Product Liability Attorney in New Jersey
Reviewed by Mazie Slater’s product liability attorney [David A. Mazie – Managing Partner of Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman]
When a defective product causes injury, the consequences can be devastating — and the path to accountability is rarely straightforward. Product liability cases pit injured New Jersey consumers against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who have the resources to fight back hard. That is why choosing the right legal team matters.
The product liability lawyers at Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman regularly represent individuals who have been seriously injured by dangerous and defective products. Many of our product liability cases have been against some of the largest manufacturers in the world. Because of our successes, we have been named to the Best New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers lists by the Best Lawyers in America. Our firm has won close to a billion dollars in compensation for our clients, including the largest product liability settlement in New Jersey history. When you are up against a corporation that factors the cost of litigation into its business model, you need attorneys with the experience and track record to match.
Why Choose Mazie Slater for Your Product Liability Case
Not all personal injury firms are equipped to handle complex product liability litigation. These cases demand resources, technical expertise, access to specialized experts, and a willingness to fight large corporations through every stage of litigation. Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman has all of that — and a long history of results to prove it.
Our Successful Product Liability Verdicts & Settlements
Our product liability attorneys have achieved landmark outcomes in cases involving a wide range of defective products and industries. Select results include:
- $68 million jury verdict against C.R. Bard for defective pelvic mesh
- $33.9 million settlement for a worker left paralyzed after a design defect led to a machine crushing his torso
- $15 million jury verdict against Johnson & Johnson for defective pelvic mesh
- $11.24 million confidential settlement for product liability
- $11.1 million jury verdict for a nurse who suffered injuries from defective vaginal mesh
- $9 million confidential settlement for a defective product
- $7.8 million settlement for the families of two clients after a defective amusement park ride resulted in their deaths
- $4.7 million settlement for an automobile mechanic who was severely burned in a gas explosion caused by defective product
- $4.15 million settlement for a worker who suffered head injuries from a defective 150lb hutch falling on him
- $2 million settlement for a painter who was crushed by a defective amusement park ride fell on him
- $2 million settlement for a man who suffered liver failure from a defective dietary supplement
- $2 million settlement for a client who fell from a defective ladder leading to them suffering paralysis
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Recognized as One of the Top Personal Injury Law Firms in New Jersey
Product liability claims fall under the broader umbrella of personal injury law, and Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman is one of the most decorated personal injury firms in New Jersey. Our firm’s recognition reflects the same level of skill, dedication, and results-driven representation that we bring to every product liability case.
- National Law Journal Top 50 Plaintiff Law Firms
- Mazie Slater one of America’s Top 50 Plaintiff Law Firms in the areas of product liability and medical malpractice. It is the only New Jersey-based law firm to receive this award, which is very prestigious and is received by only a handful of law firms around the country.
- New Jersey Law Journal Personal Injury Hall of Fame
- Managing Partner David Mazie and Partner Adam Slater have both been inducted — a recognition reserved for attorneys who have achieved the most significant personal injury recoveries in New Jersey.
- NJ Supreme Court-Certified Civil Trial Attorneys
- The New Jersey Supreme Court grants Civil Trial Attorney certification to recognize attorneys with a proven level of competence and experience in civil trial practice. Our firm has five such certified attorneys — more than nearly any other personal injury firm in New Jersey.
- Best Lawyers in America, Best New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers
- Our attorneys have been repeatedly named to the Best New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers lists, and David Mazie has been recognized as Lawyer of the Year in multiple practice areas.
- Super Lawyers Top 100
- David Mazie has topped the New Jersey Super Lawyers list outright on multiple occasions, he has always been listed in the Top 100 or Top 10 of the New Jersey Super Lawyers list, and a majority of our attorneys appear on the Super Lawyers list each year.
- New Jersey Law Journal Litigation Department of the Year
- Our firm has received this award from the NJ Law Journal — one of only a handful of New Jersey firms ever to be recognized.
Understanding Product Liability in New Jersey
What is a Product Liability Lawsuit?
A product liability lawsuit in New Jersey is a legal action brought by an injured consumer against one or more parties in the chain of commerce — including a manufacturer, distributor, supplier, or retailer — whose defective product caused harm. The purpose of such a lawsuit is to obtain compensation for injuries, losses, and damages resulting from that defective product.
