Peter Helped me with a case these last few months. Always explained everything in depth. Can’t say enough good things about how it went.
Attorneys Handling Product Defect Cases in St. Louis
The consequences of a failure by a product we trust to be safe can be severe and life-altering. If you or a family member has been injured by a faulty product, the St. Louis product liability attorneys at Bruntrager & Billings are prepared to guide you through the complex process of holding manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable and to help ensure you receive the compensation you are due.
Product liability law applies to nearly every category of consumer and commercial goods, from household appliances to industrial machinery. As a product liability law firm with decades of combined experience, we have handled claims involving food and kitchen appliances that malfunctioned, electronics that failed without warning, children’s toys with hidden hazards, and window blinds with cords that pose a strangulation risk to young children.
No matter what type of defective product caused your personal injury, our team is positioned to evaluate your case and pursue the outcome you deserve.
Why Choose Our Product Liability Attorneys
Finding the right product liability lawyer for your case is crucial. If you are searching for defective product attorneys St. Louis families can trust with a serious injury claim, here are several reasons to consider our team.
Experience and Local Knowledge
As product liability lawyers in St. Louis clients have relied on for decades, our team has handled cases involving household product defects, dangerous window blind cords, faulty appliances, and other product liability claims. Our knowledge of both Missouri and federal product liability law allows us to build strong, well-supported arguments tailored to each client’s situation.
Client-Centered Approach
We put our clients first, offering a customized legal strategy for each individual case. We understand that an injury from a defective product can be overwhelming, both physically and financially, which is why we stay engaged with you at every stage. We take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions in plain language, and keep you informed as your case moves forward.
Proven Results
Our firm has a track record of securing substantial settlements and verdicts for clients injured by defective products. From individual claims to complex, multi-party litigation, we have represented plaintiffs across a wide range of product defect cases, earning recognition as a trusted product liability law firm that St. Louis residents refer to friends and family.
Comprehensive Legal Services
Beyond handling the product liability claim itself, we provide comprehensive legal support for the issues that often accompany a serious injury, including negotiating with insurance companies, coordinating with medical providers, and addressing any related legal matters that arise during your recovery.
Whether you need a St. Louis product defect lawyer for a single household item or a defective products lawyer to manage a claim involving multiple manufacturers and suppliers, our team scales its approach to match the complexity of your case.
Manufacturers have a responsibility to make reasonably safe products. When they fail, injured consumers have rights.
Our Approach to Product Liability Cases
We treat every product liability case as a whole, from the first phone call through final resolution. Here is how our defective product attorneys approach each matter:
Thorough Investigation
We conduct extensive investigations to gather evidence, identify every responsible party, and build a strong case. Our attorneys work with forensic and engineering investigators to pinpoint the root cause of the defect and trace the product back through the chain of distribution, from the manufacturer to the retailer that sold it.
Expert Consultations
Our lawyers work closely with engineering professionals, medical practitioners, and product safety consultants who understand how a specific defect caused your injury. Their analysis and testimony give your case the technical grounding it needs to withstand scrutiny in negotiations or at trial.
Aggressive Advocacy
Whether negotiating a fair settlement or presenting a case in court, we do not rest until our client’s interests are fully protected. Our negotiators and trial attorneys prepare every matter as though it is going to trial, so we are never caught unprepared, regardless of how the other side responds.
Client Communication
We believe in open, honest communication throughout the litigation process. You will know where your case stands at every stage, and our team remains available whenever you need clarification or have new questions.
Injured by a defective product? Get the justice you deserve with expert legal representation.
Common Types of Product Liability Cases We Handle
Defective products cause injuries across nearly every category of consumer and commercial goods. Our defective product lawyers regularly handle claims involving:
- Household Appliances and Electronics. Malfunctioning kitchen appliances, overheating electronics, and devices with faulty wiring that cause fires or burns.
- Children’s Products and Toys. Toys with choking hazards, cribs and nursery furniture with structural flaws, and window blind cords that pose a strangulation risk to young children.
- Motor Vehicles and Auto Parts. Defective airbags, brakes, tires, and other components that fail during ordinary use and cause serious collisions.
- Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals. Implants, medical equipment, and medications that were defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed without adequate warnings.
