Parties You Can Sue in a North Carolina Product Liability Lawsuit

A product liability lawsuit can involve one or more at-fault parties. To date, defendants in product liability lawsuits have included:

• Drug manufacturers that do not provide consumers with warnings about the dangers associated with their products
• Automakers that unintentionally sell cars that have airbags, ignition switches, or other components that do not work properly
• Medical device manufacturers that design products that can harm consumers

A product liability attorney in North Carolina wants anyone responsible for your injury to be punished. The lawyer considers the financial impact of your injury thus far, along with how your ailment will affect you moving forward. This allows the attorney to provide you with a recommendation on a reasonable amount to pursue in damages. 

What a Product Liability Lawsuit in North Carolina Is Worth

There is no set amount that every product liability lawsuit is worth. Rather, your attorney will need to review your case and calculate your damages. From here, you can get a good idea about how much to pursue in court. 

Your ability to get the maximum amount of damages depends on the strength of your argument. If you want a judge or jury to rule in your favor, you must present evidence and testimony that shows a defendant:

• Knowingly produced or sold a product that was dangerous
• Offered a product that caused you to suffer an injury that otherwise could have been avoided
• Caused you to suffer an injury that has already affected your day-to-day life and may impact you long into the future

Your lawyer will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to help you secure the most damages you can. Over the course of your litigation, your attorney will help you build an argument that illustrates the impact of the defendant’s actions on your life. If your attorney is successful, a judge or jury is unlikely to have any qualms about ruling in your favor. 

How Much You Can Request in Damages in a Product Liability Case in North Carolina

North Carolina has no caps in place on economic and non-economic damages you can request in a product liability lawsuit. You may request these types of damages for a variety of reasons, including:

• Wages you cannot earn since you cannot work as a result of your injury
• Medical expenses you incur due to your injury
• Pain and suffering caused by a defective product
• Costs of long-term care or physical therapy you need due to your injury

Along with economic and non-economic damages, a court may award you punitive damages. You may receive these damages if the court wants to deter an at-fault party from future acts of negligence. In North Carolina, punitive damages are capped at $250,000 or three times the amount of economic and non-economic damages awarded, whichever amount is greater.   

A product liability lawyer in North Carolina can get you up to speed on the different types of damages and how they work. Before you file your lawsuit, your attorney will discuss damages in detail. Your lawyer will encourage you to ask for a suitable amount of damages to account for the immediate and long-term harm you suffered due to a defective product. 

How Much Time Is Available to File a Product Liability Lawsuit in North Carolina

You have a maximum of three years from the date you suffer your product defect injury to sue any at-fault parties. Product liability claims involve various statutes of limitations, so it is essential to consult an attorney promptly to understand your rights.

If you want to file a product liability lawsuit, here is what you need to do:

• Hire a product liability lawyer that can guide you through the legal process 
• Gather evidence to support your request for damages
• Seek witnesses that can testify on your behalf
• Keep in contact with your lawyer for the duration of your litigation

Your lawyer is your legal representative during your litigation and does whatever it takes to win or settle your case. If you have concerns or questions about filing a product liability lawsuit, reach out to an attorney. You can then get the information you can use to determine if now is the right time to move forward with your case. 

How Long It Takes to Resolve a North Carolina Product Liability Lawsuit

Do not expect to file a product liability lawsuit and the case to be resolved in a matter of days. Most product liability lawsuits require months or years before they are resolved. In the time prior to a trial date, you and the defendant are expected to negotiate with one another. 

A defendant may propose a settlement in the hopes of getting you to accept less damages than what you asked for in the first place. If you receive a settlement offer, you can:

• Accept the settlement and get a portion of damages
• Decline the settlement and move forward with a trial
• Counter the settlement and let the defendant decide on a proposal that aligns with your expectations

Your attorney will advise you to review a settlement offer but avoid rushing to judgment on it. If you find a settlement falls short of what you want, you should not hesitate to decline it. At this point, you and your attorney can continue to focus on what is most pressing: building the strongest argument possible to present in court. 

How Your Attorney Prepares for Your Product Liability Trial

Your attorney will review a wide range of evidence leading up to your product liability trial, including:

• The defective product itself
• Photos of the defective product
• Medical documentation that highlights the severity of your injury
• Medical bills that show how much your medical treatments have cost to date and will cost moving forward
• Testimony from medical experts that illustrates the long-term impact of your injury on your everyday life

Your lawyer takes full advantage of the discovery period in your product liability case. Throughout this period, your lawyer works with you to gather and review evidence. Your lawyer also crafts a legal strategy designed to compel a judge or jury to rule in your favor. 

How You Can Get Ready for Your Product Liability Trial

It is important to prepare as much as you can leading up to your trial date. Your lawyer will offer tips and guidance to make sure you are prepared for all that your trial entails. To help you get ready, your attorney will:

• Teach you about the steps involved in your trial
• Explain the key parties that will speak during your trial
• Discuss the potential outcomes for your trial

You should ask your attorney questions about the trial process. This allows you to get insights into what can happen during your trial. In addition, you can establish realistic expectations for your trial. 

Why You Need to Hire a Product Liability Lawyer in North Carolina

There is a lot to like about hiring a product liability attorney. Key reasons to choose a product liability attorney to argue on your behalf include:

• You can quickly and easily identify any at-fault parties in your case. 
• You can avoid costly and time-intensive mistakes as you navigate the legal process. 
• You can get help as you gather evidence to support your request for damages. 
• You can hold any at-fault parties responsible for your injury. 

The bottom line: a product liability attorney can be a difference-maker for you. Look for a product liability attorney who is committed to helping you in any way they can. With this attorney at your side, you can present a strong argument in court that leads a judge or jury to award you the full damages you request.