New Jersey product liability law holds manufacturers and sellers to a strict standard: products must be reasonably safe when used as intended, and parties who place dangerous or defective products into the stream of commerce can be held legally responsible for the consequences. Under New Jersey’s strict liability framework, a plaintiff does not need to prove that a defendant acted negligently — only that the product was defective and caused the injury. This is a significant consumer protection that distinguishes New Jersey product liability law from negligence-based claims.
That said, product liability cases in New Jersey are complex and often involve multiple defendants, competing technical theories, and expert witnesses. The statute of limitations for most product liability claims in New Jersey is two years from the date of injury or discovery of injury. Prompt legal consultation is critical to preserving evidence and protecting your rights.
Types of Product Defects in Product Liability Cases
There are three main types of product defects that can form the basis of a product liability claim in New Jersey.
- Design defect: A design defect exists when a product is fundamentally unsafe due to its original design — before it is ever manufactured. To prevail on a design defect claim, it must be shown that a safer, economically feasible, and practical alternative design existed that would have maintained the product’s primary function. A classic example is a vehicle designed with a high center of gravity that makes it prone to rollover accidents.
- Manufacturing defect: A manufacturing defect occurs when a product’s design is safe, but something goes wrong during the production process — such as the use of substandard materials, a faulty assembly, or a contaminated batch. Unlike a design defect, a manufacturing defect typically affects only certain units rather than the entire product line. A specific batch of a vehicle model with a defect introduced on the assembly line is a common example.
- Marketing defect/Failure to Warn: A marketing defect — also called a failure to warn — occurs when a manufacturer knows of a danger associated with its product but fails to communicate that risk adequately through labels, instructions, or warnings. Drug manufacturers, for example, owe a duty to disclose known adverse side effects. If a product’s inherent dangers are concealed from consumers, those injured as a result may have a failure-to-warn claim.
Legal Theories in Product Liability Cases
New Jersey product liability claims can be pursued under several distinct legal theories, and an experienced product liability attorney will evaluate which approach best fits the facts of your case:
- Strict Liability: Under strict liability, a manufacturer or seller can be held responsible for injuries caused by a defective product without requiring proof of negligence. The focus is on the product itself — whether it was defective and unreasonably dangerous — rather than on the conduct of the manufacturer. Under New Jersey’s Product Liability Act, there are causes of action for defective product, manufacturing defect and failure to warn of dangers of the product.
- Breach of Warranty: When a manufacturer makes representations about how a product performs — either expressly in advertising or labeling, or implicitly by placing the product in commerce — and those representations prove false, causing injury, a breach of warranty claim may be available.
Common Defective Products That Lead to Product Liability Cases
Product liability cases are complex and often involve multiple-party liability. You may not know whether you have a claim for damages until you understand your rights. Here are a few common defective products that have led to product liability cases.
- Auto defects: Issues like seat belt and airbag failures, gas tank problems, defective brakes, and sudden acceleration.
- Dangerous drugs: Includes recalled prescription medicines.
- Medical devices: Includes defective orthopedic products, surgical devices, and more.
- Dangerous household products: We represent clients injured by common household items.
- Home appliance injuries: Includes electrical shocks, serious burns, and injuries from gas line explosions.
- Industrial workplace and construction injuries: From power construction tools, air hammers, conveyor and hoist equipment, forklifts, and other machinery.
- Defective power tools: Injuries from chainsaws, table saws, snow blowers, and lawn and garden equipment.
- Toys and children’s products: Injuries from choking, burns, fractured bones, amputations, and suffocation.
- Chemical products: Burns and respiratory problems from exposure to caustic industrial cleaners and processing fluids.
- Dietary Supplements: Injuries caused by herbal and dietary supplements, including liver failure, liver damage and hepatitis.
Who Is Liable in a New Jersey Product Liability Case?
One of the most important — and often misunderstood — aspects of New Jersey product liability law is that liability is not limited to the manufacturer alone. Any party in the chain of commerce that played a role in bringing the defective product to market can potentially be held responsible for your injuries. Depending on the facts of your case, potentially liable parties may include:
- Product Manufacturers: The company that designed and/or manufactured the defective product bears primary responsibility. This includes manufacturers of component parts if a specific component caused the defect.
- Distributors and Wholesalers: Companies that distribute products between manufacturers and retailers can be held liable if their handling or storage contributed to the defect, or if they had reason to know the product was dangerous.
- Retailers and Sellers: The store or online platform that sold the defective product to you may also share liability, even if it played no direct role in designing or manufacturing the product.
- Foreign Manufacturers: If the product was manufactured overseas — which is common in today’s marketplace — you may still be able to bring a claim. Every product imported for sale in the United States is sold or distributed through a U.S. company or the U.S. subsidiary of a foreign corporation. In most cases, that U.S. entity will be held liable for damages.
