When buying a product and finding out that it is faulty a consumer is going to be annoyed, however when a product is faulty and represents a significant danger, they could be seriously injured. Electrical items in particular can become very dangerous when faulty as electrical charge may pass through them. The same can be said about cars that have faulty parts.
When buying a product from a trader, the consumer enters into a contract with implied terms that are backed up by Government legislation. The Sales of Goods Act has been designed to protect consumers from sellers whose products are faulty or unfit for purpose. Thanks to the implied terms the government is successfully protecting consumer rights.
The legislation created by the government requires that all products that are sold to a consumer must meet the description under which it was sold and is fit for the purpose for which it was created. The product must also be of satisfactory quality. If a product doesn’t meet these standards than a consumer will have the right to return it and receive a refund where possible.
When a product is faulty and it causes injury or damage then the manufacturer and seller may be liable for more than just a refund. Manufacturers have a duty of care to ensure all products are safe to use when released to consumers and if the product is faulty or the instructions explain use of the product in a way which causes danger to the consumer they may be liable for damages.
When a consumer has an accident or injury caused by a faulty product it is important for them to seek legal advice as soon as possible. They are entitled to make a claim against the manufacturer and may be able to receive damages in some cases. The amount of compensation rewarded will be based on the severity of the injury and any financial loss that is involved. Keeping the product in question as evidence will also help when processing the claim.
Find out more about claiming compensation for injuries caused by faulty products such as Facial Scarring Compensation and Soft Tissue Injury Compensation.