Oklahoma City Product Liability Lawyer

Product Liability Attorney in Oklahoma City, OK

Every year, millions of Americans are injured or killed by defective and dangerous products. When designers, manufacturers, distributors, and other large, commercial entities fail to prioritize public safety over their own profitability, they can—and should—be held accountable.

At Fulmer Sill, our Oklahoma City product liability lawyers represent clients who have been injured or otherwise harmed by a wide variety of consumer products. In addition to single-plaintiff claims, our team handles mass torts and class action litigation against some of the world’s largest and most powerful corporations. We are known for our collaborative approach and for meticulously preparing cases for trial, as well as our long track record of success in this area of law. If you or someone you love was harmed by a defective or dangerous product, reach out to our team to learn how we can help you receive fair compensation you deserve.

What Is Product Liability?

Product liability law is similar to personal injury law in that it allows injured parties to bring claims against liable entities and recover compensation for specific damages. However, product liability law is different from ordinary personal injury law in several important ways. These differences can sometimes make it easier for injured parties to recover damages.

The general idea behind product liability law is that those involved in the process of creating and selling consumer products—including product designers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and sellers—have a legal responsibility to the public. They must create products that are reasonably safe for consumers to use, and which do not present an unreasonable risk of injury or bodily harm. When an entity fails to uphold this duty of care, leading to injury or death, that entity can be held liable.

Some examples of potentially liable parties in defective product cases include:

• Product designers
• Engineers
• Manufacturers
• Assemblers
• Installers
• Wholesalers
• Distributors
• Retail stores

At Fulmer Sill, we work with a variety of people—including accident reconstructionists, economists, medical professionals, and others—when investigating defective product claims. Our team carefully reviews how an accident or injury occurred, as well as whether the product in question was subject to any voluntary or mandatory recalls. By carefully reviewing all available evidence and the facts of a case, our Oklahoma City product liability lawyers can build innovative and persuasive claims on behalf of our clients.

What Makes a Product Defective?

To be considered “defective,” a product must contain some flaw that renders it unreasonably unsafe for normal, intended use.

There are three main types of product defects:

• Design Defects: A design defect refers to a flaw in the actual design of a product that makes the product unreasonably unsafe for consumer use. For example, top-heavy SUVs that roll over when the driver makes a turn could have a defective design.
• Manufacturing Defects: A manufacturing defect occurs when a flaw is introduced during production. For example, a power tool that is manufactured without the proper safety guard installed would have a manufacturing defect.
• Marketing Defects: A marketing defect involves missing or improper warnings, instructions, and other safety labels. For example, a pharmaceutical medication that did not come with a list of possible side effects would likely be considered to have this type of defect.

There is a lot of room for subjective interpretation when it comes to determining whether a product is “defective.” It is important that you work with an experienced product liability attorney, like those at Fulmer Sill, who can help evaluate your claim and prove that your injuries and damages were the result of an unreasonably unsafe or defective product.

Types of Defective Product Cases We Handle

Our Oklahoma City defective product attorneys bring decades of collective experience to their practice of product liability law.

At Fulmer Sill, we handle all types of defective product claims, mass torts, and class action cases, including but not limited to those involving:

• Construction defects
• Power tool injuries
• Table saw injuries
• Defective medical devices
• Dangerous drugs
• Asbestos and mesothelioma
• Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) related to baby formula
• Lorsban, paraquat, Roundup, and other harmful pesticides
• Asbestos-contaminated talcum powder

What to Do Immediately After Using a Defective Product

The steps you take immediately after using a defective product can protect your eventual legal claim. You should:

• Preserve the product: Stop using the product immediately, but don’t throw it away. It could be used as valuable evidence to support your claim.
• Document your injuries: Take photographs of your injuries before you get them treated.
• Seek medical attention right away: Head to the hospital if your injury is serious or to your doctor if it is less serious, but don’t put off going. You want to have proof that you sought immediate medical attention.
• Hire a lawyer as soon as possible: Hire a lawyer before you accept any settlement offered by the liable party’s insurance company.

While you’re working on your claim, you should avoid posting on social media or talking about the case with other people. You could accidentally say or do something that the liable party’s insurance company could hold against you, potentially decreasing your claim amount.

When to Hire a Product Liability Lawyer

In 2024, there were 296 food-related recalls from the FDA and the USDA. There were another 1,073 automotive recalls and 31 toy recalls. These cover just three of many categories of consumer goods. If you’ve been harmed by any product, whether it falls into these categories or not, and whether or not it was officially recalled, you need to hire a product liability lawyer.

You should hire an Oklahoma City product liability attorney as soon as possible after the incident occurred. If you hire an attorney immediately, they can help you preserve evidence and make sure you remember important events about the incident. Plus, waiting too long risks placing you up against Oklahoma’s two-year statute of limitations laid out in Oklahoma Statutes 12-95.

FAQs About Oklahoma City, OK Product Liability Laws

What Are the Rules for Product Liability?

The rules for product liability are that product manufacturers, distributors, and sellers can be held liable for damages caused by defective products. To hold the responsible party liable, you’ll have to show that the product was defective, the defect caused you injuries, and the product was used in an intended or foreseeable way.

Does Product Liability Law Exist in Oklahoma?

Product liability law exists in Oklahoma. Local product liability laws allow individuals to file claims against manufacturers, designers, and sellers of products for damages caused by manufacturing, design, or marketing defects. Oklahoma follows both strict liability and negligence theories, so you can bring a successful claim without proving negligence if the product was unreasonably dangerous.

What Is Product Liability Legislation?

Product liability legislation refers to the area of the law concerned with holding product manufacturers, designers, and sellers responsible for the goods they produce or sell. Oklahoma has product liability legislation in place that allows consumers to file claims against the producers or sellers of dangerous goods based on negligence, strict liability, or breach of warranty, depending on the circumstances of the product liability case.

What Is the Main Purpose of Product Liability Law in Oklahoma City?

The main purpose of product liability law in Oklahoma City is to compensate the victims of accidents involving dangerous products. Plaintiffs in product liability cases can receive compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Punitive damages are rarely awarded in product liability cases, but when they are, they have a different purpose: they’re intended to punish those responsible for a particularly egregious product defect.

Contact Oklahoma City Product Liability Lawyer Today

We have successfully gone up against major manufacturers, powerful insurance companies, and defense teams nationwide—and we have won, time and time again, for our clients. As true trial lawyers, we are not afraid to aggressively pursue these cases in court. We are dedicated to representing our clients’ best interests at every stage of the legal process, from negotiation and mediation to arbitration, litigation, trial, and appeal.