Due to government regulations, companies are held accountable for making sure that their products are safe for use by consumers. Of course, all products should be stringently tested prior to being put on the market. Unfortunately, there are many instances when products are found to have flaws or hazards after being made available to the public. The proper response to such discoveries is for the product in question to be recalled.
You may be surprised to learn just how common product recalls have become. For example, 2015 saw the recall of a record 51 million vehicles, a number that is almost triple that of the total sold. Moreover, since 2002, the annual number of food recalls has reportedly experienced a twofold increase.
So, should you be profoundly alarmed by these statistics? Not really, because the jump in recalls is actually good news. According to regulators and consumer advocates, the higher numbers are indicative of greater attention being given to public safety. Thanks to stricter safety regulations and better detection tools, product issues that previously had gone undetected are now being found and addressed.
So while on the whole, it appears that consumer safety measures are better than ever, manufacturers can still attempt to cut corners and mistakes will always be a problem. And once a defective product hits the shelves or showrooms, it may only be a matter of time before an unknowing consumer suffers an injury.
A defective product, be it an automobile, drug, power tool or food item, can cause serious harm. And the manufacturers who put such products on the market should be taken to task for the resulting injuries. If you or a family member has suffered harm caused by a defective product, an experienced product liability attorney could assess your case and advise on a course of action to get you appropriate compensation.