PORTLAND DEFECTIVE PRODUCT ATTORNEY

We Handle Defective
Product Claims in Portland and Throughout Oregon

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People are hurt each and every day by the products they use and trust. Dangerous, defective, inadequately labeled or improperly used products can be found almost anywhere. The injuries caused by defective and dangerous products can be unusual and severe. The Johnston Law Firm represents people who have been injured due to defective product design, defective manufacturing, inadequate labeling and product warnings, misuse by a third party, recalls and other factors. If you have suffered a significant injury, contact a Portland defective products lawyer at our office immediately.

In our country, we assume that the products we use have undergone stringent design and testing to ensure safety. Nothing less should be required when the health and safety of our families, children and consumers are at issue. Unfortunately, corners are cut all the time, whether it is to save money, or because a company failed to consider an obvious safety hazard or design change. When you suffer an injury from a dangerous product defect, you may have a product liability claim, and should contact a Portland product liability lawyer.

At the Johnston Law Firm, we know how to thoroughly investigate your injury and identify all responsible parties. Depending on your injury, you may have claims against the manufacturer, a manufacturer of a component part, the wholesaler or the retail outlet that sold the product. We hire top experts to assist with the preparation of your case, including design and manufacturing specialists and economists, who will be available to testify if your case proceeds to trial. When your case is fully prepared, we will make a demand on any responsible party (or their insurer) on your behalf. If the responsible party or the insurance company will not fairly compensate you for your loss, we will take your case to trial.

Injury can be a result of accidents caused by defective products of all kinds, including:

• SUV rollovers
• Consumer products
• Construction equipment
• Machinery
• Sports equipment
• Helmets (sports, motorcycle, etc.)
• Appliances
• Children’s toys
• Ladders and scaffolding
• Contaminated food
• Prescription medication
• Auto defects, including tires, gas pedals, seatbelts, airbags or door handles
• Toxic inhalation or ingestion

These and many other products can cause significant injury even when they are used in the proper manner. Design or manufacturing defects can lead to serious accidents or illnesses. If you have been hurt while using a product, we encourage you to contact our firm immediately to take advantage of a free case evaluation with our Portland defective products attorney.

The attorney at the Johnston Law Firm handle injuries caused by defects that typically fall into four general categories:

• Manufacturing: Many products go through an intricate, multi-stage manufacturing process — the more complex the product, the more complex the process. With so many workers involved in the process, it is easy for steps to get missed. Screws, nails or staples might not be properly attached, and rough edges might not be smoothed out.
• Design: Sometimes a project looks great on paper, but in reality, the product might have dangerous features including sharp edges, missing or defective safety features or exposed screws or nails.
• Marketing or instructional materials: Often the promotional materials of a product promise features that are not actually a part of the product. Individuals can be misled and hurt while using products that are not clearly represented. In this same vein, we often find instruction manuals that are written incorrectly or in a confusing manner.
• Recalls: Many times, manufacturers are late in reporting a recall notice to a retailer. Often, recall notices are only posted after individuals have already been hurt. Even when the recalls are sent to a retail store, they might not get posted immediately. Any of these situations can potentially lead to injury.

Common Types of Defective Product Cases

Brake Defects

Brakes are one of the most important and relied upon parts of a motor vehicle. If a car’s brakes suddenly fail or malfunction, there is often little a driver can do to remain in control of the vehicle and a crash often results. Such crashes can not only involve the vehicle with the faulty brakes, but can typically involve collisions with other vehicles, motorcycles, or pedestrians.

When Are Companies Liable for Brake Failure?

If your brakes suddenly failed, it is important to state this fact to the police responding to the scene of the accident. In addition, you should not make any statements accepting blame for the crash as the brake failure may not be your fault. You should also discuss your case with an attorney as soon as possible as an automotive expert will need to examine the brakes and identify what caused the malfunction.

A company can be held liable for brake failure if the company did any of the following:

• A manufacturer negligently designed the brakes with inherent defects;
• A manufacturer negligently produced the brakes using inadequate materials or improper assembly;
• Failed to properly test or inspect the brakes;
• Improperly marketed the brakes for the wrong type of vehicle or without any necessary warnings;
• Not providing any necessary instructions regarding the brakes.

GM Defective Ignition Switches

General Motors (“GM”) has issued a recall of millions of vehicles with defective ignition switches. The ignition switches may cause a vehicle to stall or shut down, disabling airbags, power steering, power brakes, and other electronic systems. As of December 1, 2014, the defective ignition switches have caused accidents leading to at least 36 deaths and 44 seriously injured people. As a result, GM is facing a criminal investigation, and multiple civil lawsuits.

The Johnston Law Firm is pursuing and investigating claims and lawsuits against GM on behalf of individuals and families killed and injured as a result of defective GM ignition switches.

We are offering free case evaluations for the GM ignition switch recall. Contact our Portland, Oregon Law Firm for a free consultation. The current deadline to make a claim against GM’s compensation fund is January 31, 2015, although civil cases can and will be pursued against GM in Court after that date.

Don’t miss out on these common personal injury mistakes.

Get the legal counsel you need to guide you through the process of filing an injury claim.

Defective Gas Pedals

The gas pedal is one of the most essential parts of any type of motor vehicle. After all, without a gas pedal, you would be unable to move the vehicle across the ground and it would be basically useless. However, an accelerator can also cause serious problems if it malfunctions suddenly while someone is driving. In such a situation, a defective gas pedal can cause serious risks of collisions, injuries, and even death.

At the Johnston Law Firm, our skilled personal injury lawyers know how terrifying it can be if your gas pedal malfunctions and causes you to crash your car. We have seen firsthand the devastating types of injuries that can result from this type of crash and we are committed to helping victims recover for their losses and injuries whenever possible. If your vehicle malfunctioned and caused you injury, please call to discuss your situation with a member of our legal team today.

Many different makes and models of passenger vehicles over the years have caused accidents and injuries due to gas pedal defects and malfunctions. Some of these malfunctions can include:

• The gas pedal sticking;
• Unintentional acceleration,
• Gas pedals that can bend, crack, or break;
• Electrical malfunctions.

Any of these malfunctions can cause a driver to completely lose control and crash. Imagine driving at highway speeds in traffic and suddenly your vehicle begins to accelerate faster beyond your control. In such a situation, the best course of action to try to keep yourself safe is to remain calm (which is easier said than done), keep your foot on the brake, and try to get the car into neutral so you can bring it to a stop. Unfortunately, many drivers either do not know how to react or are unable to take these steps before they crash.