You’ve seen several new stores recently open close to your home. While some stores are big and well-known in the industry, some are quite small but claim that they can offer the same quality of products that the bigger players in the market can offer. And because these stores look deceiving and products are much cheaper, you decided to purchase a product from them. You think that buying an item from them is a bargain since you’re basically getting the same product with a lower price, or so you thought.
A product which is priced to be too cheap is one of the telltale signs of a defective product. And although these can be useful for a couple of days after purchase, using defective products can pose dangers not only to your health, but to your life as well. To help you better understand the dangers of defective products, continue reading this article.
But First, What Technically Is A Defective Product?
A product which looks blue in online photos and green in actual cannot be considered as a defective product. In the legal context there are certain ways to tell if a product can be considered defective and these are as follows:
- Defective design: Any flaws in the design of a product can put a customer’s life on the line. One example of a defective design is when a metal fan’s guard lock is missing which makes it susceptible for kids to quickly open the case and place their fingers on the blade. This can result in serious injuries.
- Defective manufacturing: Once there is an error in the manufacturing process, the resulting flow can be dangerous regardless of how small the error was. For example, if a power strip is assembled with a damaged component, the unit might overheat and start a fire.
- Failure to warn or instruct: Failure to provide instructions or a manual for the operation of a product or failure to warn the customers about the possible dangers associated with the product can result in the improper use of the product. If a business has been advertising a drug as a treatment for pregnancy-induced nausea but never warned its customers about the side effects of the medicine to the unborn child, the business can face lawsuit pertaining to product defects.
What Are The Dangers Associated With Defective Products?
Product defects come in various types and sizes, but despite the diversity, one thing is certain: defective products can be dangerous to customers as these can end up causing injuries and death. Here are just some of the dangers associated with product defects:
- If the defective product is a toy: There have been several instances when toys with small parts break off and become a choking hazard. This kind of defect, although seemingly very simple, has caused deaths and thousands of injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Toys are sold in age-specific levels so that when they are inappropriate for certain age group, a clear warning should be given to its customers. A parent purchases a toy to keep a child entertained or educated, and not be harmed in any way.
- If the defective products are household appliances: News reports about electrical appliances with faulty wiring causing a huge fire in a neighborhood are not uncommon anymore. Status quo would tell you that this kind of situation is happening and many families are affected because of one single product. The appliances which are frequently defective inside are hair dryers, toasters, and toaster ovens.
- If the defective product is medication: Prescription medication cannot be sold publicly unless it undergoes through rigorous testing to ensure that it is indeed safe. However, when drug manufacturers fail to adequately test drugs or ignore side effects, serious health risks and even death can occur. Defective medications basically defeat their purpose – you’re purchasing these to ease out any discomfort or pain that you’re feeling, and not intensify your health conditions.
- If the defective product is a household item that breaks: Regardless of how small or big your house is, you’ll be using furniture in order to provide comfort to everyone living there. However, can you imagine the fear you might have once a child’s changing table collapses when a baby is placed on it? Or when a perfect-looking chair collapses when a person sits on it? Yep, witnessing and even experiencing these things can be frustrating and frightening at the same time. The pieces which you thought would create coziness, when defective, can actually cause more harm than good.
- If the defective product is an automobile: You purchased a vehicle for different reasons but for sure, one of which is convenience. You purchased a vehicle to not stress yourself in commuting to and from work, and to have the liberty to go wherever you want. However, you won’t be able to experience any of those things once the auto manufacturer failed to meet all the safety requirements. When you’re inside an unsafe vehicle, air bags might not go off at all ort the brakes might not work when you’re in the middle of the road – and nothing good can come from that. Unsafe vehicles are synonymous with serious accidents and even death.
In a nutshell, defective products can put your life in danger. Regardless of how careful you are and how you take good care of the product, if it’s defective the first time you purchased it, you can almost expect to experience its consequences. If you were seriously injured and need legal help, it’s good to find a lawyer who specializes in defective products, like the ones here, for more information.
In conclusion
Most of the time, the price can greatly influence your decision of whether or not you should buy a certain product. And the cheaper the product is, the easier it is for you to choose – you would always buy the option that is cheaper, right? Well, you might be getting a product for a reduced price but keep in mind that during this phase, you’re putting yourself and your family in danger, as you might be purchasing a defective product without you even knowing it. When you’re purchasing a product, you should also take the time to be meticulous enough so you can determine if you’re getting your money’s worth. Yes, this can be taxing especially if you need the product immediately but this is a small sacrifice compared to experiencing the health risks of defective products.
Author Bio – Timothy Garret
Timothy is a budding law writer who enjoys all aspect of the law industry. He’s currently studying to become a lawyer and is applying his law knowledge into what he writes about. He spends time with his friends and swimming in his spare time.