Large-scale product recalls often draw media attention. Especially when a product is dangerous because of a defect or contamination, recalls often become top headlines for the evening news. Stories about food products contaminated with allergens or vehicle defects causing crashes draw a lot of attention at least initially.
Recalls occur regularly across the United States. Some recalls are mandatory because regulatory agencies discover that products are unsafe. Other recalls are voluntary, meaning that businesses initiate them on their own behalf after discovering issues with the design of a product or a specific production batch.
How can a recall impact consumer rights?
Recalls may limit manufacturer liability
There is an expectation that companies releasing products to the public engage in adequate safety testing and quality assurance practices. From going over product design carefully to ensure products function properly to testing individual units at manufacturing facilities, there are many ways for businesses to prevent unsafe products from reaching the public.
If a lapse in safety practices results in the delivery of unsafe products, recalls often occur. Once a business initiates a recall, consumers should receive notice if they have registered a product with the manufacturer. They can also check with consumer protection agencies for notice of recalls.
Recalls might require the return of unsafe products for replacement or refund. Other times, manufacturers arrange to repair damaged goods when the recalled item is particularly expensive. Recalls help limit a manufacturer’s liability for injury and property damage losses related to the defective products.
However, if a business is not prompt about establishing a recall, if it does not act quickly to communicate with consumers or if it otherwise fails to protect the public from dangerous products, lawsuits can still occur. Consumers can seek compensation for property damage losses, medical expenses and even lost wages associated with an incident caused by a defective product.
The sooner manufacturers identify dangerous products and act to recall them, the less likely there are to be cases in which consumers suffer noteworthy injuries. Organizations conducting recalls should prioritize acting quickly to mitigate company liability.
Consumers affected by dangerous or recalled products may need to look into the circumstances thoroughly to establish whether an organization might be liable for their harm. Understanding the impact that product recalls may have on defective product legal scenarios can benefit both businesses and consumers alike.