The companies that design and manufacture consumer products have a legal obligation to ensure that these products are reasonably safe and do not pose an unnecessary risk to consumers. Unfortunately, carelessness and mistakes can cause some products to have dangerous and even life-threatening defects. If you or a loved one were injured by a defective product, you may be wondering what your legal options are. A product liability claim is a personal injury lawsuit involving injuries caused by a flawed or dangerous product. Through a product liability claim, an injured person or the loved ones of a deceased person may be eligible for financial compensation.

Types of Product Liability Lawsuits

Product liability claims may involve defective medical devices such as insulin pumps, automotive parts such as air bags or tires, children’s products such as sleepers or toys, food, drugs, and much more. Some product liability claims are based on the fact that the product’s design was already dangerously flawed before the product was even manufactured. The product may be structurally unstable, excessively flammable, contain toxic substances, represent a choking hazard to children, or is otherwise dangerous to the intended consumers of the product. 

Other product liability claims are based on mistakes made during the manufacturing or assembly process. Some examples of manufacturing defects include contaminated food or medication, products that are missing pieces, or products that are not assembled correctly. Product liability claims may also be a result of defects in the way the product is marketed to the consumer. Marketing defects most often involve products that do not contain sufficient warnings or instructions for proper use.

You may have already heard the news about a serious E. coli outbreak caused by contaminated romaine lettuce in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating three different E. coli outbreaks which are thought to have originated at farms in Salinas, California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising consumers to throw away any lettuce that they currently have which was grown in the Salinas region including packages of salad mixes, hearts of romaine, and even organic romaine lettuce. Restaurants and retailers are expected to throw out contaminated lettuce as well. If you or a loved one have contacted an E. coli infection after being exposed to contaminated romaine lettuce, you may be eligible for compensation through a defective product injury claim.

Symptoms of E. coli Infection

According to the CDC, 102 individuals from 23 different states including Illinois have been infected with E. coli due to the tainted lettuce. Ten of these individuals developed kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. Fortunately, no deaths have been linked to the contaminated lettuce, but E. coli infections can sometimes be fatal. Symptoms of E. coli infection include diarrhea which may be bloody, severe stomach cramps, fever, and vomiting. Symptoms often become apparent about 3-4 days after eating contaminated food or drink.

Personal Injury Lawsuits Involving Foods Contaminated with E. coli

If you or a loved one have suffered from an E. coli infection due to contaminated lettuce, a personal injury claim may help you recover compensation. Presuming negligence was involved, fault for your illness may lie with the company that grew the lettuce, the distributor, a retailer, or the restaurant that served you the contaminated lettuce. You may be able to get compensation for both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses like hospital bills, prescription medication costs, expenses related to diagnostic tests, and more. You may also be able to receive compensation for the time you had to take off of work because of your illness. Noneconomic damages such as your physical pain and emotional suffering may also be available.  

When we use or consume a product, most of us assume that there are no dangers associated with the product. In the United States, governmental agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Food and Drug Administration are tasked with ensuring that the products we use every day are safe. Unfortunately, defective products or products containing unsafe ingredients can still find their way onto store shelves. Most recently, the popular over-the-counter heartburn medication Zantac has been recalled in the U.S. and Canada over fears that it could increase consumers’ risk of cancer.

Drug Manufacturer Recalls Zantac

Sanofi SA, a French drug manufacturing company, recently announced that they will be recalling Zantac until further information about the drug’s ingredients can be analyzed. Health agencies have investigated the drug because it contains N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a cancer-causing impurity.

The generic version of Zantac is called ranitidine. Many manufacturers of ranitidine have already stopped distribution and pharmacy chains across the country have suspended sale of any over-the-counter medications containing ranitidine.