Charleston Product Liability Attorneys Representing Your Claims

What are West Virginia’s Product Liability Laws?

When a defective or dangerous product is the cause of injury, there may be a case for product liability. This involves the manufacturer or seller of a product being held accountable when a consumer that has purchased this product is injured. Consumers have expectations of a product and how it should operate. When a product does not live up to these expectations, those in the supply chain of that product could be breaking the law.

One of the most famous product liability cases involved a 79-year-old woman that sued a popular fast food chain after arguing that the coffee she had just purchased was too hot after it spilled onto her lap. While this case was quickly misrepresented as frivolous, the facts were that the victim suffered third-degree burns across her pelvis and required an eight-day stay in the hospital to undergo skin grafting, disfiguring her for life. The attorneys, in this case, proved that the coffee at this chain was overheated and more likely to cause injury than coffee served at other establishments, providing a basis for the original claim that this was a harmful product that caused a serious, and unnecessary, injury.

If you or a loved one experienced an injury or death because of a defective product, you may have a product liability case. Speak with a Charleston premises liability lawyer by contacting (304) 343-2222 to discuss your legal options.

Understanding Product Liability in West Virginia

At its core, product liability is about accountability. It ensures that companies that put products into the market are held responsible when those products cause harm due to a defect. This area of law protects consumers by providing a means to seek compensation for their injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It also incentivizes manufacturers to produce safe products and adhere to industry standards.

Types of Product Defects

Product liability claims in West Virginia typically hinge on proving one of three main types of defects:

• Manufacturing Defects: This occurs when a product departs from its intended design during the manufacturing process. Even if the product’s design is safe, a flaw introduced during production makes a specific unit or batch of products dangerous. For example, if a car’s brake line is improperly installed on one vehicle due to a factory error, leading to brake failure, that would be a manufacturing defect. These are often anomalies that affect only a few items in a production run.
• Design Defects: A design defect exists when the product’s inherent design is flawed, making it unreasonably dangerous even if manufactured perfectly. This means that every unit of the product made according to that design is potentially dangerous. For instance, if a toy’s design includes small, easily detachable parts that pose a choking hazard to children, that would be a design defect. In such cases, the plaintiff might argue that a safer alternative design was feasible and economically viable but was not implemented.
• Marketing Defects (Failure to Warn): These defects arise when a product is sold without adequate warnings, instructions, or labels about potential hazards or proper usage. Even if a product is designed and manufactured safely, it can be considered defective if consumers are not adequately informed of non-obvious risks or how to use the product safely. An example would be a cleaning solution that doesn’t warn about serious skin irritation if it comes into contact with bare skin, or a piece of machinery that lacks clear safety instructions, leading to injury.

Legal Theories for Product Liability Claims in West Virginia

In West Virginia, product liability claims can generally be pursued under one or more of the following legal theories:

• Strict Liability: This is the most common and often the most advantageous theory for plaintiffs in product liability cases in West Virginia. Under strict liability, a plaintiff does not need to prove that the manufacturer or seller was negligent or at fault in causing the defect. Instead, the focus is solely on the product itself. To succeed on a strict liability claim, a plaintiff typically must prove:
  1. The product was in a defective condition, making it unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer or to their property.
  2. The defect existed at the time the product left the control of the manufacturer or seller.
  3. The defect directly caused the plaintiff’s injuries or damages.
  4. The plaintiff was using the product as it was intended or in a reasonably foreseeable manner. West Virginia is considered a “strict liability” state for defective products, meaning that liability can be imposed even without proving negligence.
• Negligence: A product liability claim based on negligence requires the plaintiff to prove that the manufacturer, designer, or seller failed to exercise reasonable care in the design, manufacturing, inspection, or warning of the product, and this failure directly led to the injury. Examples of negligence in product liability can include:

• Negligent design choices.
• Careless manufacturing or assembly processes.
• Failure to adequately test the product.
• Failure to inspect the product for defects.
• Failure to foresee reasonable uses of the product.
• Releasing the product to the market too early without sufficient testing.
• Failure to provide adequate warnings or instructions. Proving negligence can be more challenging than strict liability, as it requires demonstrating a breach of duty of care on the part of the defendant.

