Finding out that you and your family have been using a potentially dangerous product, perhaps for years, can be quite a shock.
Even though the government maintains a web site devoted specifically to disseminating information about product recalls (Recalls.gov), let’s face it: you don’t exactly have time to check a website every day to find out whether or not every single toy your two-year-old just received from her grandmother is safe, and you don’t always have time to watch the news to learn about recalls. The soundest course of action is vigilance.
Here are a few simple, practical steps from our South Bend defective product attorneys to minimize your risks:
- Use common sense: if you think something looks dangerous, leave it out of your home. If you have small children, avoid toys that look flimsy, and could break into smaller parts. If a product has poorly-written packaging, or comes with too many warning labels, ask yourself if you really need it before you start using it.
- Find brands you can trust. You don’t have to research everything you buy, but finding brands which have a reputation for safe practices and products, particularly for the purchases you make often (like household cleaners, or personal hygiene products), can go a long way toward eliminating the risk of contaminants in your home.
- Look for certifications. There are whole companies, like UL and NSF, who do nothing but independently certify products for safety and efficiency, from toys to refrigerators. Look for these companies’ marks on your products, or search their databases online for something you’re not sure of.
- If you think you might be using a harmful product, stop immediately. The money you save using a cheaper product isn’t worth it if that product is harmful to you or someone you love.
- If you think you’ve been harmed by a defective product, call your doctor, and tell them what you suspect, and why. Then call a personal injury lawyer. Personal injury lawyers have the experience and the expertise to help you and your family get the representation you need in taking action against a harmful product and its distributors.