- Industrial and Workplace Equipment. Machinery and tools that lack proper safeguards or malfunction during normal operation, injuring workers on the job.
- Food and Consumer Packaged Goods. Contaminated food products and consumer goods that cause illness or injury when used as intended.
Understanding Product Liability Law in Missouri
Missouri law gives injured consumers several legal theories to pursue compensation, and understanding which one applies to your situation is central to building an effective case.
Types of Product Defects
Missouri recognizes three main categories of product defects, and a single product can sometimes involve more than one.
- Design Defects. Flaws in the product’s design that make it inherently unsafe, present even before a single unit is manufactured. A vehicle with a design that creates an unusually high rollover risk is a common example.
- Manufacturing Defects. Errors introduced during production that cause a specific unit or batch to deviate from its intended design, such as a contaminated batch of medication.
- Marketing Defects. Inadequate instructions or warnings that fail to inform consumers of a known risk, such as a medication that omits a warning of a dangerous side effect.
Strict Liability
Missouri follows a strict liability standard for product defect claims under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 537.760. Under this standard, an injured party does not need to prove that the manufacturer or seller was careless, only that the product was defective and unreasonably dangerous when used as intended or in a reasonably foreseeable manner, and that the defect caused the injury.
Negligence
Although strict liability is the primary theory in most product liability claims, a negligence claim may also be available when a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer failed to exercise reasonable care in the design, production, or marketing of a product. A product liability attorney can evaluate whether the facts of your case support a negligence claim in addition to, or instead of, a strict liability claim.
Breach of Warranty
A product liability claim may also rest on a breach of warranty. An express warranty is a specific promise made about a product by the manufacturer or seller, while an implied warranty is an unwritten assurance that a product is fit for its intended use. When a product fails to live up to either type of warranty and causes injury, the injured party may have grounds for a claim.
Missouri’s Statute of Limitations for Product Liability Claims
Missouri generally requires product liability claims to be filed within five years of the injury under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120. Because evidence can disappear and witnesses’ memories fade as time passes, and because certain claims may involve shorter deadlines depending on the parties or theories involved, it is important to speak with a product liability lawyer as soon as possible after an injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I am injured by a defective product?
Seek medical attention first, then preserve the product, its packaging, and any instructions or warnings that came with it. Avoid repairing or discarding the item, since it may serve as critical evidence. Photograph your injuries and the product, and consult a product liability attorney St. Louis families recommend before discussing the incident with the manufacturer’s insurance representatives.
Who can be held liable for a defective product?
Liability can extend to any party in the chain of distribution, including the manufacturer, component part makers, distributors, and the retailer that sold the product. Missouri’s innocent seller provision may allow a retailer to be dismissed from a case if it did not alter the product and can identify the manufacturer, though that dismissal can be reversed if the manufacturer cannot satisfy a judgment.
Do I need to prove the manufacturer was negligent to win my case?
Not necessarily. Missouri’s strict liability standard allows you to recover damages by showing the product was defective and unreasonably dangerous, without proving the manufacturer failed to exercise reasonable care. A negligence claim may still be available and can sometimes support additional damages.
How long do I have to file a product liability claim in Missouri?
Missouri generally allows five years from the date of injury to file a product liability claim. Some cases involve exceptions or shorter deadlines depending on the specific facts, so promptly consulting a defective product lawyer St. Louis clients trust helps protect your right to recover.
What compensation can I recover in a product liability case?
Depending on the severity of your injury, compensation may include past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and, in cases involving particularly reckless conduct, punitive damages. A products liability lawyer can evaluate the specifics of your case to estimate a realistic range of recovery.
Should I still pursue a claim if the product has been recalled?
Yes. A recall does not automatically compensate you for injuries that have already occurred, and it does not resolve who is financially responsible for your medical bills and other losses. A recall notice can actually strengthen a product liability claim by showing the manufacturer was aware of the defect, but you will still need a product liability lawyer to pursue the compensation you are owed.
St. Louis Product Defect Lawyers Ready to Help
If a defective product has injured you or a loved one, our team at Bruntrager & Billings is ready to review your case and help you understand your legal options. Whether you need a St. Louis defective product lawyer for a single item or a product liability law firm equipped to handle a complex, multi-party claim, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced St. Louis product liability lawyer.
