Wrongful Death Due to Defective Products

When a defective product causes a loved one’s death, families face not only shock and grief but also many questions about accountability and justice. Product liability wrongful death cases hold manufacturers and other parties responsible for releasing dangerous products that claim lives. These cases are among the most challenging areas of personal injury law, requiring extensive investigation, expert testimony, and aggressive legal representation. 

At Bruntrager & Billings in St. Louis, we help Missouri families pursue wrongful death claims against corporations whose defective products have caused tragic, preventable deaths. Contact our STL wrongful death lawyers today for a free consultation. 

Types of Defective Products That Cause Fatal Injuries

Defective products can arise in virtually every category of consumer and commercial goods. Understanding the types of defects helps establish liability in wrongful death cases.

• Defective Automotive Parts: Faulty airbags, defective tires, brake system failures, steering defects, and fuel system problems have caused countless highway fatalities. When vehicle components fail catastrophically, manufacturers may be liable for resulting deaths.
• Dangerous Medications and Medical Devices: Pharmaceutical companies sometimes rush drugs to market without adequate testing, or fail to warn about serious side effects. Defective medical devices including pacemakers, surgical implants, and monitoring equipment have also caused patient deaths.
• Defective Machinery and Equipment: Industrial equipment, power tools, and construction machinery lacking proper safety guards or containing design flaws can cause fatal workplace accidents. Manufacturers must ensure their products include adequate safety features and warnings.
• Consumer Products: Defective household appliances, children’s products, electronics, and recreational equipment cause deaths when they malfunction, catch fire, contain toxic materials, or otherwise fail to operate safely.
• Defective Safety Equipment: When products designed to protect people, such as helmets, car seats, life jackets, or protective gear, are defectively designed or manufactured, the consequences can be fatal.

Establishing Liability in Product Defect Wrongful Death Cases

Missouri product defect cases are generally based on strict liability principles, meaning you don’t necessarily need to prove the manufacturer was negligent. Instead, you must demonstrate that the product was defective, the defect existed when it left the manufacturer’s control, the defect caused your loved one’s death, and the product was being used as intended o;r in a reasonably foreseeable manner.

However, these cases require substantial evidence including the actual product or identical examples, expert testimony from engineers or industry specialists, manufacturing records and quality control documentation, internal company communications showing knowledge of defects, reports of similar incidents with the same product, and autopsy reports linking the death to product failure.

Applying MO Wrongful Death Laws to Product Defect Cases

Missouri’s wrongful death statutes apply to product liability cases just as they do to other negligent acts causing death. The process is different from personal injury cases stemming from product liability.

First, only certain family members can file wrongful death lawsuits:

• Surviving spouse and children first
• The parents
• Any siblings, if none of the above are available and the siblings can demonstrate losses from the death

Further, the statute of limitations is shorter for wrongful death claims than for personal injury claims. Families only have three years to file a lawsuit following a preventable death. This means families must act promptly to preserve evidence, retain the defective product, and consult with experienced attorneys who understand both product liability and wrongful death law to effectively pursue claims against corporate defendants.

Never Wait to Contact Our Compassionate St. Louis Wrongful Death Attorneys

At Bruntrager & Billings, we handle the legal process with compassion while fighting for the justice your family deserves. Time is critical in product liability wrongful death cases, so contact us today for a consultation and let our experienced St. Louis wrongful death team hold negligent manufacturers accountable.