Skilled Rolla, MO Attorneys Seek Full Compensation for Products Liability Injuries

Determined representation when defective products cause harm to consumers

Each year defective consumer products injure tens of thousands of Americans, many fatally. Faulty air bags and ignition switches, defective medical devices, and dangerous drugs are just a few of the products making headlines for the harm they’ve caused. If you’ve been hurt by a defective product, you have the right to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. But going up against a huge corporation can be a daunting task. Fortunately, the skilled products liability attorneys at Williams, Robinson, Rigler & Buschjost, P.C. in Rolla serve all of South-Central Missouri and are prepared to help. With more than 100 years of combined legal experience, our team knows how to build a winning case. As an established law firm, we have the resources to pursue legal action even against powerful defendants. When you entrust your products liability case to us, you can be confident in our ability and determination to fight for your rights.

What makes a product defective?

Under Missouri law, a product is defective if it has a flaw that makes it unreasonably unsafe for its intended purpose and any foreseeable unintended purpose. Product defects fall into three main categories:

  • Design — With design defects, there is a flaw in the plan for the product that makes it unreasonably unsafe. The classic design defect case involved the Ford Pinto, a compact car with a gas tank placed outside the steel frame of the car that was vulnerable to puncture in rear-end collisions. Once the decision was made to place the gas tank outside the frame, there was no way to prevent explosions upon impact, nor could any type of warning have made the care safe to drive. Design defects affect every product built from that design.
  • Manufacturing — This type of defect occurs because of a flaw in the manufacturing process, poor craftsmanship or shoddy materials. Depending on the cause of the defect, some of these products may be perfectly safe, while others contain dangerous flaws.
  • Marketing — A defect in marketing occurs when an inherently dangerous product lacks proper warnings on labels or in literature to keep a reasonable consumer safe. Labels that only warn against risks of intended use might not be sufficient. Marketers should anticipate foreseeable misuse of a product and warn the consumer about the risks.

Proving that a product had a defect is not always an easy task. Our personal injury law firm consults with experts in various industries who can test products to discern whether there is a defect and where the defect came from.

Determining liability for a defective product

For designers, manufacturers or marketers to be liable for defective products, the defects must exist during their possession. A designer may not be liable for a manufacturing defect, because the manufacturing process introduces the flaw into the product. Likewise, a manufacturer might not be liable for labeling defects if another company markets the product without appropriate warnings. As your legal representative, our tort defense firm thoroughly investigates the case to identify the appropriate defendants and then works tirelessly to build a case that holds them fully accountable.

For determined products liability representation, call our Rolla law firm today

Williams, Robinson, Rigler & Buschjost, P.C. in Rolla represents consumers who have been harmed by defective products throughout South-Central Missouri. To schedule an appointment to discuss your products liability case, call 573-458-5200 or contact us online.