When a product is defective or potentially hazardous to the consumer who purchased it, product liability mediation can be an effective way to resolve the problem.  Product liability mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that avoids going to court and dealing with extensive attorney fees.  Since being injured by a defective product can entitle the consumer to monetary damages, product liability mediation is often a preferred way to handle the dispute and receive compensation without dealing with the expense (both in time and money) of litigation.

In product liability mediation and cases involving product liability claims, most fall under one or several of the following categories:

A claim involving a design defect.  When a product breaks or damages more easily than it should, the problem could be related to a design defect.  These types of claims are especially successful when brought to mediation, particularly if the product’s design defect put the consumer at risk for being seriously hurt.

A claim involving a manufacturing defect.  If a product is made and distributed with known defects, the manufacturer could be responsible.  Manufacturers should test their products thoroughly before distributing them; otherwise, consumers could be at risk when using the defective products.

A claim involving an inadequate warning / no warning label.  If a product is potentially harmful, there should be a label on it warning consumers about the harm that could result if the product is used incorrectly.  Without this label, a manufacturer could be held liable for any injury that occurs when or if the consumer uses the product incorrectly and is injured as a result.

For either one of these claims, product liability mediation is a quick and easy method to reach a resolution and seek monetary damages for injuries that are the direct result of a manufacturer’s carelessness or lack of foresight.