A design defect exists when the product’s blueprint itself is unreasonably dangerous — every unit produced according to that design carries the same flaw. Design defect claims require showing that a safer alternative design was available and that the manufacturer chose not to use it. Common examples include vehicles with a high rollover risk, power tools with inadequate guarding, and consumer electronics with overheating batteries.

A manufacturing defect occurs when an individual product deviates from its intended design during the production process. The design itself may be sound, but a specific unit comes off the line in a dangerous condition — a structural weakness, a missing component, or a contaminated batch. These defects can affect any type of product, from medical devices to food products to automobile parts.

Manufacturers have a duty to warn consumers about risks associated with their products that are not obvious. When a product carries a known danger and the manufacturer fails to provide adequate warnings or instructions, injured users may have a failure-to-warn claim even if the product itself was properly designed and manufactured. Pharmaceutical cases frequently involve this theory when drug companies fail to disclose known side effects.

Implanted devices, surgical instruments, diagnostic equipment, and other medical devices that malfunction or fail prematurely can cause serious injury. These cases often involve complex regulatory issues, manufacturing records, and medical expert testimony. We have experience handling claims involving recalled and defective medical devices across Louisiana.

Drug manufacturers are required to disclose known risks and conduct adequate testing before bringing medications to market. When a pharmaceutical company conceals side effects, markets a drug for unapproved uses, or fails to update warnings as new risks emerge, injured patients may have strong product liability claims. Our attorneys evaluate pharmaceutical injury cases carefully and work with medical experts to establish the connection between the drug and the harm.

Household appliances, power tools, children’s toys, furniture, recreational equipment, and countless other consumer products can cause serious injuries when they malfunction. If you were hurt by a product that failed in normal use, the manufacturer or seller may be liable regardless of whether you did anything wrong.

Vehicle defects — including faulty brakes, defective airbags, tire failures, and fuel system problems — can cause or worsen the injuries in a crash. These claims may proceed alongside a standard car accident claim when both driver negligence and a product defect contributed to the harm. Identifying the defect quickly and preserving the vehicle as evidence is critical.

In most cases, you have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana. However, product liability cases also involve a separate 10-year limitation period running from the date the product was first sold — meaning you can lose your right to sue even if you have not yet been injured, if the product is more than 10 years old. There are exceptions, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your injury.

Not always. Louisiana’s products liability law allows claims based on the product being unreasonably dangerous in design, construction, or because of an inadequate warning — without requiring proof of the manufacturer’s specific negligence. What you do need to show is that the product was defective, that the defect made it unreasonably dangerous, and that the defect caused your injury. Our attorneys work with technical and medical experts to build that foundation.

It depends. Manufacturers are responsible for injuries caused by reasonably foreseeable uses of their products — not just the exact intended use. If your use was something a manufacturer could have anticipated, a product liability claim may still be viable. Louisiana’s pure comparative fault rules also mean that even if you share some responsibility, your damages are reduced proportionally rather than eliminated.

A recall can actually strengthen your case by establishing that the manufacturer knew or should have known about the defect. If you were injured by a recalled product — whether before or after the recall was announced — you may have a strong claim. Preserve the product, any packaging, and any recall notices you received, and contact us right away.

Yes. Louisiana product liability law allows claims against every party in the product’s chain of distribution — the manufacturer, any component part makers, the distributor, and the retailer who sold it to you. In some cases, all of these parties share liability. Our attorneys investigate the full supply chain to make sure every responsible party is held accountable and your recovery is maximized.