In the United States, all consumers have the right to expect that all products they purchase are reasonably safe for use in the way intended. State and federal laws ensure that products must go through cohesive testing and inspections before being released to the public. However, that doesn’t always happen, and manufacturers that cut corners could endanger consumers’ safety.
A product may be defective or dangerous if it was not designed or manufactured properly, or if the manufacturer failed to provide adequate labels warning consumers of known hazards. When a company realizes that one of its products is dangerous, it should issue a recall and pull the product out of the market until it can address the problem.
Agencies on the lookout for dangerous products
Fortunately, there are some key regulatory bodies working to protect consumers in the United States. One is the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which oversees strict safety standards on products like appliances, clothing, toys, electrical equipment, furniture, household goods and much more. Most people use these items in their everyday lives.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is another important agency, providing oversight on medications, medical devices, vaccines, veterinary items and cosmetics, among others. The FDA has strict guidelines on these products, as they have the potential to cause serious injuries, illnesses and death if manufacturers release them without proper testing.
In the automotive industry, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration helps ensure all vehicles and their parts and equipment are safe. This includes brakes, tires and child safety seats, among other products commonly found in cars, trucks, SUVs and other vehicles.
Additional federal agencies overseeing products across the country are the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
If you or someone close to you has suffered injuries due to a defective or dangerous product, you may have legal options available to you. Consult a knowledgeable Bradenton personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh to learn more.