When a product doesn't perform the way it's supposed to and someone gets hurt as a result, Ohio law may allow the injured person to hold the manufacturer, distributor, or seller responsible. These cases are known as product liability claims, and they can arise from everyday items — vehicles and vehicle parts, appliances, power tools, children's products, and more — that turn out to be more dangerous than they should have been.
1. What Counts as a Product Liability Claim
A product liability claim generally requires showing that a product was defective in some way, that the defect made the product unreasonably dangerous, and that the defect caused an injury while the product was being used as intended (or in a way that was reasonably foreseeable). Ohio law recognizes several distinct ways a product can be considered defective.
2. Defective Design
A design defect exists when a product is unsafe because of the way it was designed — meaning every unit made from that design carries the same risk, even if it was manufactured exactly as intended. These claims often focus on whether a safer, practical alternative design was available at the time the product was made.
3. Manufacturing Defects
A manufacturing defect happens somewhere along the assembly line, so that a particular unit ends up different from — and more dangerous than — how it was designed to be. The product's design may have been perfectly safe; the problem is that this specific item didn't come out the way it was supposed to.
4. Failure to Warn
Some products carry risks that can't be designed away entirely. When that's the case, manufacturers generally have a duty to provide adequate instructions and warnings about those risks. A failure-to-warn claim argues that the injury could have been prevented, or the risk understood, if the manufacturer had provided clearer warnings or instructions.
5. Who Can Be Held Liable
Depending on the facts, liability can extend beyond the company that manufactured the product to include parts suppliers, distributors, and sometimes the retailer that sold it. Identifying every potentially responsible party is often a key part of building a claim.
6. Ohio's Filing Deadlines
Ohio's general personal injury deadline of two years from the date of injury applies to most product liability claims, but Ohio law also includes additional time limits specific to these cases — including rules that can bar a claim depending on how long ago the product was manufactured or sold, regardless of when the injury occurred. Because these deadlines can be more complicated than in a typical injury case, it's worth having an attorney confirm which ones apply to your situation as early as possible.
7. What to Do If You've Been Injured by a Defective Product
If possible, keep the product itself, along with its packaging, instructions, and any receipts — these can become important evidence. Seek medical attention, document your injuries, and avoid discarding or repairing the product before it can be examined. Product liability cases often involve technical questions about how and why a product failed, so early legal guidance can make a meaningful difference.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product in Youngstown, Salem, or East Liverpool, Ohio; Weirton or Chester, West Virginia; or the Beaver, Pennsylvania area, Stowers Law Office LLC is available to review your situation and explain your options.