How Product Liability Works in Pennsylvania
Product liability is the area of civil law that makes designers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers answer for harm caused by defective products. In Pennsylvania, companies have legal duties that sound simple but are often ignored in practice: design with safety in mind, build to proper standards, test thoroughly, warn honestly about risks and fix dangerous problems when they are discovered.
If a business cuts corners on any of those duties and someone gets hurt, the law may treat that as a defect. Your attorney does not need to show that the company meant to hurt anyone. The focus is on whether the product was unreasonably dangerous when it left their hands and whether that danger caused your injuries.
Schuster Law’s attorneys regularly handle these technical cases, bringing in engineering, safety and medical experts to explain how defective products fail and how those failures change a client’s life.
Design, Manufacturing & Warning Defects
Most product liability cases fall into three main buckets:
Dangerous designs that make all units in a product line risky, even when built correctly
Manufacturing defects that appear because something went wrong during production or assembly
Warning and instruction problems where real-world dangers are not clearly explained
In a design case, the basic blueprint is the problem. Examples include SUVs prone to rollovers or tools that can’t be safely used in common positions. Manufacturing cases involve mistakes on the line, like bad welds, contaminated materials or missing safety components. Failure-to-warn cases focus on hazards that could be reduced with clear labels or instructions, but were not.
A product liability lawyer digs into engineering drawings, manufacturing records, safety standards and industry practices to show which type of defect is at play and who in the supply chain is responsible.
Examples of Defective Products That Lead to Claims
Across Delaware County and the greater Philadelphia area, certain types of products show up again and again in injury cases:
Vehicles and auto parts, including faulty brakes, steering components, tires, airbags and seat belts
Power tools and shop equipment where guards fail, switches stick or stability is poor
Industrial and construction machinery that lacks adequate guarding, emergency stops or safe control layouts
Household items, toys, electronics and chargers that break, overheat or shock users during normal use
Medical devices and certain drugs that fail, fracture or cause serious side effects beyond what was disclosed
You do not need to know which exact part failed to talk with a lawyer. Holding onto the product, its pieces, packaging and receipt is often enough to start a focused investigation.
The Schuster Law Approach to Defective Product Cases
Product liability claims are different from typical car accidents or slip-and-fall matters. They are evidence-heavy and often involve national manufacturers. Schuster Law’s team brings several key strengths to these cases:
Deep experience with complex injury litigation and trials across Pennsylvania, including cases involving defective machines and equipment.
Local knowledge of Delaware County courts and juries, combined with comfort taking on out-of-state corporations and insurers.
Access to respected experts in engineering, warnings, human factors, medicine and economics to fully explain both how a product failed and how the injury affects your future.
A thorough investigation mindset that treats every case as if it could go to trial, even when settlement is likely.
A client-focused approach that keeps you informed, answers your questions and helps you understand both the strengths and limits of your case.
What Your Lawyer Has to Prove
Every case is unique, but most product liability lawsuits follow the same basic roadmap. Your attorney must show that the product had a defect or lacked adequate warnings; that you were using it in a reasonably foreseeable way; that the defect existed when it left the manufacturer or seller; and that this defect directly caused your injuries and losses.
To do that, the legal team may:
Arrange testing on the product and comparable models
Compare the design to safer alternatives that were available at the time
Review recall records, complaint histories and internal documents for signs the company knew about the danger
Reconstruct the incident using photos, witness accounts and expert analysis
Gather medical records, pay information and testimony about how the injury has changed your daily life
This type of case-building takes time and resources, which is why it is so important to talk to a lawyer early instead of trying to handle the claim yourself.
Damages in a Product Liability Lawsuit
A successful defective product claim can cover both financial and personal losses. Depending on the facts, compensation may include payment of past and future medical bills; coverage for therapy, surgeries, medical devices and long-term care; recovery of lost wages and reduced earning capacity; repair or replacement of damaged property; and money for pain, scarring, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life.
In rare situations where a company’s conduct was especially reckless or showed clear disregard for safety, a court may consider punitive damages aimed at punishment and deterrence. Your attorney will explain whether that type of claim fits your situation under Pennsylvania law.
Steps to Take if a Product Hurt You
What you do in the hours and days after a product-related injury can strengthen or weaken a future case. Focus on your health first, then your evidence.
See a doctor or go to the emergency room and be honest about how the injury occurred. Ask someone you trust to photograph the scene, your injuries and the product from several angles. If possible, store the product and all its pieces in a safe place. Keep packaging, manuals, receipts and any recall notices. Avoid returning the product to the manufacturer or insurer until you speak with a lawyer.
Once the immediate crisis has passed, a Delaware County product liability lawyer can review what happened, explain your options and start protecting your rights while you focus on recovery.
