Columbus Product Liability Lawyer

A defective product can change your life in seconds. You may be left with serious injuries and high medical bills. There may be no clear next step. At Elk + Elk, our Columbus product liability lawyers help Columbus residents fight back. We hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable under Ohio law.

We represent families across Westerville, Dublin, and Gahanna. Our team handles every step of your claim. You pay nothing unless we win your case.

Why Choose Our Columbus Defective Product Lawyers?

• Our Columbus injury lawyers have successfully represented thousands of clients in the 50 years we have been practicing personal injury law in Ohio.
• Our firm has the resources, attorneys, and staff members to create a compelling case on your behalf. We can take on even the most challenging claims.
• Our firm understands the financial strain a defective product accident could put on your family. We offer representation on a contingency fee basis.

Common types of product defects

Ohio law recognizes three types of product defects: design, manufacturing, and marketing defects.

• Design Defect: The product’s design is unsafe from the start. Every unit made this way carries the same risk, even if it was built correctly. Ohio Revised Code Section 2307.75 explains how courts weigh a product’s risks against its benefits to decide if a design defect exists.
• Manufacturing Defect: Something went wrong while the product was made. This one unit turned out different, and that difference makes it dangerous.
• Marketing Defect: The maker knew about a danger but did not warn users. Missing labels or instructions can lead to real harm.

Ohio product liability laws

Ohio holds manufacturers and sellers to a strict standard. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, most injured consumers have two years from the date of injury to file a claim. This applies in Franklin County and across Ohio. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to recover money.

This same law also includes a separate rule, often called a statute of repose. This rule can block claims on products that have been in use for more than 10 years. It applies no matter when the injury happened.

Talking to a Columbus product liability lawyer soon after your injury helps protect your right to compensation.

Common types of product liability cases

Defective products can show up almost anywhere. Here are some of the most common cases our Columbus attorneys handle:

• Automotive Parts and Vehicles: Defective airbags, brakes, tires, and acceleration systems
• Pharmaceutical Drugs and Medical Devices: Hidden side effects or design flaws that harm patients
• Children’s Toys and Nursery Equipment: Choking, entrapment, or strangulation hazards
• Household Appliances and Power Tools: Electrical failures, fires, or broken parts
• Food and Consumer Goods: Contamination, wrong labels, or missing allergen warnings

No matter what type of product hurt you, what matters most is whether a defect caused your injury.

How Do I Prove Negligence?

A defective product injury can lead to a claim against the item’s manufacturer. Unfortunately, most manufacturers have significant legal resources to expend on combating injury claims. The best way to protect your rights during settlement negotiations with these companies is with representation from an attorney. An attorney can give you the true value of your claim, go head-to-head with insurance claims adjusters, and fight for fair compensation for your injuries or a loved one’s wrongful death. An attorney can also give you the power to take the manufacturer to court if settlement negotiations are unsuccessful.

Who can be liable in a product liability case?

More than one party can be held responsible for a defective product, even when it only harms one Columbus consumer. Liability does not stop with the company that made the item.

Parties who may be liable include the product’s maker. Companies that supply their parts may also be liable. So can distributors who move the product to stores. Retailers who sell it to you may share the blame, too. The same is true for any company that changed or repackaged the product before sale.

Ohio law lets you file a claim against more than one of these parties at the same time.

Step-by-step process of a product liability case

Here is what to expect during a product liability claim in Columbus.

• Step 1: Save the Product. Keep the item, its box, and your receipt. Do not try to fix or change it.
• Step 2: Get Medical Care: See a doctor and write down your injuries. Gaps in treatment can hurt your claim.
• Step 3: Talk to a Lawyer. An early call helps your team save evidence before the manufacturer can change records.
• Step 4: Investigate the Defect. Our attorneys work with engineers and doctors. They find the defect and show how it hurts you.
• Step 5: File and Negotiate. We file your complaint with the court to formally start your case, a step required under the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure. Then we fight for full compensation, through a settlement or at trial.

Damages You Could Recover After a Product Defect Lawsuit

Filing a claim against the manufacturer of a defective or dangerous product could shed light on negligent practices at the company. This could institute a change that prevents other consumers from suffering similar injuries. The main goal for your family, however, is to obtain compensation to cover your related expenses.

• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

The courts may also award you punitive damages to punish the defendant for its negligent or wrongful actions. This is especially common in cases where the manufacturer knew of the risks of a product yet failed to warn consumers.

Contact our Columbus product liability lawyers today

Defective products cause real harm. Ohio law gives you the right to hold someone accountable. Elk + Elk offers a free case review for Columbus residents. This includes those in Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, and Grove City who were hurt by a dangerous product.

Call 1 (800) 355-6446 to talk with a Columbus product liability lawyer. You can also fill out our online form so our team can help you move forward with your case.