Norfolk Product Liability Lawyer

When a defective product causes serious injury, the impact can be overwhelming. Medical bills, lost wages, ongoing care, and emotional stress can quickly accumulate, leaving victims and their families struggling to manage. Whether the harm came from a faulty vehicle part, a dangerous toy, a medical device, or an everyday household product, injured Virginians have the right to seek compensation for their losses.

At Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, our Norfolk product liability lawyers help clients pursue compensation by investigating the product, collecting evidence, and working with experts to document the full impact of the injury.

How Product Liability Claims Work in Virginia

If you are injured by a defective product, you may be able to file a product liability claim to seek compensation for your losses. In Virginia, the purpose of a product liability claim is to hold the manufacturer, distributor, or seller responsible for harm caused by a product that was unsafe or misrepresented. Filing a claim also helps ensure that the responsible party addresses the defect and prevents similar injuries to others.

Virginia law differs from some other states that allow strict liability for defective products. In Virginia, most product liability claims are fault-based, meaning you must prove that the manufacturer, distributor, or seller acted negligently, breached a warranty, or made a harmful misrepresentation. This contrasts with strict liability states, where simply showing that a product was defective can trigger compensation.

To succeed in a product liability claim in Virginia, you typically need to show:

The product was defective, either in design, manufacture, or marketing.
The defect made the product unreasonably dangerous when used as intended.
The defect caused the injury you suffered.
You experienced actual damages, such as medical costs or lost income.

For example, consider a car whose braking system fails due to a faulty design. In Virginia, you would need to show that the manufacturer knew or should have known about the defect and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm.

Types of Product Defects That Can Lead to Injury

Product defects can occur at any stage of a product’s life cycle, and identifying the type of defect is important because it affects how a case is investigated and pursued.

Design Defects: Happen when a product is inherently unsafe because of its intended design, even if manufactured correctly. For example, a power tool without a proper safety guard can pose a serious risk every time it is used. Recognizing a design defect often requires input from engineers or safety specialists to show that the product could have been designed more safely.
Manufacturing Defects: Occur when errors during production make an otherwise safe product dangerous. A batch of children’s toys with improperly secured parts, for instance, may break apart and create choking hazards. Because manufacturing defects typically affect specific units or batches, identifying them early helps preserve evidence and ensures the claim targets the right party.
Marketing defects (also called failure-to-warn defects): Arise when a company does not provide adequate instructions or warnings for safe use. Household cleaners with toxic chemicals or medications with serious side effects require clear labeling and guidance. Claims involving marketing defects often focus on reviewing labeling, manuals, and marketing materials to determine whether the company failed to properly inform users of known risks.

Why Choose Our Norfolk Product Liability Lawyers?

Product liability cases can be complex, often involving extensive evidence, expert analysis, and negotiations with large manufacturers or insurers. At Huffman & Huffman, we help clients navigate these challenges with a combination of experience, local knowledge, and resources.

Our attorneys have more than 150 years of combined legal experience and have served Virginians since 1973, giving us a deep understanding of local courts and the demands of product liability claims.

We guide clients through every stage of the process, investigating the product, consulting experts, gathering documentation, and developing strategies to support their claim. We also handle communications with insurers and opposing counsel, allowing clients to focus on recovery while we manage the legal process.

When you work with our team, you benefit from:

Extensive experience and local knowledge, built over decades of representing Virginians in complex product liability cases.
Resources to challenge large manufacturers and insurers, including access to expert witnesses, investigators, and technical specialists.
Personalized guidance throughout your case, ensuring you understand your options and the process from start to finish.
Contingency fee representation, so you don’t pay unless we win.

Let our Norfolk product liability attorneys help protect your rights and guide you confidently through the legal process.

Common Types of Product Liability Cases We Handle in Norfolk

We represent clients across a wide range of defective product claims. Some of the most common include:

Automotive Defects: Faulty brakes, airbags, ignition systems, and other vehicle components can lead to severe accidents. Victims may face catastrophic injuries or even wrongful death. These cases often involve intricate investigations and expert testimony to trace the defect to the manufacturer.
Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals: Defective implants, surgical tools, and medications with dangerous side effects can create lifelong health consequences. Establishing liability may involve reviewing clinical studies, FDA warnings, and manufacturing records.
Children’s Products: Car seats, strollers, toys, and cribs must meet strict safety standards. Defects in these items pose especially high risks because children are more vulnerable to serious injury. Even small design flaws or missing safety components can have severe consequences.
Household Products and Electronics: Everyday appliances and electronics, such as heaters, kitchen devices, and consumer electronics, can malfunction due to design or manufacturing defects, leading to burns, shocks, or fires.
Industrial Machinery and Tools: Workers using defective machinery or tools can suffer crushing injuries, amputations, or permanent disability. These claims often involve both product liability and workplace safety considerations.

Damages We Can Help You Pursue Through a Norfolk Product Liability Claim

If you were injured by a defective product, the losses you face can be overwhelming, from mounting medical bills to missed work and lasting physical or emotional effects. Our product liability lawyers can help you identify all the types of damages you may be entitled to and take the steps needed to pursue full compensation.

Some of the damages we help clients pursue include:

Medical expenses, including hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment.
Lost wages or reduced earning capacity if your injury prevents you from working or affects your career.
Pain and suffering, including physical injuries and emotional distress.
Permanent disability or disfigurement that impacts your daily life.
Wrongful death damages for surviving family members, including funeral costs and loss of companionship.

Our team guides every client through the process of documenting losses and presenting a strong, evidence-backed claim. By handling the complex details of Virginia product liability law, we allow you to focus on recovery while we fight to hold the responsible parties accountable.

How Long Do You Have to File a Product Liability Lawsuit?

In Virginia, product liability claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations from the date of injury. This means you usually have two years to file a lawsuit, but there are factors that can affect this timeline, such as when the injury was discovered, the type of product involved, or the circumstances of the defect.

Even if you believe there is plenty of time left, it’s important to act promptly. Gathering evidence, documenting injuries, and preserving the defective product early can be critical to building a strong case. Delaying action can make it harder to prove what happened and may limit your options.

What to Do If You Are Hurt by a Defective Product in Norfolk

If you’re injured by a defective product, taking prompt, careful action can help protect your legal rights and make it easier to document what happened. The steps below are practical measures that can strengthen a claim if you decide to pursue one:

Seek medical attention right away. Getting treatment not only protects your health but also creates a clear record of your injuries.
Keep the defective product and any packaging or instructions. Preserving the item exactly as it was when you were injured helps show what caused the harm.
Document your injuries and related costs. Take photos, keep medical records, and track bills or time off work. This information is often essential in a claim.
Avoid altering or discarding the product. Repairs or modifications can make it difficult to prove the defect.
Talk to a product liability lawyer before giving statements to insurers or the manufacturer. Legal guidance ensures your communications don’t inadvertently affect your claim.

Following these steps helps protect your rights and ensures that evidence supporting your claim is preserved.

Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation With Our Norfolk Product Liability Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, it’s important to act promptly. At Huffman & Huffman, we offer free consultations to review your situation and explain your legal options. During the consultation, our product liability attorneys can answer your questions, outline how a claim may proceed under Virginia law, and help you decide on the best path forward. Contact us today to get started.