A few years ago, the news was full of stories of toys being pulled from shelves for dangerous levels of lead in their paint. Anyone who was injured by these dangerous toys certainly has a claim against the manufacturer, but asserting a claim is often difficult, especially if the factory that made the product is in another country.

Although product liability laws offer very powerful protections to consumers who have been injured by dangerous or defective products, it is often hard to identify the foreign manufacturer of a given product to bring suit against, and even if you do succeed in identifying the manufacturer, it is often even more difficult to collect any judgment from the manufacturer when the suit is over.

However, the law does not leave consumers without any remedy. In addition to the actual manufacturer of the defective product, the law usually also makes those in the chain between the manufacturer and the consumer liable for the dangerous product. In the case of a toy made in China, this may mean that both the distributor of the toy and the store where it was sold can also be liable for any injury the defect in the toy may cause. Because the wholesaler and the retailer are usually American companies, they are usually much easier to find and to sue.

That said, product liability law can be complex, and it varies from state to state. Going it alone, without the assistance of an experienced attorney, is not a good idea. If you have been injured by a dangerous or defective product, call us–we would be happy to discuss your case and your options.