Georgia Product Liability Lawyer

Can I sue the manufacturer of a defective product in Georgia?

Often, yes. Manufacturers can be liable for selling products that are defective at the time of sale if the defects harm consumers. O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11 The Scott Pryor Law Group builds Georgia product liability claims to show what the defect was, that it was there when the product was sold, and that it caused your injury.

Much of the evidence in a product case is in the company's hands: records of how the product was designed, tested and marketed, and of any updates or changes made to it. Those records can show whether the company ignored warnings or released fixes that did not solve a known problem. We ask for them.

The product itself matters just as much. Keep it, along with the packaging, instructions and receipts, and do not let anyone repair, discard or test it without your lawyer. Once a product is altered or lost, the defect can be much harder to prove.

We work with engineers and other experts to find out what failed and why. In a vehicle case, that can include the event data recorder and onboard computers, which show the vehicle's speed and what it did just before the crash.

Manufacturers have lawyers and engineers working on their defense from the start. You should have people working on your side just as early.

Who can be held liable for a defective product?

In a Georgia product liability case, more than one company can be responsible. The Scott Pryor Law Group looks at the manufacturer, the maker of a failed part, the developer of faulty software, and the distributor or retailer that sold the product, then pursues each one the evidence supports.

Most products are assembled from parts made by many companies. A car maker may buy its cameras and radar sensors from suppliers and hire outside developers to write the software for a driver-assistance system. If the defect is in one of those parts, the company that made it may share responsibility.

Others can play a part too. A company that serviced the product, or someone who modified it after it was sold, may bear some of the blame. In a crash involving a driver-assistance system, the driver's conduct still matters. Georgia follows an at-fault system: whoever caused the crash is liable. O.C.G.A. § 51-1-6

Finding every responsible company matters for a practical reason: each one has its own insurer and its own lawyers. We identify them early, while the evidence is still available, and pursue the claim against each one the facts support.

What kinds of product defects cause injuries?

Georgia product liability claims usually involve one of three kinds of defect, and The Scott Pryor Law Group investigates all three: a design that makes every unit unsafe, a manufacturing error that makes some units unsafe, and missing or inadequate warnings and instructions.

Design defects. The flaw is in the design itself, so every product made to it carries the same risk. A toy for toddlers built with small parts a child can reach is one example.

Manufacturing defects. Something went wrong in production, such as poor materials, an assembly mistake or contamination. Only some units may be affected, even when they share a design.

Warning and instruction defects. The product lacked clear warnings about known risks or instructions for safe use, or its labels were wrong, such as an age rating that does not fit a toy with small parts.

Defects show up in everyday things. Faulty wiring, overheating parts and missing safety shutoffs can start appliance fires. Sensors, cameras or software can fail in a driver-assistance system and misread a sign, a lane line or another car.

Proving which kind of defect caused your injury usually takes an expert, often an engineer who can explain what made the product unsafe and how the danger could have been avoided. We arrange that testing.

How long do I have to file a product liability claim in Georgia?

The Scott Pryor Law Group tells people hurt by defective products in Georgia not to wait for the legal deadline. Victims generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 The product and its records are the evidence, and both can be lost, repaired or thrown away long before then.

A second deadline applies to product claims. Product liability claims must be filed within 10 years of the product's first sale. O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11(b)(2) Keep your proof of purchase. It shows when you bought the product.

Product cases take time to prepare. Experts need to examine the product, and the company's design, testing and warning records have to be requested and reviewed before anyone can value the claim.

Early steps protect all of that. Keep the product exactly as it is, write down how you were using it, and keep your medical records together. If the manufacturer or an insurer contacts you, refer them to us.

Most claims settle before trial, but talks with a manufacturer's insurer can run for months. Having a lawyer track the deadline from the start keeps the choice to file in your hands.

If the product was recalled after you were hurt, or you learned about a defect months later, call anyway. We will give you an honest answer about where your claim stands.

Can you sue Tesla for a Full Self-Driving crash?

If a defect in Tesla's Full Self-Driving system, sensors or cameras caused a crash in Georgia, Tesla may be liable in a product liability claim, and a driver who was not paying attention may share the fault. The Scott Pryor Law Group reviews the crash data and vehicle records to find out who is responsible.

How do I choose a product liability lawyer in Georgia?

Choose a Georgia product liability lawyer on evidence you can check: product liability results, access to engineers and other experts, readiness for trial against a large company, and independent reviews. The Scott Pryor Law Group publishes its product liability result, prepares every case as if it will go to trial, and has 3,200+ Google reviews.

Manufacturers defend these cases with their own lawyers and engineers, and they can afford a long case. Ask any firm you are considering who will examine the product, which experts it works with, and whether it is ready to take the case to trial.

Confirm each attorney's license in the State Bar of Georgia's member directory. Read a firm's Google reviews as well as the testimonials it picks. Ask whether each result was a verdict or a settlement, and what kind of case it was.

What if a defective appliance caused a fire in my home?

If a defective appliance started a fire in your Georgia home, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor or retailer, along with a claim under your own homeowner's policy. The Scott Pryor Law Group can arrange expert testing to find out whether a defect caused the fire.