Product Liability Attorneys in Louisiana
When the Products You Trust Cause Harm
Americans are consumers. Whether at the grocery store, the pharmacy, or the car dealership, buying goods is a daily event. When we make a purchase, we trust that the product has been tested and is safe to use.
Unfortunately, that trust is often broken.
At the Berniard Law Firm, we know that dangerous products make their way onto shelves every day. When a corporation prioritizes profit over safety, innocent people get hurt. We are here to hold manufacturers, designers, and retailers accountable for the injuries they cause.
Recalls Are Often "Too Little, Too Late"
Most people are familiar with product liability law through news reports of recalls—alerts about dangerous airbags, contaminated food (listeria), or drop-side cribs.
While recalls are intended to prevent future injuries, the reality is that a recall is usually issued only after thousands of people have already been hurt or killed.
- Automobiles: Cars are complex machines. A design flaw in a braking system or airbag may not be detected until the vehicle has been on the road for years.
- Prescription Drugs: Even medications subject to “rigorous” FDA testing can have devastating side effects once released to the public. Some drugs may cause birth defects that aren’t discovered until a child is born.
You do not have to wait for a recall to sue. If a product injured you, you have rights immediately.
The Three Ways to Prove a Product is Defective
In Louisiana, there are three main legal grounds for pursuing a product liability lawsuit. We investigate your case to determine which of these factors caused your injury:
1. Design Defects
This occurs when the product’s design is inherently dangerous, regardless of how well it was made.
Example: A car model that is prone to flipping over during turns due to a high center of gravity.
2. Manufacturing Defects
This occurs when the design was safe, but an error happened during the assembly or production process that made the specific item you bought dangerous.
Example: A batch of medicine that was contaminated with a foreign substance at the factory.
3. Failure to Warn (Marketing Defects)
Manufacturers have a duty to warn consumers about non-obvious dangers. This is why you see seemingly excessive warning labels on products. If a company fails to warn you of a risk—and you get hurt because of it—they are liable.
Example: A medication that fails to list “stroke” as a potential side effect.
Who is Responsible?
Liability in these cases can be complex. It often extends beyond just the manufacturer to include:
- The company that designed the product.
- The manufacturer of specific component parts.
- The wholesaler or retailer who sold the product to you.
We trace the supply chain to find every party responsible for your suffering.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, prescription drug, or medical device, do not fight the corporation alone.
Call the Berniard Law Firm today at (504) 521-6000. We have the resources and experience to take on large manufacturers and fight for the compensation you deserve.