When Products Cause Injury
We trust that the products we buy, from vehicles and appliances to medical devices, tools, toys, and medications, are reasonably safe when used as intended. When a defective product causes injury, Connecticut's Product Liability Act allows victims to hold manufacturers, distributors, and sellers accountable. These cases can be highly technical, involving design and engineering analysis, but they are vital for compensating victims and pushing dangerous products off the market.
Three Types of Product Defects
Product liability claims generally fall into three categories. A design defect means the product was unreasonably dangerous as designed, even if made correctly. A manufacturing defect means an error during production made a particular item dangerous. A marketing or warning defect means the product lacked adequate instructions or warnings about its risks. Connecticut's Product Liability Act consolidates these theories into a single cause of action.
Connecticut's Product Liability Act
Connecticut law provides a single statutory framework for product claims, and it can hold sellers strictly liable in some circumstances, meaning a victim does not always have to prove negligence, only that the product was defective and unreasonably dangerous. These cases often require expert engineering and industry testimony, and the manufacturers who defend them have substantial resources, so strong representation is essential.
Recovering for Product Injuries
Victims of defective products may recover medical expenses, lost income, future care needs, and pain and suffering, and in cases of reckless disregard for safety, punitive damages may be available. Because these cases require technical proof and face well-funded defendants, preserving the product itself as evidence and acting promptly are critical.
Injured in Connecticut? Get a free, confidential case review today. There's no obligation, and you pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if at all possible. The defective product is key evidence. Preserve it and avoid altering or repairing it, and contact us so it can be properly examined.
Not always. Under Connecticut's Product Liability Act, sellers can be strictly liable if a product was defective and unreasonably dangerous, even without proof of negligence.
Connecticut generally allows three years from when the injury was discovered, with an outer limit. Because evidence must be preserved, act promptly.