- Suppliers and Subcontractors: Third-party suppliers of raw materials or subcontractors involved in the production process may also bear responsibility if their contribution caused or contributed to the defect.
Identifying all potentially liable parties is one of the most consequential steps in a product liability case, and it requires a thorough investigation. Our attorneys work with engineers, medical experts, and industry specialists to trace defects through the chain of production and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
Compensation Available in New Jersey Product Liability Cases
A successful product liability lawsuit in New Jersey can yield compensation for a wide range of losses. Damages generally fall into two categories:
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate for the quantifiable financial losses you have suffered as a direct result of the defective product. These may include:
- Medical Expenses: All past and future costs of medical treatment related to your injuries, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and anticipated future medical needs.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income you were unable to earn while recovering from your injuries.
- Diminished Earning Capacity: If your injuries have permanently affected your ability to work at the same capacity as before, you may be entitled to compensation for the long-term reduction in your earning potential.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Any other documented financial costs directly related to the injury, such as transportation to medical appointments, home care, or assistive devices.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are compensable and may include:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and discomfort you have endured and will continue to endure as a result of your injuries.
- Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and other psychological consequences of a serious injury.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for your diminished ability to participate in activities, hobbies, and experiences that were part of your life before the injury.
- Loss of Consortium: Damages available to a spouse or family member for the loss of companionship, support, and the relationship that resulted from the victim’s injuries.
In cases where a defendant’s conduct was particularly reckless or egregious — such as a manufacturer that concealed a known safety defect to protect profits — punitive damages may also be available. Punitive damages are designed not to compensate the victim, but to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. We have extensive experience in litigating — and winning — punitive damage claims in product liability lawsuits.
Contact a Defective Product Liability Attorney Today
Defective products can cause life-altering injuries — and the corporations behind them have legal teams dedicated to minimizing their exposure. You deserve an advocate with equal firepower. The product liability attorneys at Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman have spent decades fighting for injured New Jersey consumers, securing billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, and earning recognition as one of the most accomplished plaintiff’s firms in the country.
If you or a family member has been injured by a defective product, contact us today for a free consultation. Call 973-228-9898 or use our online contact form. There is no fee unless we win your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Product Liability Lawsuits
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What if the defective product was manufactured overseas?
Every product imported for sale in the United States is sold or distributed through a U.S. company or the U.S. subsidiary of a foreign corporation. In most cases, the U.S. entity will be held liable for damages — meaning that the fact that a product was manufactured abroad does not prevent you from bringing a claim in New Jersey.
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What if you weren’t using the product according to instructions?
Courts have determined that products must be safe when used responsibly and under reasonable conditions for which they are intended. If you were using the product in a manner that a reasonable person might — even if not precisely as instructed — you may still have a valid product liability claim. An attorney can help evaluate whether your use of the product falls within the protections of New Jersey product liability law.
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What should I do immediately after being injured by a defective product?
Seek medical attention first. Then preserve the product and its packaging, document the incident and your injuries, and contact an experienced New Jersey product liability attorney as soon as possible. Acting quickly is important because evidence can disappear, and New Jersey’s statute of limitations for product liability claims is generally two years from the date of injury.
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How long do I have to file a product liability lawsuit in New Jersey?
In most cases, New Jersey’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your injury — or from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) the injury was caused by the product — to file a claim. Certain exceptions may apply, but waiting too long can permanently bar your right to compensation.
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Can I file a product liability claim if the product has been recalled?
Yes. A product recall does not eliminate your right to pursue a product liability claim. In fact, a recall can serve as evidence that the manufacturer knew or should have known about the defect. If you were injured before or after a recall, you may still have a viable claim — and a specialized product liability lawyer can help you understand your options.
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What if multiple parties contributed to the product’s defect?
Product liability cases frequently involve multiple defendants — including manufacturers, distributors, component suppliers, and retailers. New Jersey law allows injured consumers to pursue claims against all parties in the chain of commerce that contributed to the defect. Our product liability attorneys conduct thorough investigations to identify every potentially liable party and maximize your recovery.
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Do product liability cases go to trial?
Many product liability cases are resolved through negotiated settlements before trial. However, our product liability lawyers are fully prepared — and experienced — litigators who will not hesitate to take a case to trial if doing so is in our client’s best interest. Our track record of significant jury verdicts demonstrates our ability to succeed in the courtroom.
