Content Reviewed By:
John Richmond, Co-Founding Member
- October 21, 2024
Defective consumer products injure people daily, whether through malfunctions or design defects. Luckily, under New York law, consumers can hold product manufacturers accountable for their injuries through product liability lawsuits. This is a crucial legal avenue toward justice and compensation, as consumer product injuries are common. However, product liability cases are notoriously complex, often involving multiple defendants and highly specialized evidence.
If a consumer product injured you and you are considering filing a claim, consult our skilled Buffalo product liability lawyers at Richmond Vona, LLC, as soon as possible. Our attorneys have the resources, skills, and experience to effectively represent you and fight for the justice, accountability, and compensation you deserve. Call (716) 500-5678 or contact us online to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
Why Choose Richmond Vona?
At Richmond Vona, we believe in the power of justice and the relentless defense of our clients’ rights. Our team of seasoned Buffalo product liability attorneys brings a wealth of experience, unwavering dedication, and a client-centric approach to every case we undertake. As Buffalo locals, we are dedicated to protecting our community. The high quality of our legal services has led to widespread recognition, including in local outlets like Western NY Living and The Big WECK Buffalo on the Rise.
With decades of combined experience, the attorneys at Richmond Vona have the skills and resources to take on large corporations and their insurers. Our founding partners, John E. Richmond and Keith R. Vona, have been recognized as New York Super Lawyers and by The National Trial Lawyers Association. Under their leadership, we have recovered over $175 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including in multiple defective product cases worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Our Defective Products Lawyers Can Help
Being injured by a defective product can turn a person’s life upside down. With Richmond Vona handling your case, you and your family can focus on your recovery. Our client-centered law firm assigns three to four-person teams to each case, streamlining client communication and ensuring you understand your full legal rights and options.
Our Buffalo product liability lawyers have extensive experience handling defective product cases. Our legal team has successfully represented children injured by defective toys and adults injured by other defective consumer products. We understand New York product liability laws and will ensure your case is filed before the governing statute of limitations (normally three years). We also operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you’ll pay us nothing unless we win your case.
Available Compensation for Product Liability Cases
In product liability cases, plaintiffs may receive various types of compensation for the harm they suffered because of a defective product. The two main types of damages victims can receive are economic and non-economic, though some cases also result in punitive damages.
Economic damages reimburse injury victims for quantifiable financial losses they suffered due to a defective product, such as medical expenses, lost wages, lowered earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages compensate victims for intangible losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Punitive damages are only available if the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious or reckless. They are meant to punish and deter wrongdoing.
The amount and type of damages you may be eligible for depends on various factors—most importantly, the severity of your injuries. Our experienced Buffalo product liability lawyers at Richmond Vona can calculate and aggressively pursue the full and fair compensation you are entitled to.
Who’s Liable in Defective Product Cases?
Product liability claims can be based on three legal theories. Often, they involve all three, especially if multiple entities are at fault for an injury (e.g., product designers, manufacturers, and distributors). Although each theory has different elements, they all involve similar claims—that a product was defective or not reasonably safe due to a design defect, flawed manufacturing process, or inadequate warning.
- Negligence Claims: These allege that the defendants failed to take reasonable care to avoid harming others through their products.
- Strict Liability Claims: These claims hold defendants liable regardless of their fault or intent. In other words, even if they exercised reasonable care, defendants will be held liable if their products resulted in injuries.
- Breach of Warranty Claims: Most consumer products come with an implied or express warranty that they are safe to use as instructed. You may have a viable claim if a product injures you because it did not work how it was intended or marketed.
If a defective product injured you or a loved one, Richmond Vona’s product liability attorneys can help you navigate this complex area of the law. We will conduct a thorough investigation, gather all available evidence, and build the strongest claim possible on your behalf.
Proving Product Liability in New York
No matter which legal theory underpins your New York product liability claim, you will need evidence proving one or more of the following:
- A design defect inherent to the product.
- A manufacturing error introduced during production.
- A failure to warn consumers of the dangers associated with a product.
The evidence required to substantiate a product liability claim varies widely based on the type of product that harmed you. Beyond the product itself, blueprints, manufacturing process documentation, and quality control records can reveal flaws in design or production. Product labels and manuals can show whether the manufacturer provided adequate instructions or warnings. Testimony from experts in engineering or pharmaceuticals may also be necessary.
Importantly, you must normally show that you were using the product for its intended purpose. Our Buffalo product liability attorneys can evaluate your case and gather the evidence needed to prove product liability.
"*" indicates required fields
Words cannot describe how grateful my wife and I are of John Richmond. His friendliness, knowledge, loyalty and professionalism are of the highest level. Being this was the first time we’ve had to obtain legal assistance, John made this process very easy for my wife and I. We both would highly recommend Richmond Vona.
What a phenomenal experience to come from a terrifying accident. From day 1 Richmond/Vona provided me with nothing but comfort and professionalism. Communication is paramount in my needs and they performed that with nothing short of exceptional. Mr. Richmond made me feel like this was the only case he was working on. Thank you to all of your staff for looking out for my best interests and taking a stressful situation and making it so very easy for me and my family.
My experience with Keith Vona was exceptional. To this day, I am grateful for the dedication and compassion he displayed throughout my case. The outcome of my case was successful as a result of his drive and commitment. I would highly recommend Keith Vona to anyone in need of legal representation.
Call Today for Help From a Buffalo Product Liability Attorney
To learn more about filing a product liability claim in Western New York, reach out to the dedicated Buffalo personal injury lawyers at Richmond Vona, LLC. We’re not afraid of taking on tough, complex cases and going up against product manufacturers and their insurers. Our firm has a proven track record of securing high-value case results, having won over $175 million for our clients.
We are ready to put our skills, experience, and resources to work for you. Call (716) 500-5678 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
