Medical devices and pharmaceuticals;
- Machinery and vehicles;
- Tools and equipment;
- Nonedible consumer goods; and
- Food or drink.
If you incurred damages while using any of the above and think some kind of defect is to blame, turn to Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC. A strategic attorney on our team can handle all the logistics of your case so you can focus on recovering. Call 319-393-1020 to schedule a free consultation with an injury attorney in Cedar Rapids.
Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals
According to Principles and Practice of Pharmaceutical Medicine, the negative effects of taking defective pharmaceuticals usually fall under at least one of seven main categories. These include:
- Toxic effects;
- Allergic reactions;
- Dependence;
- Indirect injury after the drug inhibits normal functioning;
- Interactions;
- Inefficacy; and
- Microorganism resistance.
If you get hurt or fall ill while taking medication or using a particular medical device, look up the product online to see if there is already a pending class action lawsuit. Otherwise, save all documentation you have regarding the prescription and call an attorney.
Machinery, Vehicles, Tools, Equipment, and Other Consumer Goods
Defective machines and vehicles can cause catastrophic damages and even fatalities when they malfunction. If you were hurt while using faulty equipment, try to preserve the evidence, and take photographs of the item from all angles.
Then, report the incident with the appropriate party. For example, if you were hurt at work, alert your supervisor. Likewise, if your brakes failed and you were in a motor vehicle collision, call the police. After reporting the accident, call an attorney to start building your product liability claim.
These steps are essentially the same if any kind of consumer good hurts you: preserve the item, take photos, gather all essential documentation, and call a lawyer.
Food and Drink
If you get food poisoning, other consumers likely did, too. Ask your doctor if you should report the incident to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help authorities stop others from getting sick, too. This will also strengthen your personal injury claim because it will provide a paper trail while demonstrating you performed due diligence.
If you sustained serious injuries or illness while using some kind of defective product, turn to Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC to determine the most strategic way to proceed. When it comes to product liability claims, the earliest stages of the case are essential because much of the evidence may be time sensitive.
For example, if you contracted salmonella, a lab will need to test the contaminated item as soon as possible. Otherwise, the evidence could literally disintegrate.
Contact us online or call 319-393-1020 to schedule a case evaluation with an injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids. You can learn more about product liability claims in Iowa by visiting USAttorneys.com.
Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC
1921 51st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
319-393-1020
