It is the kind of thing that Maine personal injury lawyers see all too often – two people have been injured, with one suffering facial fractures, due to a defective wrist strap on a high-powered slingshot.
Last week, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission announced manufacturer Barnett Outdoors, LLC’s recall of its Black Widow slingshots. Everyday items such as these are at the heart of many product recalls and injury lawsuits.
Black Widow has defective wrist strap
According to the product recall announcement, the strap can slip off of the wrist brace when the user pulls the slingshot pouch to launch; this can cause the body of the slingshot to strike the user. The wrist brace is an integral part of what has attracted consumers to the product; according to the Barnett website, “It’s the design that changed slingshots forever. The Black Widow introduced the concept of the foldaway wrist braced for easier portability and storage.”
Recalled products are widely available
About 88,000 of the recalled Black Widow slingshots were sold in the United States and another 16,000 were sold in Canada. They have been widely circulated, being sold in hunting and sporting goods stores and in general retail outlets like Walmart and Amazon. Sadly, consumers are surrounded by defective products, with more than 2,000 product, pharmaceutical, medical device, and food recalls being announced annually in recent years.
Every day, we use products expecting them to be safe to use. So when products that are widely used, like the Black Widow slingshot, turn out to be defective, the number of potential victims is staggering.
Legal recourse for consumer product injuries
When consumers are injured by defective products, they may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer, distributor, or seller. Legal liability may arise in several ways, including:
- Defective design that will result in a dangerous product no matter how well the product is assembled.
- Defective manufacture of a product that is otherwise safely designed, introducing safety risks during steps such as assembly or packaging.
- Failure to provide proper instructions or failing to warn about risks inherent when the product is used in its intended manner.
Compensation for injuries caused by recalled/defective products can include payment for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses
- Wrongful death claims
However, there are statutes of limitation for filing personal injury lawsuits, so contact a skilled attorney as soon as possible if you believe you may have a claim.
Maine personal injury lawyers offer case reviews
Hardy, Wolf & Downing works with experts across the country to prove, in detail, what design, manufacturing, or other flaws led to your injury. Winning a product injury recall lawsuit requires specialized skill and knowledge; not just any lawyer will do. Be sure to retain a personal injury lawyer with experience in area.
For nearly four decades, our seasoned attorneys have been fighting for personal injury victims throughout Maine. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a product recall-related injury, call Hardy, Wolf & Downing at 1-800-INJURED for a free assessment of your case.