• Breach of Warranty: This theory arises from the law of contracts and involves a product failing to meet certain promises or standards made by the manufacturer or seller. Warranties can be:

• Express Warranties: Specific promises or affirmations of fact made by the manufacturer or seller about the product’s quality, performance, or safety. For example, a claim in a product advertisement that a particular material is “unbreakable.”
• Implied Warranties: These are unstated, legally enforceable promises that a product is fit for its ordinary purpose (implied warranty of merchantability) and, in some cases, fit for a particular purpose for which the buyer is relying on the seller’s skill or judgment (implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose). If a product breaches either an express or implied warranty and causes injury or damage, a claim may be brought under this theory.

Key Elements of a Product Liability Claim in Charleston, WV

Regardless of the specific legal theory, certain common elements must generally be proven in a product liability claim in West Virginia:

1. A Product was Marketed or Sold: The claim must involve a tangible product that was placed into the stream of commerce.
2. A Defect Existed: As discussed above, one of the three types of defects (manufacturing, design, or marketing/warning) must be present.
3. The Defect Caused Injury or Damage: There must be a direct causal link between the product’s defect and the plaintiff’s injury, illness, or property damage.
4. Injury or Damages Sustained: The plaintiff must have suffered actual harm that can be compensated, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, or property damage.
5. Product was Used as Intended or in a Reasonably Foreseeable Manner: Generally, the plaintiff must show they were using the product in a way that was intended or could be reasonably anticipated by the manufacturer. Misuse of a product can impact a claim.

Parties Who Can Be Held Liable in Charleston, WV

In a product liability case in Charleston, WV, liability can extend to any party in the product’s chain of distribution. This often includes:

• Manufacturers: The company that designed, produced, or assembled the product.
• Component Manufacturers: Manufacturers of parts that were incorporated into the final product.
• Wholesalers/Distributors: Entities involved in the distribution of the product from the manufacturer to the retailer.
• Retailers: The store or entity that sold the product directly to the consumer.

In some cases, other entities like product marketers or even installers/repair persons might be held liable for their own negligence if it contributed to the injury. West Virginia law also addresses circumstances where an “innocent seller” might be protected from liability, typically if they had no actual knowledge of the defect and did not exercise substantial control over the product’s design or manufacturing.

Statute of Limitations in West Virginia

It is critical to be aware of the statute of limitations for product liability claims in West Virginia. Generally, a product liability lawsuit for personal injury or property damage must be filed within two years from the date the injury occurred or the date the injury was discovered (or should have been discovered through reasonable diligence). This “discovery rule” is particularly important in cases where the harm caused by a defective product, such as a dangerous drug or medical device, may not manifest immediately. Failure to file a lawsuit within this two-year window will almost certainly result in the claim being dismissed, losing the right to seek compensation.

Potential Damages in Product Liability Cases

If a product liability claim is successful, a plaintiff in Charleston, WV, may be able to recover various types of damages, including:

• Economic Damages: These are quantifiable financial losses, such as:
  • Medical expenses (past and future)
  • Lost wages (past and future)
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Property damage
  • Funeral and burial expenses (in wrongful death cases)
• Non-Economic Damages: These are subjective, non-monetary losses that compensate for the impact of the injury on the victim’s life, such as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of consortium (for spouses)
• Punitive Damages: In rare cases, if the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious, reckless, or showed a malicious disregard for consumer safety, punitive damages may be awarded. These are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future, rather than compensate the victim for specific losses.

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Product designers and manufacturers should not be allowed to send products to the market that have the potential to harm consumers. No one should suffer a life-changing injury because of the negligence of another party. At Pence Law Firm PLLC, we have the experience to consider cases from unique positions and strive to recover maximum compensation for our clients. Don’t wait – our dedicated, client-focused representation can help you.

Clients choose to work with Pence Law Firm PLLC because:

• We offer free consultations for personal injury clients
• Our proven track record of success has allowed us to recover millions in compensation
• We are a highly reputable law firm with accolades from Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell
• Our compassionate attorneys come right to you so that you can focus on recovery
• We bring over 115 years of combined experience to every case

When it comes to product liability lawsuits, there is more on the line than simply financial damages. A lawsuit can play an essential role in removing the product from the shelves or changing how it is presented to consumers. Our product liability attorneys in Charleston are ready and able to fight against corporations, insurers, and their legal teams to provide the best possible results for our clients.